Lucy Davis Movies

One of the two NBC series debuting in the fall of 2006 which took place backstage at a Saturday Night Live-style comedy show (the other was 30 Rock), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was the brainchild of The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin. This weekly, hour-long dramedy concerned itself with the million-and-one intrigues behind the hallowed walls of the fictional "NBS" network, where ambitious new president Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet) was determined to pump fresh blood into the network's anemic Prime Time schedule. Over the objections of imperious NBS chairman Jack Rudolph (Steve Weber), McDeere rehired writer Matt Albie (Matthew Perry) and director Danny Tripp (Bradley Whitford), who had been fired from the staff of the network's weekly ensemble-comedy offering "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" two years before. It was hoped that Albie and Danny could save the flagging property from cancellation, a formidable task in that "Studio 60" was already collapsing from within thanks to a surfeit of egotism and ill-will. For head writer Matt Albie, the challenge was doubly difficult: it so happened that "Studio 60"'s star Harriet Hayes (Sarah Paulson) was his former lover. Fortunately, Matt and Cal worked together so harmoniously that it would seem that Jordan McDeere's strategy for rescuing her network from oblivion was sheer brilliance. . .maybe. Other regulars included D.L.. Hughley and Nathan Corddry, respectively, as popular "Studio 60" cast members Simon Styles and Tom Jeter. Filled to overflowing with smart-and-savvy inside references to the state of network TV in the first decade of the 21st century (many of the "jokes" were at the expense of the series' host network NBC), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip premiered September 18, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

From Warner Bros. Animation, Jonny Test was the story of a fearless 11-year-old boy who volunteered his services as "guinea pig" for the inventions, strength-enhancing stimulants and weaponry created by his 13-year-old genius twin sisters Susan and Mary. In each of the two stories per half-hour episode, Johnny would try out such contraptions as a rocket-powered backpack or "superstrength" lollipop, with hilariously exciting results. Accompanying Johnny in his various exploits was Poochie, his genetically engineered pet dog. Johnny Test joined the WB network's Saturday morning cartoon lineup on September 17, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A wildly popular British comedy series shot in mockumentary style, The Office detailed the daily struggles of the bored cubicle-dwellers at Wernham Hogg -- a paper supply company located in the quiet English town of Slough. Their boss, attention-craving lower middle manager David Brent (Ricky Gervais), possessed a tacky and tasteless sense of humor which proved a constant source of irritation to all within earshot. Throughout the first season of the series, tireless joker Brent played the constant clown even as his office faced massive cutbacks and the employees nervously pondered the prospect of unemployment. Later, when the team's worst fears began to come true, Brent dismissed their malaise while enthusiastically gloating over his own promotion. At the onset of the second season, the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg began preparing for the inevitable merger with the nearby Swinton branch, a consolidation that would find Brent under the leadership of new boss Neil Godwin (Patrick Baladi) -- a handsome and driven leader who had previously been Brent's equivalent at the Swinton branch. When Brent's awkward welcoming speech manages to offend just about every one of the serious-minded staff of the newly arrived Swinton team -- black employee Oliver (Howard Sadler) and disabled Brenda (Julie Fernandez) in particular -- David is summarily reprimanded by Wernham Hogg heavy Jennifer Taylor-Clarke (Stirling Gallacher). As David begins to ponder the prospect that his position is fast becoming obsolete due to the competent leadership of Godwin, pretty receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis) does her best to endure the constant barrage of sexist comments as Tim (Martin Freeman) finds the flame of his longtime torch for her somewhat doused by the arrival of Swinton transplant Rachel (Stacey Roca). It's also during this time that the once casually irritating brownnosing of office suck-up Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) becomes absolutely intolerable to the put upon fellow co-workers. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A divorced, alcoholic salesman attempts to pull his life together in time to get his old job back and avoid becoming the laughing stock of the company in this midlife crisis comedy starring Michael Leydon Campbell, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Amy Ryan. As if a failing marriage and a serious bout with the bottle aren't troublesome enough, socially challenged salesman Bob Funk (Leydon Campbell) realizes that his life has really hit the skids when he's fired by his own mother (Grace Zabriskie). Now, in order to rejoin the sales force, Bob will have to take stock of his life and meet his problems head on. When Bob finds himself falling for the very woman his mother has hired in as his replacement, however, the road to recovery starts to get a little bumpy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

It's often said that the true character of a man is only revealed in times of dire crisis, and for likable, lovelorn loser Shaun (Simon Pegg), that moment of reckoning came when the dead rose from their slumber to feast on the flesh of the living. A hapless electronics store employee who spends most of his spare time downing pints at the local pub with his roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun's life seems to fall apart when he is dumped by his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield), and his obnoxious stepfather, Philip (Bill Nighy), shows up to berate him for not being more attentive to his caring mother Barbara (Penelope Wilton) -- especially since he forgot to send flowers for her birthday. Things take a turn for the worse when the dead return to stake their claim on the Earth, and though the chaos that follows threatens to swallow up all of England, it's up to Shaun to keep his cool and prove himself once and for all by successfully rescuing Liz and his mother. With his trusty roommate by his side, nothing -- not even the living dead -- can stand between Shaun and the two most important women in his life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The laziest cat in America swaps places with the richest feline in England in director Tim Hill's lasagna-laden sequel to the 2004 theatrical hit Garfield. Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) is on his way to London to propose to his veterinarian girlfriend, Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and his unflappable cat, Garfield, is determined to be there when Jon pops the big question. Of course, Garfield wouldn't go anywhere without his old pal Odie, and soon after arriving in the land of Big Ben, the clueless tomcat inadvertently changes places with royal look-a-like Prince. It seems that Prince's owner, Lady Eleanor, has recently passed away, leaving the care of her sprawling estate Castle Carlyle in the capable paws of her devoted kitty companion. The trouble is, Prince has decided it's due time for a vacation, and with Garfield in charge there's no telling what kind of trouble will befall Castle Carlyle. Despite having a devoted butler named Smithee (Ian Abercrombie) to cater to his every whim and a whole host of fun-loving critters with whom to pass the lazy days spent lounging in the sun, this crowned head begins to feel the sting of deceit as the envious Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly) hatches a dastardly plan to do away with the whiskered heir and claim Castle Carlyle all to himself. Meanwhile, as Garfield attempts to hold his ground against his greedy would-be nemesis, the fun-loving Prince is living it up with Jon and Odie by taking a trip to some of London's most popular pubs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi