Brent Carpenter Movies

This release from comedienne Leslie Jones captures a live stand-up performance by the funnywoman, recorded in front of a live audience in Hollywood, CA, where she covers a range of topics from Oprah to professional sports. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Saturday Night Live alum and Weeds star Kevin Nealon focuses his wry wit on such universal issues as ageing, having children, and conflict avoidance in this stand-up comedy special featuring a guest appearance by famed comic Garry Shandling. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This comedy release from stand-up performer Tony Roberts captures a live set by the funnyman, recorded in Hollywood, California, and focuses on the Detroit native's trademark high-energy observations about everyday life. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Originally titled The Rules for Starting Over, this Fox sitcom starred Craig Bierko) as 35-year-old financier Jack "Gator" Gately. Having gotten married right out of college, Gator was now divorced, and as such obliged to re-enter the "dating scene" that he'd barely been a part of in his bachelor days. Joining Gator in his pursuit of female companionship were his nerdy surgeon pal Freddy Sahgal (Shaun Majumber), likewise recently divorced, and funloving brewery owner Tommy (Johnny Sneed), who'd been married several times previously but had not given up his lifelong quest for the perfect mate. Also a member of this merry band of "unhitched" thirtysomethings was quick-witted Kate (Rashina Jones), recently dumped by her beau after a seven-year relationship. The humor arose from the fact that the protagonists were certainly not naïve in matters of everyday life, but were utterly clueless in the realm of romantic relationships; and oh, yes, there was an abundance of gross-out humor and sex jokes, hardly suprising inasmuch as the series was executive-produced by the inimitable Farrelly Brothers). Created by Mike Bernier and Chris Pappas), Unhitched debuted March 2, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

One should not be accused of making slurring remarks if one observes that former Cheers and Veronica's Closet star Kirstie Alley played the title character in the satirical "reality" series Fat Actress. In point of fact, this largely improvised and unscripted half-hour series was created by Alley (in concert with Brenda Hampton of 7th Heaven fame), and it was she who came up with the title. The actress was seen as "herself," a former TV favorite whose popularity and job prospects diminished as her weight increased. Although she was outraged by Hollywood's double standard, which dictated that a male star can put on the pounds without losing work, while a female star is judged merely by the svelteness of her appearance, Alley was determined to put her career back on track, and to go to any lengths to convince people that she was the same Kirstie Alley as before, only more so. Of course, she also worked herself to a frazzle to burn off the excess weight that had caused her dilemma in the first place. Like Larry David's similar Curb Your Enthusiasm, Fat Actress featured a number of celebrities in cameo roles (usually mocking themselves in the same manner as the leading lady), and was also a veritable cornucopia of "inside" showbiz jargon. Viewers and critics were strongly divided about the series' merits, usually along the old "you love it or you hate it" lines, but one could not fault the star for valiantly poking fun at herself and her career and personal setbacks in a manner that totally charmed and disarmed all those who might have been inclined to dislike her personally simply on the basis of her "overindulgent" reputation. Fat Actress made its Showtime cable network debut on March 7, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Wonder Years met Malcolm in the Middle in this Fox network sitcom set in the early '60s. Grant Rosenmeyer starred as 11-year-old Oliver Beene, a budding intellectual and inveterate cut-up mired in a world of eccentric relatives, spiteful teachers, and mercurial females. Oliver's dad, Jerry (Grant Shaud), was a dentist who liked to spend his off-hours either drilling teeth for fun or talking about it; his mom, Charlotte (Wendy Makkena), was a neat-freak who wished she was Jackie Kennedy; and his brother, Ted (Andrew Lawrence), was a self-involved sports nut, his ear perennially glued to his transistor radio. Things weren't much better at school, where Oliver was bedeviled by venom-spouting teacher Mrs. Heller (Annie Korzen), ardently pursued by moonstruck classmate Joyce (Daveigh Chase), and studiously ignored by red-haired beauty Bonnie (Amy Castle). On the other hand, Oliver enjoyed the company of his best friends, chubby Neal (Ben Bookbinder) and closeted-homosexual Michael (Taylor Emerson). Like The Wonder Years, this series was narrated from the vantage point of the future by the leading character. Oliver Beene debuted March 9, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An outgrowth of a series of "interstitial" segments seen between programs on cable TV's Independent Film Channel, the adult-oriented Fox Network sitcom Greg the Bunny was set in an alternate world where human beings peacefully coexisted with talking puppets. Among the "Fabricated Americans" in this bizarro setup was Greg the Bunny, an unemployed puppet who shared an apartment with human roomie Jimmy Bender (Seth Green). Thanks to Jimmy's dad, TV producer-director Gil Bender (Eugene Levy), Greg lands a job on the popular kiddie show Sweetknuckle Junction, where he falls prey to the petty jealousies of his fellow puppets and the sharkish behavior of cutthroat network executives. Created by Dan Milano, who also provided the voice for the title character, Greg the Bunny was first broadcast on March 27, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This TV sitcom is premised on the notion that men are inept at parenthood. The storyline focuses on upper-middle-class father Gordon Stiles (Jon Patrick Walker), left to take care of six-month-old Daniel after his wife runs off with another guy. His brother, actor Jimmy (Eddie McClintock) resides at the same address but is more interested in the pediatrician than the baby. With no nanny in sight, Gordon takes Daniel to his workplace, run by boss Stan Peterson (Ron Liebman). When Kelly (Jennifer Westfeldt) interviews for the firm's receptionist job, Gordon quickly realizes he's found his much-needed nanny. Taped in LA, this series premiered August 23, 1998 on Fox. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Drew Carey hosts this improvisational comedy TV game-show featuring cast members (Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Wayne Brady) from the original British series in a variety of different theater games and skits introduced by Carey. In one set-up on the pilot, strange hats led to impromptu video dating-service tapes. In other situations, they must compose song lyrics while they sing, impersonate people, imitate animals, and fabricate dialogue in the styles of various plays and films. Carey scores points in an equally spontaneous manner according to his own whims, and as he phrases it -- "nobody wins anything." The basic premise of this type of comedy are the theater games invented in the late '30s and early '40s by author-teacher Viola Spolin (1906-1994), who can be seen as "Mother" in Paul Mazursky's Alex in Wonderland (1970), evidently her only film role. Her behind-the-scenes workshops with the Second City improv group influenced satirical TV comedy (Saturday Night Live), and she led similar workshops for the casts of '70s sitcoms (Rhoda, Friends and Lovers). Whose Line Is It Anyway began as a British radio-comedy series over a decade ago on Radio 4, jumping to Channel 4 television a year later, followed by a 1988-1994 run in the U.S. on Comedy Central. Over 11 seasons, the British series won four CableACE Awards and an International Emmy. Taped in Hollywood, the Drew Carey-hosted version premiered to strong ratings August 5,1998 on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi