Mitch Rouse Movies

A single woman envies the security of her married friends, while they in turn dream of her freedom in this comedy drama. Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) is a single woman in her mid-thirties who feels she's reached a crossroads in her life. Unhappy with her career as a teacher, Olivia quits and takes a job as a maid until she sorts out her feelings. However, Olivia feels as if she could use some support, both personal and financial, from her best friends, all of whom at very least have more in the bank than she does. But that's not to say they don't have problems of their own. Christine (Catherine Keener) and her husband Patrick (Jason Isaacs) are screenwriters who have discovered that collaborating is more stress than they can deal with. Jane (Frances McDormand) is married to Aaron (Simon McBurney); they work together as designers, but while their professional relationship is cordial, they've become numb to one another as lovers and friends. And Franny (Joan Cusack) and Matt (Greg Germann) are a couple who comfortably support themselves and their children thanks to an inherited fortune; while their material needs are met, emotionally they can barely handle marriage and parenthood. Friends With Money was written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, who previously made the acclaimed independent features Walking and Talking and Lovely & Amazing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Mitch Rouse starred in this seriocomic ABC series as Michael Davis, a brilliant ad man who was so dedicated to his work that little if any time was left over for his wife, Rachel (Connie Britton), and their three kids. It was Rachel who put the brakes on Michael by informing him one morning that she intended to divorce him if he did not begin creating "quality time" for his family. Some of Michael's efforts to bond with his children were, to put it mildly, ill-advised, but at least he had the moral support of his boss and best friend, Jordan King (Gregory Hines), a battle-scarred veteran of numerous failed marriages who wished that someone had given him a second chance to become a human being. Created by Michael Jacobs of Boy Meets World fame, Lost at Home debuted April 1, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The directorial debut of actor/writer Mitch Rouse (Comedy Central's Strangers With Candy), Employee of the Month stars Matt Dillon as David Wells, a hapless guy whose day seems to be getting more and more out of control. After getting his life straightened out with a job he loves at a bank and beautiful fiancée (Christina Applegate), David is convinced he's got it made. Unfortunately, things take a distinct turn for the worse when he is dumped and fired all in the same day. Enter David's best friend, Jack (Steve Zahn), an oddball who makes his living stealing from corpses. Jack is determined to help cheer up David, but when a bank robbery and a large sum of cash enter the picture, it begins to become apparent that the disastrous and madcap events have only just begun. Employee of the Month premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Jerri (Amy Sedaris) discovers she has a previously unknown talent in this episode of the off-color Comedy Central series. Kicked out of the Flatpoint High orchestra by Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) for pounding on the timpani and refusing to follow directions, a distressed Jerri remains behind after class and begins experimenting with the various instruments. Eavesdropping on the horrible sounds coming from the orchestra room, Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert) is stunned when Jerri picks up the violin and starts playing beautifully. Soon taking her under his wing and forcing her to practice tirelessly, Mr. Noblot isolates Jerri from her friends and peers in order to vicariously experience the success that eluded him as a child. Distressed by the scratches on Jerri's hands from attempting to groom the family cat, Mr. Noblot brings Jerri to live with him so that she may focus entirely on her practicing. With Mr. Noblot's newfound obsession driving a wedge between him and Mr. Jellineck, and the disapproval of Jerri's father adding to the negative impact that practicing has had on her social life, Jerri decides to give up the "stringy paddle" (her name for the violin) the very night of the Tri-County Music Championship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The temptations of the past resurface to haunt Jerri (Amy Sedaris) in the season one closer of Comedy Central's Strangers With Candy. When comely stoner Trish (Stephanie Sanditz) offers to share a joint with Jerri in the bathroom after gym class, the lustful Jerri quickly caves to temptation and begins her decent down the same slippery slope that found her homeless over 30 years ago. Subsequently baking brother Derrick's (Larc Spies) basketball and attempting to throw the turkey intended for dinner through the basketball hoop, Jerri faces real trouble when she shows up at Sara's (Deborah Rush) MMAD (Mad Mothers Against Drugs) meeting noticeably high and then fails Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) final exam the following day. As the final class of the semester draws to a close, undercover cop Savillon (Mitch Rouse) arrives in class under the guise of being a transfer student and promptly maces Mr. Noblot after noticing the word "opium" written on the chalkboard (Mr. Noblot had been teaching his class about China's Opium War). Mr. Noblot offers Jerri a make-up lest he have to put up with her for another semester, and despite Orlando's (Orlando Pabotoy) best efforts to sway Jerri toward her studies that night, a party invite from Trish proves too much to resist for Jerri. Though Jerri promises Orlando that she won't get high at the party, she promptly breaks her word and ends up failing Mr. Noblot's exam when she arrives in the classroom five hours late. Attempting to prove to Orlando that she wasn't high, Jerri puts him in the hospital by nearly slashing him to death, and when she visits him, Orlando can't remember how he got there, so Jerri makes up a lie but eventually admits that it was her fault. Officer Sullivan then arrests Jerri after overhearing her confession, and as the season closes, Jerri is doomed to once again repeat her freshman year of high school. