Michael Fairman Movies

In this unforgettable episode, WKRP station manager Carlson (Gordon Jump) endeavors to prove once and for all that he's truly in charge of things by secretly planning a "brilliant" Thanksgiving promotion for his station. The plan involves flying a helicopter over the Pinedale Shopping Mall--and then releasing twenty live turkeys into the air. Oh, the humanity! Acknowledged by innumerable fans and pundits as one of the greatest TV sitcom episodes of all time, "Turkeys Away" is, incredibly enough, based on a true story. And at the risk of tipping off the ending, we herein quote Mr. Carlson's classic closing line: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After Third World terrorists abduct the Commander-in-Chief, it's up to Secret Service head William Shatner to get him back in this thriller based on a novel by Charles Templeton. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Peter Ustinov plays the talented detective in San Francisco who attempts, with help/hindrance from his clumsy grandson (Richard Hatch), to solve a murder case in this mystery/comedy. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

World War III is an ambitious if unnecessarily protracted speculative TV movie. Set in a "future December," the film prophesies an American grain embargo levied on Russia. US President Rock Hudson is entreated by the Soviet higher-ups to drop the ban; meanwhile, a group of renegade Russian military officers begin sending expeditionary forces into Alaska. While the countdown to Doomsday begins, the film insists upon cutting back to several expendable romances in both the American and Soviet camps. Boris Sagal, the original director of World War III, was killed in a freak helicopter accident while on location. To make up for lost time, the production was moved to the soundstages of Zoetrope Studios and overseen by ultra-efficient TV director David Greene. Part Two finds novice American president Rock Hudson trying to effect an honorable peace with Soviet premiere Brian Keith. But insurgent military officers endeavoring to seize the Alaska Pipeline as a bargaining chip continue to escalate the hostilities. It develops that the fate of the world may rest in the hands of American colonel David Soul. Also appearing is Cathy Lee Crosby, endearingly miscast as an intelligence officer. A heart-stopping surprise twist brings World War III to a close. While the film has its moments of genuine suspense, one can't help but feel that World War III would have been better an hour or two shorter--or at least with a few of the subplot romances removed. Originally running four hours, World War III was telecast in two parts on January 31 and February 1, 1982.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode introduces Marla Heasley in the role of Tawnia Baker, an intrepid reporter who becomes an unofficial member of the A-Team (it is explained that Tawnia's predecessor Amy Allen is "on assignment" overseas). Working undercover to expose a crooked security firm, Marla is kidnapped when she tumbles onto the firm's scheme to assassinate foreign dignitary Shiek Fatasi (Edward Ansara). Figuring they owe Marla a favor after she helped them escape the clutches of Col. Dexter (Lance LeGault), the A-Team races to her rescue. Future That 70s Show regular Kurtwood Smith is seen as a villain named Carson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Poor Deputy Enos (Sonny Shroyer) is framed for a bank robbery--and he may be convicted on the eyewitness testimony of Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach)! Actually, Daisy isn't certain what she has seen, but she IS certain that she doesn't want to be responsible for Enos' incarceration. Thus, she generously agrees to marry Enos, acting upon the knowledge that a wife cannot be forced to testify against her husband. Can Daisy's cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) simultaneously clear Enos and save Daisy from ruining her life (or at least, messin' it up a mite)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A female art dealer who had planned to sell some rare Native American masks is found stabbed to death with a ceremonial Indian dagger. Investigating, Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) head to a Zuni reservation, where several self-appointed witnesses--foremost among them a Native American artist--are quick to accuse the victim's husband of committing the crime. But as they delve deeper into the case, the two detectives discover that there is far more "bad blood" flowing on the reservation than they could ever have imagined. This is the final episode of Hunter's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the concluding episode of a two-part story, Dan is at the nadir of his career: broke, suspended, and facing disbarment on a trumped-up blackmail charge. In order to keep from starving, Dan changes his name and takes a humiliatingly menial job at a French restaurant. And speaking of starving, Roz (Marsha Warfield) and Christine (Markie Post) are having a LOT of trouble remaining "diet buddies". Parts One and Two of "Branded" were later networkcast as a single hour-long episode on March 21, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama set during the 1940s an honest detective and his task force take on the mob in old Chicago. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Originally telecast as a two-hour special, the first episode of ER has since been divided into a two-parter for syndication. In part one, young and inexperienced third-year med student John Carter (Noah Wyle) reports for work at the emergency room of Chicago's County General Hospital. During a hectic 24-hour shift, Carter is brusquely introduced to his future co-workers: his arrogant trainer, Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle); workaholic chief resident Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards); the equally hardworking Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield); the womanizing Dr. Douglas Ross (George Clooney); and troubled head nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies). All in all, it is a typical shift at the ER, with cases ranging from gunshot wounds, ruptured aneurysms, burns, and even hangnails -- but a few surprises are in store for both the staff and the viewers at home. In part two, inexperienced three-year med student John Carter continues to cope as best he can with his hectic first day in the emergency room of Chicago's County General Hospital. Meanwhile, chief resident Greene weighs the possibility of entering private practice; Carter's supervisor, Benton, oversteps his authority by operating on a patient with an aortic aneurysm; and troubled head nurse, Carol Hathaway, becomes a patient herself after attempting suicide (originally intended as a one-shot character, Hathaway proved so popular with the viewers that she was immediately pencilled in as a regular). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a husband's moment of indiscretion has nearly catastrophic consequences when his mistress refuses to accept that their affair is over. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A young employee of a large corporation (William R. Moses) finds out that a fellow employee has been stealing money from the company. He informs his superiors of the man's embezzlement, which results in the embezzler killing his wife and his son, then shooting himself. The embezzler's daughter, a nurse, vows vengeance on the man she holds responsible for the deaths. When the informant suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed and hospitalized, the nurse sees her opportunity and, using another nurse's identity, gets the job of caring for him at the hospital. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide