Charles C. Stevenson, Jr. Movies

Richard (Edward Herrmann) is devastated when his mother Trix unexpectedly dies (though Marion Ross quickly returns to the series in the new role of cousin Marilyn), but this pales in comparison to Emily's (Kelly Bishop) reaction upon unearthing evidence of how truly and deeply Trix despised her. With her parents in no condition to think straight, it falls to Lorelai (Lauren Graham) to plan the funeral, right down to selecting the guest of honor's underwear. Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) finds it impossible to keep his problems to himself -- and is rapidly losing customers as a result. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Linda Marsh (Mary McDonnell) may have been hoping for a surprise on her 16th wedding anniversary, but she certainly doesn't welcome the news that her school-principal husband George (William Russ) has been carrying on an affair with the teacher of the Marshes' daughter! The breakup of Linda and George's marriage is quite a shock for the small town in which they live--almost as shocking as Linda's subsequent actions as she grimly embarks on "a search for a new life." As part of that search, Linda has enlisted her kids in her campaign to land a "replacement" head of the household. Wavering erratically between broad comedy and sentimental slush, the made-for-TV Replacing Dad was based on a novel by Shelley Frasier Mickle, and first aired March 14, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Teenage patients pour into the ER after a suspicious explosion in a high school science class. Lawrence (Alan Alda) becomes erratic and violently angry, leading the staff to wonder if the veteran doctor is functioning at full capacity. Elaine (Rebecca De Mornay) hopes to "connect" with her former brother-in-law, Carter (Noah Wyle), before heading to Europe. Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) gets another much-needed lesson in humanity and humility. Carol (Julianna Margulies) is outraged to discover that pregnant waitress Meg (Martha Plimpton) is shooting heroin. And Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) is finding it increasingly difficult to juggle her workload with her domestic duties. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though Drew (Drew Carey) beats the drug rap thrust upon him by loopy Larry (Ian Gomez), the government seizes Drew's house and puts it up for auction, forcing our hero to take up residence with Larry and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). To extricate himself from his current financial mess, Drew follows the advice of Nicki (Kate Walsh) and declares bankruptcy, then contrives to win back his house by having Larry make the biggest auction bids. Unfortunately, Drew reckons without the connivances of his nasty neighbors--to say nothing of Mimi (Kathy Kinney). Meanwhile, there's trouble afoot in the relationship between Oswald and Kate (Christa Miller). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jessica (Angela Lansbury) arrives at the headquarters of a prominent ice cream manufacturing firm in order to collect a promised donation for her literacy foundation. It soon develops that the company has created a brand-new flavor--but not for public consumption. How else to explain the mysterious death of one of the company's top executives...a death quickly followed by another one that is equally mysterious? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hollywood visionary Tim Burton pays homage to another Hollywood visionary, albeit a less successful one, in this unusual fictionalized biography. The film follows Wood (Johnny Depp) in his quest for film greatness as he writes and directs turkey after turkey, cross-dresses, and surrounds himself with a motley crew of Hollywood misfits, outcasts, has-beens, and never-weres. The real story, however, is his friendship with aging, morphine-addicted Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau), whom he tries to help stage a comeback. Landau's unforgettable Oscar-winning performance must be seen to be believed, as must Rick Baker's Oscar-winning makeup. While it would have been easy to make a film simply ridiculing the bumbling director, Burton instead focuses on his driving passion for filmmaking and his unwavering persistence in the face of ridicule and failure. Possibly the most surprising aspect of the film is the genuine sentiment with which Burton treats the relationship between Wood and Lugosi; his devotion to Lugosi is touching, as is Lugosi's final soliloquy -- an inane bit of dialogue from the hilariously bad Bride of the Monster that grows into a poignant metaphor for the actor's life and ultimate triumph of his spirit. Even the look of the film is right; it manages to preserve the air of one of Wood's own films while retaining a sense of artistry in much of the composition on screen (note the scene at the drug rehab where Lugosi endures a horrifying night of detox). In all, Ed Wood is a unique film -- at times side-splittingly funny; at others, tragic or even frightening -- and a heartfelt tribute to the love of movies, good and bad alike. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

This made-for-cable-TV film focuses on a police detective (Bruce Boxleitner) bored by life in the missing-persons bureau. While on the trail of a missing mother, however, he gradually realizes that the clues lead to a gruesome serial killer. The detective gains the reluctant help of a psychic (Laura Johnson) while tracking the murderer. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Another "based on fact" TV movie, Too Young to Die? stars Juliette Lewis as a benighted teenaged girl. She is married at 14, is deserted, and begins walking the streets at 15. Abused by virtually every man with whom she comes in contact (including her own father), Lewis commits murder--and finds herself on Death Row before reaching her 16th birthday. Michael Tucker is the attorney who pleads that his client not be tried as an adult. Despite all the horrendous wrongs piled upon Juliette Lewis in Too Young to Die?, her character fails to elicit audience sympathy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi