Rob Thomas Movies

This sitcom focuses on a group of struggling performers living in L.A., who pay the bills working for a catering company called Party Down as they wait for their respective big breaks. Working everything from swank Hollywood mixers to children's birthday parties, the group endure a wide array of humiliations, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "paying your dues." ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

Season one of Veronica Mars finds both the title character (Kristen Bell) and her ex-sheriff father, Keith (Enrico Colantoni), regarded as lepers in the affluent community of Neptune -- and it's all because Keith made public his suspicion that Jake Kane (Kyle Secor), the town's richest man, killed his own daughter (and Veronica's best friend), Lilly (Amanda Seyfried). Hoping to find Lilly's murderer and redeem her father's reputation, 17-year-old Veronica assists Keith in his efforts to run a private detective agency -- and while in school, she tirelessly crusades for justice as a reporter for the student newspaper. Early in the season, Veronica finds herself with two loyal allies when she protects nerdy new kid Wallace (Percy Daggs III) from school bully Weevil (Francis Capra) -- and then, in the spirit of "fair and balanced" dispersion of justice, she clears Weevil from an unfounded charge of theft. Meanwhile, several of Veronica's fellow Neptunians display bizarre behavior suggesting that they know more about Lilly's death than they're willing to admit, notably Lilly's seriously disturbed brother, Duncan (Teddy Dunn), and his wealthy, arrogant best friend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring). Also, Veronica finds time to delve into the mystery of her mother, Lianne (Corinne Bohrer), who for apparently no reason had abandoned her family a year earlier. And all the while, Veronica does the "Nancy Drew" bit, 21st century style, using her acute detecting skills to restore shattered reputations, expose the dangers of cult worship, and gather vital clues pertinent to kidnappings, switched-at-birth cases, instances of alleged sexual harassment, and illegal fight clubs. The season ends with the episode "Leave It to Beaver," in which Veronica at long last has the opportunity to solve Lilly's murder -- but in so doing she may betray the trust of one near and dear to her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The weekly, hour-long series Veronica Mars starred Kristen Bell as the 17-year-old title character, formerly the most popular girl in her high school in the affluent community of Neptune. Ever since her sheriff father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), was fired and publicly disgraced for daring to suggest that Jake Kane (Kyle Secor), the town's wealthiest man, may have been responsible for the murder of his own daughter, Lilly (Amanda Seyfried), Veronica had been a social pariah, shunned by all of the "right" people and the "coolest" kids -- including her former boyfriend, Lilly's troubled brother, Duncan (Teddy Dunn). Determined to solve the murder of her best friend Lilly and clear her father's name, Veronica became a crusading reporter for her school newspaper, under the watchful eye of journalism teacher Mallory Dent (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). She also moonlighted as a private eye, helping her dad Keith run his private detective agency, Mars Investigations. In so doing, Veronica forced many of her antagonists in Neptune to face up to the unpleasant truths hidden away in their own souls, and also dug up more than a few inconvenient skeletons in a few high-maintenance closets. The cast included Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel, the nerdy new kid in school who became the closest ally of fellow outcast Veronica; Jason Dohring as Logan Echolls, the wildly undisciplined son of Neptune's two resident movie stars, Aaron and Lynn Echolls, and Duncan Kane's closest friend; and Francis Capra as punkish Eli "Weevil" Navarro, head of the school's most feared gang, the PCH Biker Boyz, who through a series of fascinating plot contrivances found himself begrudgingly helping Veronica in her crusade to see that justice was served at all times. Veronica Mars made its UPN network bow on September 22, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Does true love mix with Sweet and Sour Chicken? That's the question posed by this romantic comedy that follows three couples whose dates have led them to the same Chinese restaurant. Goofy high school nice-guy Heath (Matt Barker) has taken Doug (Rachel Kimsey), a blonde-haired, blue-eyed cheerleader, out for dinner before heading to the prom. However, Doug is only going with Heath to make her former boyfriend jealous, though Heath doesn't realize it. Doug's mother Carolyn (Terra Allen) is dining at the same restaurant with her steady boyfriend Dean (Douglas Caputo); Dean is planning on proposing to Carolyn, but she values her independence and it's hard to say how she'll react. And Heath's older sister Beth (Brandy Snow) is on a dinner date with Trent (Christopher Marley), a smooth disc jockey who keeps making passes at her while she just keeps throwing them back. Fortune Cookie was enthusiastically received in its screening at the 1999 Hollywood Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

After Jen (Michelle Williams) breaks up with him, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) sets out on a road trip with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Billy (Eion Bailey). They end up at a college bar where Dawson finds some success with a female film student. After football player Warren Goering (Eric Balfour) begins a rumor that Joey (Katie Holmes) had sex with him, Jen hatches an elaborate plot to humiliate Warren. But the plan leads to some unexpected complications. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide