Andy Ackerman Movies
- 2002
- Add Andy Richter Controls the Universe [TV Series] to QueueAdd Andy Richter Controls the Universe [TV Series] to top of Queue
Former Late Night With Conan O'Brien sidekick Andy Richter went solo in this (literally) imaginative Fox Network sitcom. Richter was cast as "himself," a would-be fiction writer trapped in a humdrum office job. Dissatisfied with the goings-on at the workplace and the behavior of his coworkers, Andy (who narrated each episode) frequently took refuge within the confines of his own imagination, thereby "controlling" situations over which he would otherwise have no control, and determining the outcome via Rashomon-like reworkings of the events of the day. Others in the cast included Irene Molloy as Wendy the receptionist, for whom Andy quietly carried a torch; James Patrick Stuart as Andy's best friend Keith; Paget Brewster as his boss Jessica; and Jonathan Slavin as rival coworker Byron. Andy Richter Controls the Universe debuted March 19, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This TV sitcom offers a forum for the brash and belligerent Bronx Becker (Ted Danson), an opinionated doctor who not only holds forth in his office but also in the local diner run by Regina Costa, aka Reggie (Terry Farrell) where his pessimistic rant ranges over such topics as talkshows, "white trash," used cars, and "parasitic car salesmen." "If you care about your wife and kids," Becker tells one overweight patient, "I want you to remember this one word: salad." But there's also a soft side to Dr. John Becker, as revealed in his treatment of an HIV-positive boy, M.J. Johnson (Robert Bailey Jr.). Filmed in Los Angeles, the series premiered November 2, 1998 on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) are convinced that they aren't providing their infant son Frederick with proper care. After all, how could it be otherwise, since the boy has been diagnosed with only average intelligence? Meanwhile, Carla (Rhea Perlman) tries to arrange a clandestine conjugal visit between Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) and her imprisoned boyfriend Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) wants to convert the back room of Cheers into a tearoom. Though he's dead set against the idea, Sam (Ted Danson) strikes a deal with her: If she can rake in 500 dollars in one night, the room is hers. Hoping to entice her customers into spending their hard-earned cash, Rebecca relies upon the succulent seductions of Woody's (Woody Harrelson) special chili, while Sam goes into a five-alarm snit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Norm (George Wendt) is unable to convince his adoring secretary Doris (Cynthia Stevenson) that he isn't interested in her -- not even when he fires the woman. Hoping to take advantage of Doris' passion, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) manages to get himself in deep doo-doo. Elsewhere, Woody's (Woody Harrelson) lucky streak continues -- and what's the "surprise" hidden in the executive desk that Robin gave Rebecca (Kirstie Alley)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Sam (Ted Danson) is unprepared for the adventure awaiting him when he agrees to babysit for the son of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). Meanwhile, Woody (Woody Harrelson) frets and fusses when wide-eyed Kelly (Jackie Swanson) goes to work at Cheers as part of a school project. Twin children Christopher and Kevin Graves make their first joint appearance as little Frederick Crane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is in full-scale denial over the cancellation of her marriage to Robin Colcord -- even though she is the one who canceled it. Intending to run away from her memories, Rebecca hightails it to San Diego -- and with Woody's wallet. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), meanwhile, regales the Cheers gang by translating the works of Charles Dickens into Bostonian vernacular. Originally slated to air January 31, 1991, this episode was bumped forward one week by network coverage of the Persian Gulf War. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) has high hopes for a romantic day with her zillionaire sweetheart Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). In fact, she has planned this special day down to the minutest detail. But what Rebecca hadn't planned on was that Robin would prefer to spend the day indulging in a series of childish competitions with Sam (Ted Danson). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Cliff (John Ratzenberger) is none too thrilled when his mother (Frances Sternhagen) pays an extended visit. Making matters worse, Mom takes a shine to Woody (Woody Harrelson), virtually adopting the affable bartender as "the son I never had." Back at Cheers, the gang tangles with some construction workers, and Norm (George Wendt) gets stuck in a barred window. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
By rights, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) should be thrilled that the other girlfriend of her beloved Robin Colcord is being squired by someone else. But "thrilled" is not her reaction when Sam (Ted Danson) reveals that he has scored with Robin's other significant other. Meanwhile, Woody (Woody Harrelson) is in for a surprise when he advertises for a roommate, and the audience is in for a surprise when Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) raises her voice in song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Woody (Woody Harrelson) wants a raise, but is told that Cheers is in a financial pinch. He suggests that the pub could stir up some much-needed business if a raffle was held, with a Caribbean vacation as first prize. The scheme works, at least so far as packing Cheers with new customers. But things take a nasty turn when two different contestants come up with the winning raffle ticket. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
As Cheers entered its eighth season, viewers began to wonder if the long-awaited romance between Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) would ever blossom. Certainly Rebecca had not backed down from her determination to marry into wealth, as witnessed by her torrid relationship with Trump-like billionaire corporate raider Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). Perhaps hoping to prove his value in Rebecca's eyes, Sam spent most of season eight trying to buy back Cheers -- only to realize this goal in a most surprising fashion. In other developments, psychiatrists Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) became parents with the birth of baby Frederick. Not long afterward, the much-married Carla (Rhea Perlman) became a widow when her hockey-star husband Eddie LeBec died in a freak accident; Carla's grief quickly turned to rage when she discovered that, not only had Eddie been unfaithful to her, but he'd had another wife in another town all along. Meanwhile, the romance between guileless bartender Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and wealthy Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson) continued along its bumpy but generally satisfying path. The season came to a riotous conclusion when Rebecca's boyfriend Robin was arrested for illegal insider training -- with Sam turning Colcord in out of fear that Rebecca would be implicated. Out of gratitude, the corporation that owned Cheers gave the bar to Sam as a present, leading Rebecca to conclude that Sam had blown the whistle on Robin out of greed. But before Rebecca could renounce Sam once and for all, the couple found themselves locked in a very amorous embrace on the couch in Sam's office -- at which point the seventh season reached its cliffhanger ending. Cheers returned to third place in the ratings during the 1989-90 season, beaten out only by The Cosby Show and the sophomore season of Roseanne. Three Emmys were bestowed upon the series: Ted Danson finally copped a statuette as Outstanding Lead Actor in a comedy; Bebe Neuwirth (not yet a an "official" regular) won as Outstanding Supporting Actress; and the series' sound-mixing team (Robert Crosby, Thomas J. Huth, Sam Black, and Robert Douglass) walked away with its fourth award. Finally, although Cheers spawned no spin-offs this season, it can be said to have godfathered a similar ensemble sitcom assembled by two former Cheersstaffers: Wings, which began a long and healthy run in April 1990, and in the Thursday-night time slot following its "parent" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
Season nine of Cheers picked up where the eighth had left off, with Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) poised to consummate their newfound romance on the couch in Sam's office. "Interruptus" came in the form of Rebecca's billionaire boyfriend Robin Colcord (Roger Rees), now on the lam from the law for illegal stock trading. Gradually, Sam came to realize that his relationship with Rebecca was not to be -- although upon agreeing to marry the newly-released Robin, Rebecca developed an acute case of cold feet at the very last minute, leaving her technically free for a unique "business arrangement" dreamed up by Sam. Elsewhere, Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) continued juggling careers as a bartender and actor, and also persisted in his romantic relationship with wealthy Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson), despite the interference of Kelly's amorous French acquaintance Henri (Anthony Cistaro). Sam Malone likewise had a new nemesis in the form of the imperious John Hill (Keene Curtis), landlord of the building housing Cheers and the owner of the posh restaurant Melville's, which occupied the building's second floor. After babysitting for new parents Frasier and Lilith Crane (Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth), a profoundly affected Sam decided that he, too, would like to be a father. It so happened that he had also selected the perfect mother for his child: Rebecca. And on this discordant note, season nine came to a close. This was the year that Cheers finally graduated to number one in the ratings, enjoying a 21.3 share. It also earned four more Emmys -- Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Direction (James Burrows), Outstanding Lead Actress (Kirstie Alley), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (the second such honor for Bebe Neuwirth) -- not to mention nominations in nine other categories. And finally, this was the year that former series regular Shelley Long returned -- albeit briefly, and at a considerable distance from her former co-stars -- during an NBC special celebrating Cheers' 200th episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
- 1990
Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) invites Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Sam (Ted Danson) along when she goes on a TV talk show to promote her new book, "Good Boys/Bad Boys." At first, Sam is offended when Lilith offers him as a prime example of "Bad Boy." But when the show's female guests and audience members respond positively to Sam, Frasier is miffed that Lilith regards him as merely "Good." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The pregnant Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) becomes obsessed with the notion of sparing her child the horrors of big-city civilization. Thus, she coerces Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) to "become one with nature" by moving into a rustic cabin in the deep, deep woods. Back at Cheers, workaholic Woody (Woody Harrelson) is forced to take his annual vacation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) arranges a gala celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of Cheers, replete with celebrity guests and 1889 prices. The festivities are brought to an abrupt halt when Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) goes into labor with baby Frederick. Real-life Boston mayor Raymond L. Flynn appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Soft-hearted Norm (George Wendt) is unable to issue orders to his painting crew. At the suggestion of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), Norm invents a nasty, disciplinarian "partner" to keep his crew in line. Meanwhile, Sam (Ted Danson) agonizes over his decision to sell his precious Corvette so he can afford to repurchase Cheers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The long-standing dream of trivia buff Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) comes true when he is chosen as a contestant on the TV game show Jeopardy! Though he quickly drives host Alex Trebek and announcer Johnny Gilbert crazy, Cliff does quite well during the first round. Meanwhile, back at Cheers, someone has stolen Sam's (Ted Danson) fabled Little Black Book -- and is calling every number listed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In a replay of the Donald Trump-Marla Maples imbroglio, a former girlfriend of imprisoned millionaire Robin Colcord publicly declares that he's still in love with her. Robin's most recent amour, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), pretends not to care, but is secretly plotting a spectacular revenge. And how about Carla's (Rhea Perlman) dormant love life? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Woody (Woody Harrelson) looks forward to meeting the wealthy family of his girl friend Kelly (Jackie Swanson) with fear and trepidation. As expected, the relatives think the very worst of Woody -- all except Kelly's mother (Melendy Britt), who is very, very friendly to her prospective son-in-law. Meanwhile, the gang at Cheers looks on as urban cowboy Cliff (John Ratzenberger) tries to "conquer" a mechanical bull. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Larry (Larry David) hires a new chef (Ian Gomez of My Big Fat Greek Wedding) for the restaurant. He gets the job thanks in part to his baldness. Larry and Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) go out to eat with Stu (Don Stark) and Susan Braudy (Amy Aquino), with whom they've reconciled after the whole "terrorist attack" fiasco. Larry is annoyed when Stu implies that he knows more about wine than Larry. The Braudys mention that they want to get a dog for their kids, so Larry tells them that Susie (Susie Essman) got a "corpse-sniffing" German shepherd when she and Jeff (Jeff Garlin) separated. Now Jeff has moved back in, and he's allergic to the dog, so Larry thinks they might give it to the Braudys. Then the check comes, and Stu makes a point of picking it up. But Larry insists on thanking only Stu for the meal, and not Susan, because Susan doesn't work, so by Larry's reasoning, it's Stu's money. The restaurant is going to open in a matter of days, when Jeff brings his dog in. The dog runs into the kitchen and starts digging at the floor. Concerned that there might be a corpse down there, the restaurant folks (including Ted Danson and Michael York) call the police. The police have to dig up the floor to search for a body. Meanwhile, at Larry's suggestion, Jeff gives his young daughter Sammy (Ashly Holloway) an ultimatum: either the dog goes or he does. She chooses the dog, which leads Larry to pay her a visit and use his unique powers of persuasion. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2008
This quasi-fantasy offering from ABC starred Jonny Lee Miller as Eli Stone, a successful corporate lawyer who at the outset of the series cared only about the "holy trinity" of America: "Amani, Accessories and Ambition." All this changed when Eli suddenly began experiencing weird MTV-style visions of his late, ne'er-do-well father (Tom Cavanagh)--and, weirder still, of singer George Michael (playing himself). He was also subjected to bizarre hallucinations, notably a huge fighter plane which "buzzed" him in the middle of downtown New York. Interpreting these phenomena as a Sign from Heaven, Eli told off his imperious boss Jordan Wethersby (Victor Garber) and abandoned his lucrative practice in order to got to bat for "underdog" clients, usually those victimized by society in general and corporate fat cats in particular. While Eli's former associates thought that he'd gone crazy, his neurologist Nathan (Matt Letscher) had a grimmer explanation for his radical personality change, insisting that Eli was suffering from the same sort of brain aneuryism that had killed his father. But laid-back acupuncturist Dr. Chen (James Saito) wasn't as willing to write off Eli's new condition in so coldly logical a manner, and offered to help the protagonist interpret his visions in order to best serve humanity. Others in the cast included Loretta Devine as Eli's bemused assistant Patty, Julie Gonzalo as his dewey-eyed protegee Maggie, and Natasha Henstridge as Jordan Wethersby's daughter--and Eli's fiancee--Taylor. Blithely fluctuating between the real and surreal world, Eli Stone evoked memories of such earlier cult favorites as Ally McBeal and Joan of Arcadia, which was undoubtedly the intention of co-creator Marc Guggenheim (who, like Eli, has been a lawyer before turning to scriptwriting). The series first aired on January 31, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Treat Williams starred in this warm-hearted family drama series as workaholic neurosurgeon Andrew Brown. Upon the death of his wife, Andrew realized that he had been sorely neglecting his children in favor of his work. As means of compensation, he moved his family out of Manhattan and into the mountain community of Everwood, CO, where he opened up a free clinic. Andrew's kids, 15-year-old Ephram (Gregory Smith) and nine-year-old Delia (Vivien Cardone), were at first resentful over being uprooted, while Everwood's resident doctor Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes) regarded Andrew as a threat to his own livelihood. Assembled by several former Dawson's Creek hands, Everwood made its WB Network debut on September 16, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
