Matt Tarses Movies
This American remake of the British series The Worst Week of My Life stars comedian Kyle Bornheimer as Sam, a nervous guy who'd like to make a good impression on his fiancé Erin's parents. Unfortunately, every conceivable thing goes wrong, and unless Erin's folks are interested in things like dead birds, and seeing their new soon-to-be son-in-law naked, this is shaping up to be Sam's absolute worst week. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes, (more)
- 2006
The NBC sitcom Teachers was based on the British comedy series of the same name, which first aired in the U.K. in 2001. Whereas the British series was set in Summerdown School in Bristol, the American edition of Teachers took place at Fillmore Middle School in New Jersey. In both cases, the schools were less than prestigious, weighed down by apathetic instructors, "don't give a damn" students, ridiculous and self-defeating rules and regulations, mediocre-to-poor facilities, and miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape. The American Teachers starred Justin Bartha as English teacher Jeff Cahill, a Kotteresque wise guy and iconoclast who eagerly did battle against the educational establishment -- and sometimes his fellow teachers -- in hopes of helping those few students who really cared about learning something to reach their full potential. Sarah Alexander co-starred as Alice, a former Fillmore student who, in a burst of idealism, had returned as a teacher, and for whom Jeff carried a torch. The rest of the cast included Deon Richmond as Calvin Babbet, the school's drama teacher and Jeff's best friend; radio talk-show host Phil Hendrie as the all-but-burned-out veteran teacher Dick; Sarah Shahi as hot new "sub" teacher Tina; Matt Winston as the wheedling, sycophantic instructor Mitch; and Kali Rocha as Fillmore's ineffectual, p.c.-obsessed principal Ms. Wiggins. Executive-produced by reliable sitcom hands Matt Tarses and Bill Wrubel, Teachers debuted March 28, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Justin Bartha, Sarah Alexander, (more)
- 2000
With the NFL draft looming, Dana (Felicity Huffman) and Casey (Peter Krause) make bets about its outcome -- which fuels their already antagonistic relationship. The rest of the staff are excited about the possibility of covering the draft, which depends on whether it rains or not in Indian Wells. Dan (Josh Charles), who has long been struggling with many and sundry issues, still holds some residual jealousy toward Casey and his inclusion on the infamous Influential People in Sports list -- which causes some friction between the longtime friends. Also, he is forced to cancel a round of golf with pro golfer David Duval due to the constraints of his job. As a result, Dan develops a disgruntled attitude at work that starts to interfere with his job performance. Meanwhile, Jeremy (Joshua Malina) is struggling to come to terms with the fact he's dating a porn star. While eager to tell everyone -- particularly his ex-girlfriend Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) -- about Jenny, he is still unable to tell everyone what she really does for a living. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 2000
The Sports Night crew is ecstatic over landing an interview with basketball legend Michael Jordan until the strict terms of the interview laid out by the Jordan camp are revealed. The hoops superstar's intentions are to only discuss his new line of cologne and no sports questions are to be allowed, while total editorial control is to be passed onto Jordan's representatives. Dana (Felicity Huffman), Isaac (Robert Guillaume), and returned ratings expert Sam Donovan (William H. Macy) firmly refuse the terms and the interview. While negotiating the terms of the interview, Sam makes the acquaintance of Dana's longtime rival Sally (Brenda Strong), who casually proceeds to dump her sexual history onto the disinterested ratings guru. Meanwhile, Casey (Peter Krause) is worried about an upcoming visit he is to make to his son Charlie's classroom. As he scrambles to prepare some sort of presentation, Casey also begins to notice that Sam and Dana are working together much more compatibly than they used to. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 2000
Casey (Peter Krause) has quickly worked his way through a string of dates -- per Dana's (Felicity Huffman) request -- and while out on his eighth, he runs into date number one, Pixley Robinson (Megan Ward). Having been somewhat smitten with her since their sole aborted date, Casey approaches her and asks for her phone number -- which she refuses to give him, instead asking for his. Back in the studio, Jeremy (Joshua Malina) informs Dan (Josh Charles) that Isaac (Robert Guillaume) was present at the legendary 1951 Giants/Dodgers playoff game that started Dan's love affair with sports. Inspired to do a segment about the game featuring an interview with Isaac, Dan approaches the elder newsman only to get the idea shot down. As Dan sets out to figure out why Isaac is so insistent, word gets back to Dana about Casey giving Pixley his phone number, forcing Dana to realize her dating plan for Casey was a major mistake. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1999
While out for a drink, Dan (Josh Charles) strikes up a lively conversation with a woman named Abby Jacobs (Jayne Brook) who gives him her card before they part. Dan tells Casey (Peter Krause) about her the following day and shows him her card. Pointing out to Dan that Abby is a psychiatrist, Casey asks if he's called her to set up a date or an appointment, leaving Dan in a bit of confusion as he rethinks the scenario. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) announces that he has fixed the Y2K bug and suggests that a test be run to prove it. Skeptical of Jeremy's "fix," Dana (Felicity Huffman) concedes to the test, which goes horribly wrong and leaves the studio without power. Dana starts moving the show upstairs to an inferior studio as Jeremy scrambles to bring the studio back online. Later, Dan meets Abby at her office and proceeds to inadvertently have a session with her. Back in the studio, Jeremy learns that some of the control boards had been rewired earlier and were left unlabeled, thereby absolving him of guilt and responsibility for the blackout. Power is restored with minutes to spare before the show goes live. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1999
Still yammering about the recent bomb threat, Casey (Peter Krause) has now gotten to the point that every time he opens his mouth, the rest of the Sports Night crew feels like punching him. Since it has come out that Christian extremists were responsible for the hoax, Casey has started taking pot shots at the Rev. Jerry Falwell on air in his misguided effort to blame someone. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) has just learned that something extraordinary has happened in a cricket match, but since he has no idea what it means he can't prepare a report on it. While steadfastly holding to his story of having broken up with Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) -- who just as steadfastly replies that he has not -- Jeremy and Natalie begin trying to figure out why ten wickets in one inning of cricket is monumental, which then leads Jeremy to rethink his desire to be single. On the other side of the studio, Dana (Felicity Huffman) orders Casey to cut the Falwell sniping, leading to the two having another showdown that ends with Dana's revelation that Gordon plans to propose to her and she intends to accept the proposal. And just before the show goes on, Rebecca (Teri Polo) shows up and finally tells Dan (Josh Charles) that she is going to try to patch things up with her husband -- a development Dan had hoped might not come about but expected nonetheless. Crushed, Dan and Casey each reflect on the last couple of days as they plot their next moves. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1999
Dan (Josh Charles) continues to see psychiatrist Abby Jacobs (Jayne Brook), who continues to analyze Dan's neuroses -- a development that begins a very introspective time for the confused sportscaster. Meanwhile, Casey (Peter Krause) enthuses about his upcoming interview with old friend and new Yankees star player Shane McArthur (Richard Steinmetz), prompting Jeremy (Joshua Malina) to assert his belief that McArthur is an idiot. As the interview is underway, the baseball player casually and ignorantly announces his disdain for everything about New York City -- which Casey finds unnerving and makes assurances to edit the disparaging comments out of the interview. Unfortunately for Casey, Dana (Felicity Huffman) is overjoyed with the resultant interview and refuses to cut anything from it, leaving Casey in a very uncomfortable position with his old friend. Both Dan and Casey are thus forced to partake in some serious soul searching as Dan begins to come to terms with his past while Casey must choose between his loyalty to his friend or maintaining his journalistic integrity. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1998
This highly acclaimed but shortly lived half-hour comedy focused on the staff of a cable sports news program called "Sports Night." As the anchors and producers duck and weave through their career goals, workplace romances, rough divorces, and a love/hate relationship with professional sports, the power-plays on the court, in the office, and behind closed doors create a dynamic and often hilarious environment. Written by Aaron Sorkin, Sports Night has been praised for the balance in depicting the inner-workings of its setting, the relationships between its characters, and the unique overarching world of sports journalism that draws them together. Networks had trouble finding the show an audience and eventually it was canceled. While Sorkin was offered the chance to continue the series on cable, he declined to focus on his new series The West Wing, which found tremendous success and was praised for many of the same merits as Sports Night. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- 1998
Having decided to press charges against football superstar Christian Patrick for sexual abuse during preparations for an interview, Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) now has to endure the wrath of the troglodyte sportsman's fans that are now bombarding her with hate mail and much worse. As a result, her work on Sports Night has been scattershot at best, which prompts Dana (Felicity Huffman) and the rest of the Sports Night crew to try to cover for her during this rough period. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) also lends Natalie a hand in his own inimitably neurotic way by snooping through her e-mail so as to shield her from some of the more egregious correspondences. Dana suggests he focus his attentions elsewhere, like taking her out to dinner since she has an enormous crush on him anyway. Previously unaware of Natalie's interest in him, Jeremy decides to do just that and sets out to find the perfect restaurant. Still smoldering over Dana's romantic relationship with Gordon (Ted McGinley), Casey (Peter Krause) channels his frustration into on-air rants about his alma mater's head football coach -- but he has a change of heart after having an unexpected informal discussion on the matter with Gordon. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1998
Sports Night co-anchors Dan (Josh Charles) and Casey (Peter Krause) have been following a developing story out of Tennessee involving the suspension of student athletes who have protested the flying of the Confederate flag. The network's CEO Luther Sachs is an alumnus and benefactor of the same school in the report and orders Isaac (Robert Guillaume) to prepare a segment explaining the importance of the flag in Southern history. As Isaac gives him the assignment, an incredulous Dan argues that Isaac should instead prepare an op-ed piece to support the students and demand their reinstatement back into school. After some thought, Isaac does just that -- prompting both the unanimous support and admiration from his staff and a call from his angry boss. Meanwhile, Casey makes an appearance on the popular daytime talk show The View and undeservedly takes credit for his snappy wardrobe, when in fact all his clothes are chosen by Sports Night's wardrobe department. Back in the studio, Dan points out Casey's apparent lack of regard for the rest of the crew while one of the wardrobe assistants comes down on him for taking the credit for her department's work. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- 1996
While subbing for Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) in a golf tournament, Will (Will Smith) becomes closer than ever to his Uncle Philip (James Avery). Not surprisingly, Carlton is jealous, and does everything he can to sabotage Will's performance on the links. In a similar development, Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) and Vivian (Daphne Maxwell Reid) find the competition tougher than expected during a tennis match. And in the episode's "money" scene, Hilary (Karyn Parsons) manages to get on the bad side of Regis Philbin when she sits in for Reege's TV cohost Kathie Lee Gifford. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
After Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) strikes out with yet another girl, Will (Will Smith) tries to bolster his cousin's confidence by arranging a double date. Unfortunately, one of their dates (Tamala Jones) has a jealous--and enormous--boyfriend named Mad Dog (James Cardriche), who shows up unexpectedly. Escaping Mad Dog's wrath, Will and Carlton end up climbing onto the ledge of a tall building--and that's when the local "crisis unit" swings into action! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A man trying to save his relationship with the woman he loves finds himself sinking into a quicksand of small lies and half-truths in this comedy. Paul (Jason Lee) is a regular guy who is engaged to marry Karen (Selma Blair); while Paul loves Karen, he's more than a bit nervous around her family, even though her father (James Brolin) has already given him a job in the family business. Shortly before the wedding, Paul's friends throw him a bachelor party, complete with a boatload of liquor and a squadron of grass-skirt-clad tiki dancers. Paul strikes up a conversation with one of the dancers, the cheerful if inept Becky (Julia Stiles), and the next morning, he wakes up bleary-eyed with a massive hangover -- and Becky in bed next to him. Paul soon receives a phone call from Karen saying she's stopping by for a visit, and Paul scrambles to get Becky out of his apartment. Paul attempts to explain some incriminating evidence with a few white lies, but a messy situation gets messier when Paul runs into Becky at a pre-wedding family get-together...and discovers she's Karen's cousin. A Guy Thing also features Shawn Hatosy, Lochlyn Munro, and Julie Hagerty. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julia Stiles, Jason Lee, (more)
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