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The premier episode of Comedy Central's warped take on the after-school special introduces viewers to series protagonist Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) as she attends a high school anti-drug rally. Recently released from jail and having lived the life of a teenage runaway for 32 years, 46-year-old Jerri has decided to clean up her act, move back home and re-enroll as a freshman at Flatpoint High. Announcing her upcoming party during Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) history class in a bid to win over the popular crowd, it seems that no one is interested and, to make matters worse, Mr. Noblot informs Jerri that, although it's only three days into the term, Jerri is in danger of failing his class. After Jerri is once again shot down in her bid to befriend popular Poppy Downs, her lone ally Orlando (Orlando Pabotoy) confides to her that her classmates are saying terrible things about her behind her back. Undaunted, Jerri seeks the advice of art teacher Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello), who insists that Jerri should, "go with what you know." Imbued with a newfound sense of confidence, Jerri runs into Poppy in the Girls' Room and offers to whip her up a primo batch of homemade Glint (a homemade narcotic made by mixing household chemicals and subsequently spreading the mixture on your lips). When Poppy takes a bit too much of Jerri's concoction the following day, her speed on the track impresses Coach Wolf (Sarah Thyre), though things take a bad turn when Poppy, believing herself to be a bumble-bee who must return to the hive, induces a coma while attempting to fly though a keyhole. Sneaking into the hospital that night to pull the plug on Poppy's life supports system lest she finger Jerri as her supplier, Jerri is relieved to learn that Poppy died earlier in the evening. As Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) rallies the students to discuss the tragedy and dedicate a time capsule to the fallen student, Jerri takes advantage of the situation by announcing a "Poppy Downs Memorial" party, to which the students eagerly respond. Kicking off the party by attempting to make out with Poppy's ex-boyfriend Brad, things soon go from bad to worse as Jerri realizes that she accidentally mixed the hot fruit in the same bowl she had used for the Glint. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jerri's (Amy Sedaris) role in the Flatpoint High Shool production of A Raisin in the Sun leads her stepmother into an alcoholic haze in this installment of the irreverent and outrageous Comedy Central series. Passing over Flatpoint's African-American students to give the lead roles to the three sole white students in his class, Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) casts the remaining students as trees. Elated that she has been chosen as the lead, Jerri rushes home to share her excitement with her stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush), who had once taken the stage as Peter Pan. With Sara soon diving headlong into a haze of jealousy, regret, and hard liquor, Jerri worries that her upcoming Parent-Teacher day is heading for disaster. Her fears are soon confirmed when her slurring stepmother drunkenly comes on to Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert) and insults Jerri in front of the her peers, their parents, and the teachers. Though Jerri is soon buried in denial and preparation for the play, Mr. Jellineck threatens to replace her following a disastrous rehearsal the following day. When Jerri arrives home that night to find Sara passed out in a Peter Pan costume, she decides to attend an Ala Colholics meeting in a desperate bid to remain in the play. With Mr. Jellineck feeding Jerri her lines the night of the play, everything seems to go as planned until a drunken Sara storms the stage resulting in a total fiasco. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jerri (Amy Sedaris) and Orlando's (Orlando Pabotoy) friendship is put to the test when a new student arrives at Flatpoint High in this episode of the edgy Comedy Central series. Instantly attracted to new arrival Ricky despite the fact that everyone seems out to get him, Jerri quickly caves to peer pressure and humiliates Ricky at every possible opportunity. When Orlando presents Jerri with a friendship collage, Jerri promptly modifies it and presents it to Ricky in hopes that he will join her at the golf-themed Bogie Nights dance despite Principal Blackman's objections. After a jealous Orlando tips off Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) as to how much time Jerri has been spending with the new guy, Jerri's jealous friend attempts to cause trouble for Ricky at every turn. Confronted by the girls in her class as to the nature of her relationship with Ricky, Jerri reluctantly informs them that she will be attending the dance with sociopathic Spike. When Ricky appears at the dance to inform Jerri that he will soon be leaving Flatpoint, Orlando urges the students to beat Ricky with their golf clubs, resulting in an impassioned plea for tolerance from Jerri. Touched at Jerri's dedication to Ricky, Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) declares the couple "Mistress and Master of Bogie Nights" before Spike returns from the bathroom and attempts to attack Ricky. After saving Ricky by crashing her golf cart into Spike, Jerri and Ricky head to the parking lot to make out -- only to discover that Ricky is in fact Jerri's long-lost son. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This TV sitcom revolves around three divorced New Yorkers -- nutty Andy (Mitch Rouse), who manufactures artificial fruits and vegetables; charming nerd Phil (Peter Gallagher), who still yearns for his ex; and spiteful, misanthropic Phil (Brad Whitford), a business manager for athletes. These guys play a lot of golf and log long hours at the neighborhood restaurant, where they vacillate between cynicism and self-pity. Filmed in Los Angeles, this series premiered September 30, 1998 on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide