Andy Ackerman Movies

After her mother catches him eating food from the garbage and cleaning a stranger's windshield, George finds himself trying to convince his girlfriend that he isn't homeless. Meanwhile, Kramer has to deal with a kidney stone, Jerry realizes he set his expectations too high regarding sex with a Russian gymnast, and Elaine can't seem to pull Mr. Pitt away from a 3-D Magic Eye picture. Elina Lowensohn, Maurice Godin, and James Sweeney guest star. Originally airing November 3, 1994, "The Gymnast" was the sixth episode of the show's sixth season. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

After he buys a used car because it was pitched as once being owned by "Jon Voight," George becomes determined to verify whether or not it was indeed the famous actor Jon Voight. Meanwhile, Jerry decides to show up uninvited to a party hosted by Tim Whatley in hopes of running into a dentist, Kramer's attempts to help out a failing shoe-repair business go awry, and Elaine is subjected to a blaring Dixieland band when she goes to retrieve Mr. Pitt's ticket to hold a rope on the Woody Woodpecker balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bryan Cranston, who would later go on to star as Hal, the father to the title character on FOX's Malcolm in the Middle, guest stars as Tim Whatley. Originally airing November 17, 1994, "The Mom & Pop Store" was the seventh episode shot for the show's sixth season, despite being the eighth one shown. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Plucky Daphne (Jane Leeves) has no qualms about going out on a date with ex-convict Jimmy (Tony Abatemarco). Her devil-may-care attitude is not shared by Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce), who vow to protect Daphne's honor if necessary. The fact that Frasier had not earlier been able to differentiate between the ex-con and an ex-cop does not diminish his diligence in "protecting" Daphne; and, of course, Niles' interest in the matter goes far beyond mere friendship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steven Eckholdt guest stars as Connor, an old college friend of Joe Hackett (Tim Daly). Ignoring Joe's advice, Helen (Crystal Bernard) is attracted to Connor and agrees to go on a date. A few minutes into the evening, and Helen realizes that Joe was not acting out of jealousy with his warnings; Connor possesses what may be the most annoying laugh on the entire Eastern seaboard, if not the entire known universe! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Following advice dispensed by Antonio (Tony Shalhoub), mechanic Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) demands a raise from Joe (Tim Daly) and Roy (David Schramm) by claiming he's been offered a higher-paying job in Boston. The plan backfires when both Joe and Roy advise Lowell to accept that better job -- which, of course, does not exist. As it turns out, the person who suffers the most from this situation is the "helpful" Antonio. This episode was originally slated to air on January 14, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Her tongue loosened by a wee bit too much wine, Alex (Farrah Forke) reveals a secret to Antonio (Tony Shalhoub) and Helen (Crystal Bernard); she once posed nude for Playboy. Of course, Antonio and Helen promise that they'll never, ever tell anyone -- which means that both Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) know the whole story the very next day. Assuming that it was the loquacious Antonio who blabbed, Alex gives him hell -- only to discover that he wasn't the guilty party, leading to a tense showdown in the ladies' room (and a few aching bladders). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Helen (Crystal Bernard) reluctantly accepts the financial assistance of Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) in her efforts to land a position with the Nantucket String Quartet. Unfortunately, the annoying eccentricities of her fellow musicians drive Helen crazy, but she agrees to stay on for the sake of the Hackett brothers. Before this situation is resolved, we are treated to tantalizing glimpses of the amateur musical triumph "Phantom of the Oprah," starring Fay (Rebecca Schull) as Oprah Winfrey! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Frasier's conniving agent, Bebe Frazer (Harriet Sansom Harris, in her first series appearance), arranges a big-bucks deal for her favorite client. All Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has to do is "subtly" endorse a few commercial products as part of his call-in radio show. Trouble is, Frasier wants nothing to do with at least one of these products -- nor is he keen on delivering advertising copy that will make him sound like a buffoon. Fearful of his reputation as a psychiatrist, yet eager to fatten his bank account, our hero finds himself mired in yet another of his many ethical dilemmas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Frasier learns to his dismay that a friend and fellow doctor has died of a sudden heart attack. It helps Frasier's peace of mind not at all that he and his late friend were exactly the same age. Hoping to come to grips with his own mortality -- and to avoid the dead man's fate -- Frasier attends his friend's "shiva" (a Jewish wake). This episode originally aired December 2, 1993, replacing a planned rebroadcast of Frasier's pilot episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lonely Joe (Tim Daly) isn't too happy when he is asked to fly Brian (Steven Weber) and Alex (Farrah Forke) to a romantic rendezvous in Vermont, nor is he any happier when Helen (Crystal Bernard) asks to tag along so she can visit her wealthy beau Davis in New York. But when the plane is grounded by fog, forcing the foursome to spend the night under the same roof, Joe is the one who gets the most enjoyment out of the situation! And back in Nantucket, Roy (David Schramm) tries to score points with a lady named Barbara (Stacey Pickren) by (temporarily) undergoing a complete personality change. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Already having endured several consecutive sleepless nights (there's a noisy squirrel in her attic), Helen (Crystal Bernard) suffers a concussion -- whereupon the doctor (Ted Sorel) tells her that she must stay awake for another 24 hours. Thus it is that Brian (Steven Weber) and Joe (Tim Daly) appoint themselves Helen's waker-uppers, leading to an unexpected (and slightly erotic) complication. Meanwhile, Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) tries to come up with an appropriate eulogy for his late friend and fellow mechanic Weeb Gilroy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Following some unintended advice from Helen (Crystal Bernard), both Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) adopt "new" approaches in their amorous pursuit of Alex (Farrah Forke). To wit, Joe reveals his hitherto well-hidden "sensitive" side, and Brian takes on a jealous pose. Alex of course doesn't fall for either of these subterfuges. She prefers a certain commodity called honesty, of which both Joe and Brian are in very short supply. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After weeks of resisting the charms of Brian (Steven Weber), Alex (Farrah Forke) is swept off her feet when he spontaneously whisks her off to a lobster dinner in Maine. But upon her return to Nantucket, Alex discovers that Brian's "spontaneity" was the end result of a meticulously planned "date package" which he has used many times before. Normally, Alex's rage at Brian would provide a golden opportunity for Joe (Tim Daly) to make a few moves towards the sexy copter pilot himself -- but that's not quite what happens in this final episode of Wings' fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide