Jennie Garth
- 2008
The series that redefined the prime-time teen drama back in the 1990s gets a modern makeover in this spin-off series centering on a family attempting to adjust to life in Beverly Hills after relocating from the Midwest to California and seeing their lives change in ways they never anticipated. Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes) is a teenage girl with a big heart and a passion for the theater, and her brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds) is a talented athlete and gifted scholar who was adopted by Annie's parents after living with the family as a foster child. Their father Harry (Rob Estes) and mother Debbie (Lori Loughlin) decided to move their family from Kansas to Beverly Hills in order to be closer to Harry's elderly mother Tabitha (Jessica Walter), a former television star who spent her fair share of time at the Betty Ford Clinic. Of course adjusting to life at a new high school is never easy when you're a teenager, though Annie and Dixon's transition is made especially awkward due to the fact that their father has accepted a position as the new school principal. It's going to take a little time for the two West Beverly Hills High newcomers to identify the cliques and connect with classmates, who include bratty rich girl Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), popular jock Ethan (Dustin Milligan), ambitious student journalist Navid (Michael Steger), and rebellious broadcaster Silver (Jessica Stroup). Perhaps with a little help from such staff members as hip teacher Ryan Matthews (Ryan Eggold) and helpful guidance counselor Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) - not to mention Kelly's longtime friend Donna Martin (Tori Speling), the owner of a popular Beverly Hills boutique - Annie and Dixon will make some lasting friendships while finding their way though the hallowed halls of California's most exclusive high school. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The title character in this made-for-cable contemporary Western could be hard-bitten cattle rancher John William Cooper (Lance Henriksen), or, for that matter, John's long-estranged daughter Jacqueline "Jake" Cooper (Jennie Garth). Having broken off relations with her dad due to an unpleasant incident involving her mother, Jake returns to Dry Creek Ranch after an eight-year absence with her young son, Billy (Dylan Wagner), in tow. The reasons have little to do with father-daughter love; John's father has died, and the ranch is now mortgaged to the hilt. Out of a sense of obligation, Jake agrees to work the ranch in hopes of putting it back on its financial feet, all the while keeping her distance from the taciturn John. Other interested parties include cowboy Morgan Murphy (Bradley Cooper), who wants to help Jake despite her father's resistance to Morgan's "newfangled" ranching methods, and John's old pal Amos (M.C. Gainey), who is determined to mend the fences between John and Jake. The Last Cowboy was first broadcast by the Hallmark Channel on January 17, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Lance Henriksen, (more)
- 2003
Tired of being given nothing but "fluff" pieces, Rebecca Chandler (Jennie Garth), a reporter for the Indianapolis Sentinel, demands to write a story with some teeth in it. Unfortunately, her dyspeptic editor Bob Bolton (Victor Raider-Wexler) doesn't see things Rebecca's way, thus he dispatches the reluctant newshound to Hamden, Indiana, there to cover a sappy human-interest story about a mysterious "Secret Santa" who each Christmas bestows money and necessities upon a selected needy person. Not only does Rebecca hate the assignment, but she hates Hamden--especially since she was originally slated to have gone on a Hawaiian honeymoon with her ex-boyfriend. Thus, our heroine is hardly full of the Christmas spirit when she arrives in Hamden and is forced by the holiday tourist crunch to take a room in a nursing home where a fellow named Russell (Charlie Robinson), who has already managed to get on Rebecca's bad side, is the main helper-outer. Inevitably, Rebecca's cold heart is warmed up, not only by the looney but likeable Russell, but also by an unusually perceptive nursing-home resident named Miss Ruth (played by the great Barbara Billingsley). However, Rebecca still has a story to file, and she thinks that she has zeroed in on the elusive "Secret Santa", fingering local millionaire John Martin Carter (Steven Eckholt) as the most likely suspect. But even if Carter is the man in question, the townsfolk aren't about to help Rebecca expose their unknown benefactor--it seems that over the years they've come to believe in the Secret Santa, and they're not about to shatter their own illusions for the sake of a cheap headline! Adapted for television by Beth Polson and Robert Tate Miller from their own novel, Secret Santa first aired December 14, 2003, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Several cast and production crew members of the long-running (1990-2000) FOX teen-drama series Beverly Hills 90210 were gathered together in this retrospective special, which is staged in the form of a high-school reunion (including badges with class photos and name tags). Taking place in a mockup of the Walsh family's suburban living room, the special provides the participants with ample opportunity to catch up, compare notes, reminisce, and even open a few old wounds. Thanks to FOX's extensive pre-show publicity, it is no surprise to the viewers that the much-maligned Shannen Doherty shows up to face the actors with whom she'd once been on the "outs." What is surprising is the handful of no-shows, including three prominent actors who ostensibly had no axes to grind with anyone (where, for example, is cast member Tori Spelling, daughter of series producer Aaron Spelling?). In order to create the aura of spontaneity, the camera crew assigned to Beverly Hills 90210: Ten Year High School Reunion not only recorded the events occurring on-stage, but also the activity backstage, before, during, and after each commercial break. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley, (more)
- 2002
A typical WB Friday-night "familycom" effort, What I Like About You starred Amanda Bynes, late of Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show, and Jennie Garth, a veteran of Beverly Hills 90210. When her father was transferred to Japan, 16-year-old Holly (Bynes), for whom the phrase "accident prone" must have been coined, moved into the fashionable Upper West Side apartment occupied by her uptight older sister Valerie (Garth). Though she meant well, Holly's tendency to create slapstick chaos put quite a strain on Valerie's well-ordered lifestyle -- not to mention her relationship with sweetheart Jeff (Simon Rex). Packaged by the same people responsible for cable TV's Arli$$, What I Like About You debuted September 20, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth, (more)
- 1997
- R
Actor James Brolin made his directorial debut in this suspense drama about political unrest in Northern Ireland. Gerry and Liam Fallon (Patrick Foy and Salvator Xuereb) are a pair of brothers who, as children, saw their father killed in a street skirmish and have grown up to become gunmen in the Irish Republican Army. When a highly ranked British dignitary is scheduled to visit Belfast, the IRA plan an attack on his motorcade, but after Liam discovers that the politician's wife and children are in the car with him, he tries to stop the planned execution and ends up shooting Gerry and his fellow volunteers. The bombing of the car, however, goes on as planned, killing the diplomat, his family, and several observers. Gerry is sentenced to life in prison, while Liam escapes capture. Following the bombing, a new round of negotiations and an IRA cease fire promises to bring peace to Northern Ireland, but Liam is uninterested in any sort of compromise with British authorities. He organizes a splinter faction of IRA volunteers to step up terrorist actions until Ireland is free. John Hall (Brolin), a former CIA agent from America, lost a sister in the bombing, and wants to help bring Liam to justice. Joining forces with Hall is Gerry, who wants nothing more than to stop his brother's reign of terror and settle down with his girlfriend Mary (Jennie Garth). Hall is able to arrange for Gerry's release in exchange for his help in putting his brother behind bars. James Brolin's son Josh Brolin appears in a supporting role as Pete, one of the IRA terrorists. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, James Brolin, (more)
- 1996
- R
An LA radio talk show host with a night call-in program finds his rating soar after a psychopathic killer becomes a regular caller in this low-budget thriller. Dee jay Karlin Pickett is known for being a wild and crazy guy. He is first seen working in Phoenix. He picks up a girl in a bar and shortly thereafter, she is killed. This is naturally upsetting to Pickett who then moves to LA to take a better job. Soon the antics of himself and his new side-kick Jon catch fire and they become one of the most popular shows around. Then the killer calls and announces that he has killed the woman he just slept with. No one but Detective Dimotto takes it very seriously; it is just good for ratings. When another woman dies, Dimotto moves in and solves the case, something perceptive viewers will have done long before the story's grand finale. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, Jason Gedrick, (more)
In this drama, a husband's moment of indiscretion has nearly catastrophic consequences when his mistress refuses to accept that their affair is over. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1996
Based on Virginia Sorenson's novel On the Star, this ABC TV movie is set in a small Mormon community in rural Utah. Returning to his home town after many years is Erik Eriksen (Rob Estes), a world-famous piano virtuoso. Although beloved by millions of music fans, Erik is treated with disdain by his family, who resent his popularity and are shocked by his all-consuming passion for his art. The only people who truly "understand" Erik are his brother Jens (Mike Doyle) and Jens' fiancée Chel (Jennie Garth), herself a pianist of no small talent. In keeping with the film's title, innocence is lost beyond recall when Erik, much against his better nature, betrays Jens and enters into a torrid romance with Chel. A Loss of Innocence was first broadcast September 29, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A woman is hunted by a killer in this made-for-TV drama. Jennie Garth stars as Meg Crane, a beautiful and strong woman who escapes a serial killer (Costas Mandylor). Neither are through with each other yet though -- she is determined to catch him and he is determined to finish the job. Peter Outerbridge stars as her boyfriend and Billy Dee Williams is the city-slick cop. Garth also served as a creative producer. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Costas Mandylor, (more)
- 1995
In the midst of contract negotiations, Larry's (Garry Shandling) agent, Stevie (Bob Odenkirk), is able to work a sitcom deal into the mix. In search of a good comic writer to ensure success, Larry is elated when he discovers that Chris Elliott is more than willing to pen a script. Despite his initial enthusiasm, however, Larry finds himself at odds with the network brass in terms of what is expected from the show. Hiring Phil (Wallace Langham) for a quick rewrite, Larry manages to impress the network while simultaneously incurring the wrath of a vengeful Elliott. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this fact-based made-for-television drama, a woman accused of murder remembers the events leading up to her predicament while awaiting judgment from the court. Laurie Kellog's ordeal began when she was only 16. Bruce Kellog was 31, handsome, charming and fascinating. She fell in love, and when he asked her to move in with him, she did. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to her, she would have had no choice in the matter, for darling Bruce had actually purchased her from her stepfather for $500. The couple are not together long before Mr. Charming turns into an abusive, wife-beating toad. After enduring constant battering, something inside Laurie snapped. Now she stands accused of hiring four teens to kill her husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Gregory Harrison, (more)
- 1994
Creative casting sets this made-for-television movie slightly ahead of the pack, despite the somewhat familiar story found often in 1980s tough love movies. Jennie Garth stars as Laura Mills, an apathetic teen who's more of an aggravation to her parents than genuine threat. After some stern warnings prove fruitless and culminate with a drunk-driving accident, Laura's tired parents (Jill Eikenberry, Tom Irwin) send her off to a teen psychiatric center for some counseling. Soon after her arrival, Laura finds herself amongst drugged and restrained kids, admitted only for the value of their health insurance coverage. Paul Sorvino is effective as the cold hospital director and Helen Shaver is endearing in her small but memorable role as teen advocate. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Jill Eikenberry, (more)
- 1993
Disowned by her wealthy family, a determined young woman moves to San Francisco and tries to become a famous singer and to find lasting love. This sudsy drama chronicles her decade-long struggle. Through it all, she finds romance with an old flame. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
