John Markus Movies

Originally slated as a mid-season replacement, the NBC sitcom Kristin was held up for release until June 5, 2001. Tony-winning Broadway musical star Kristin Chenoweth starred in this semi-autobiographical effort as Kristin Yancey, a starry-eyed Oklahoma gal who heads to the big city in hopes of a showbiz career. After a series of desultory auditions, Kristin lands a job as personal assistant to go-getting real estate developer -- and notorious rogue -- Tommy Ballantine (Jon Tenney). Under a legal cloud because of past incidents of sexual harassment, Tommy has hired Kristin precisely because he finds her completely unappealing, and because she staunchly adheres to the sort of high moral values that he detests. In the prescribed sitcom fashion, Kristen is surrounded (practically engulfed) by wildly eccentric, ethnically stereotyped co-workers: no-nonsense Latina assistant Santa Clemente (Ana Ortiz), flippant black bike messenger Tyrique Kimbrough (Dale Godboldo), and Italian handyman Aldo Bonnadonna (Larry Romano, then pulling double duty as a regular on King of Queens). Kristin was packaged by the same people responsible for Frasier and The Cosby Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In an attempt to boost the show's ratings and possibly take the show on the road to Hawaii, Artie (Rip Torn) encourages Larry (Garry Shandling) to get guest Ellen DeGeneres to come "out of the closet" on the air. After having dinner with DeGeneres to discuss the show, host and guest end up in bed together, making it difficult for Larry to speculate on her sexuality when the cameras begin to roll. Meanwhile, after a hurried Artie gives Beverly (Penny Johnson) the show's budget and asks her to place it in his desk, the sensitive document quickly finds its way around the office. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

After arranging a date between Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and a cute guy named Elliot (Garland Whitt), Denise (Lisa Bonet) entertains thoughts of becoming a singles counselor. But "entertaining" is hardly the operative word when Elliot turns out to already have a girflriend named Shayna (Malinda Williams)--and he goes to Denise, begging advice on how to dump one girl in favor of another. Stuck in the middle of a menage-a-trois in the making, helpful Denise succeeds only in getting into hot water with everyone concerned! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Under the mounting pressures of the most difficult case of her legal career, Clair (Phylicia Rashad) is in danger of burning out completely. To avoid this catastrophe, Cliff (Bill Cosby) ships Clair off to his friend's vacation cabin, hoping that the solitude will bring her peace. This, of course, does not happen--and even worse, once she arrives at the cabin, Clair finds that she may be unable to return home in time for her court date! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Finding a pair of female undergarments in Theo's laundry, Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) arrive at the conclusion that their son has moved in with his girlfriend Justine (Michelle Thomas). Admitting to this, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) insists that he has done so merely to save on rent, but his parents are outraged, and tell him that he and Justine must separate immediately, else they will cut off all financial support. In desperate need of a sympathetic ear, Theo turns to Justine's parents, with surprising results. Meanwhile, another story arc is introduced as Denise (Lisa Bonet) decides to become a special-ed teacher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Preoccupied with filling out law-school applications, Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) permits Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) to go out to dinner with with his former school friend Iris (Tonya Pinkins) and her sister Judy (Brenda Braxton)--provided he returns in time to drive the twins' babysitters Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) back home. Alas, not only does Elvin stay out too late, but he further aggravates the situation by paying for dinner, an act of generosity than he can barely afford. Now in the doghouse with Sondra, Elvin turns to Cliff (Bill Cosby) for advice--always a risky proposition! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) is quite fond of her classmate Clarence (Michael A. Moran), and the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, Clarence caves into peer pressure from his male friends and begins harrassing Rudy, whereupon she and her friends retaliate in kind. The situation soon gets nasty, culminating with Clarence getting pummelled by Rudy--and it is at this point that the kids' teacher Mrs. McGee (Elaine Stritch) force-feeds them a crash course in Etiquette! Featured in the cast is Tatyana Ali, who later appeared as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Thanks to Denise's faulty memory, Martin (Joseph C. Phillips) finds himself without housing arrangements when he reports for duty in Rhode Island--and even worse, Martin is embarrassed in front of his commanding officer when Denise (Lisa Bonet) tries to alibi the situation. But the big loser turns out to be Cliff (Bill Cosby), who now must put up with six additional months of having Denise, Martin, and Martin's daughter Olivia (Raven-Symone) under his roof. Can it be that Denise subconsciously "planned" all this, out of fear of being separated from her parents? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The prevalent situation in this episode is summed up by a dialogue exchange between Denise (Lisa Bonet) and her husband Martin (Joseph C. Phillips), in which Martin asks Denise where she ever got the silly idea that his mother didn't like her, whereupon she replies: "You said, and I'm quoting you, 'My mother can't stand you." With this in mind, Denise is a nervous wreck when her in-laws Lorraine and Joe Kendall (Nancy Wilson, Moses Gunn) pay a visit to the Huxtable household. The climax finds Denise in a showdown with Lorraine--just as Denise's dad Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Martin's dad Joe find that, in spite of everything, they're not so far apart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cliff (Bill Cosby) is upset that his son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) hasn't invited him to his new apartment, all because Theo is worried that Cliff's long-winded anecdotes would bore his roommates. Happily, this proves not to be the case; unhappily, Theo and his buddies are evicted after trying to replicate one of Cliff's childhood stunts! Anthony Quinn guest stars as Theo's irascible landlord in this episode, which also introduces two new sets of twin child actors as the children of Cliff's eldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Clair (Phylicia Rashad) appears on a Sunday TV panel show, where she debates a few fine historical points with a trio of stuffy and arrogant male professors. The other panelists either ignore her comments or grandiosely condescend to her--but in the end Clair makes such an impression that the producers ask her to become a weekly regular! All of this coincides with the "separation pains" suffered by Cliff (Bill Cosby) when his favorite couch is given to Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) and Elvin (Geoffrey Owens). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With the rest of the family out of town, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) has the Huxtable house all to himself. Taking advantage of the sitaution, Theo's pals Howard (Reno Wilson) and Denny (Troy Winbush) talk hm into throwing a small, intimate party for themselves and their girl friends. You guessed it: The festivities quickly get out of hand and the house is overrun with a plague of uninvited guests, who wreak both havoc and damage in equal measure--and worst of all, Theo's girl never shows up! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) asks Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) to cover for her when she breaks curfew to go out with her new boyfriend Jeremy (Christopher Carter). This leads to a potential double crisis when Clair (Phylicia Rashad) figures out that Rudy is lying, while Jeremy insists that Vanessa "prove" her commitment to him. Finally, Clair and Cliff (Bill Cosby) demand that Jeremy show up at their house to talk things over--and Vanessa seems mighty nervous that Jeremy will blurt out something he isn't supposed to! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide