Lesley Boone Movies
- 2000
After making a career in the Big Apple, a lawyer returns to the small Ohio town of his birth in this comedy-drama series from Worldwide Pants Productions, the company headed up by David Letterman. Ed Stevens (Tom Cavanagh) thought his career as an attorney in New York City was going well -- until he's fired by his law firm and his wife decides to leave him. Looking to start over, Ed visits Stuckeyville, OH, the town where he grew up, and discovers his high school sweetheart Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen) is still single. Ed decides he'd like another chance with Carol, but Carol isn't so sure; hoping to convince her he has no intentions of running away, Ed buys the local bowling alley, the Stuckeybowl. Now the owner of a semi-successful local business, Ed divides his time between running the bowling alley and starting a new law practice, while also dealing with the community's many genial eccentrics and attempting to work his charm on Carol. Ed first aired on the NBC television network on October 8, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Cavanagh, Julie Bowen, (more)
Teen heartthrob and Home Improvement star Jonathon Taylor-Thomas stars in this Disney Christmas film that is a teenaged variation on the Planes Trains and Automobiles theme. Jake has missed Christmas in New York with his family these past few years, so as an incentive, his father promises him a 1957 red Porsche if he makes it home by Christmas Eve. No sweat, until an unexpected twist blows up in poor Jake's face. It seems that the "cheat sheet" he supplied the college football team was incorrect, and the whole team is out to get him. For revenge, they leave him in the middle of the California desert in a Santa Claus suit (his hat and white beard are glued to his face) with no wallet, no cash, and no identification. To make matters worse, Eddie, one of the football players and Jake's arch-nemesis, is now hitting on Jake's girlfriend Allie. What's poor old Jake to do? Well, if you guessed hitchhike, freeload, con, fly, crawl, race and bully an array of colorful characters, you guessed correctly. ~ Chris Gore, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, (more)
- 1995
Originally telecast as a Thursday night special, this is the first episode of a two-part story. Attending her high school reunion, Helen (Crystal Bernard) comes face to face with Sara (Sheila Kelley), the cheerleader who used to make her life miserable. During the same reunion, Lowell has a strange encounter with his mentor, shop teacher Mr. Conley (Tom Hatten). But the "highlight" of the evening comes when Brian (Steven Weber) is reunited with his old flame Wendy (Lesley Boone), who has some surprising and disturbing news for both Brian and his brother Joe (Tim Daly). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Al Franken brings his Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley to the big screen in this unexpectedly downbeat comedy about a man desperately trying to overcome his dysfunctional upbringing. Stuart hosts a TV show on public access TV in which he offers bits of New Age wisdom on self-help, often incorporating his trademark affirmation, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!" Too bad Stuart's advice doesn't work so well for himself; he barely supports himself as a waiter, his self-esteem is shaky at best, and his family is dominated by depressive alcoholics sunk in denial (for all his quirks, Stuart is the only Smalley willing to admit he has a problem). One day, Stuart's friend Julia (Laura San Giacomo) tells him that a cable network is looking for programming, and suggests he should pitch his show to them. Soon Stuart has a nationwide audience and is actually able to support himself, but that's small comfort when his family falls into another crisis. By turns a goofy comedy and a serious look at a dysfunctional family, Stuart Saves His Family does feature a few strong dramatic performances by Laura San Giacomo, Vincent D'Onofrio and Shirley Knight, and a distinctive comic turn by Julia Sweeney as a guest on Stuart's show. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Franken, Laura San Giacomo, (more)
- 1990
In honor of Valentine's Day, Mike (Kirk Cameron) has blown his bankroll to escort Kate (Chelsea Noble) to a fancy restaurant. Imagine Mike's surprise--and dismay--when the couple's waitress turns out to be his ex-fiancee Julie Costello (Julie McCullough)! In the course of this unforgettable evening, the audience finally learns why Mike and Julie called things off at the very last minute (a question frustratingly unanswered in the previous episode "Mike and Julie's Wedding). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
After working at the publishing house for only a few months, Carol (Tracey Gold) is rewarded with a major promotion to the Punctuation Department. Her head spinning, Carol decides to enter the job force immediately--and not attend college. But Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) have other ideas, and they aren't averse to expressing those ideas in the loudest and most emphatic words at their disposal! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hoping to replicate the rush he'd enjoyed as star of his high school production of "Our Town", Mike (Kirk Cameron) begins seriously considering a career as a professional actor. But his hopes are nearly dashed when he enrolls in a highly demanding drama class presided over by an imperious teacher (Steve Arlen) and populated by intensely serious students--far more serious than Mike has ever been in his entire life. This episode marks the first apperance of Chelsea Noble as aspiring actress Kate Macdonald. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
