Ted Gehring Movies
Character actor Ted Gehring first appeared onscreen in the late '60s. ~ All Movie Guide- 1986
- R
This teen thriller by Richard Tuggle involves an innocent young man being mistaken for a drug dealer and thief by both the good and the bad guys. Daryl Cage (Anthony Michael Hall) sets off to visit his brother and sister-in-law in L.A. but picks up the wrong bag at the airport baggage claim -- one loaded with 10 kilos of heroin. Before Daryl has a chance to find out what's inside, murder and mayhem are unleashed and even the police take potshots at him. So he teams up with Dizz (Jenny Wright), a fellow passenger on his flight, and disguises himself as a street-wise but slick operator. Cage then dodges death at the hands of the sadistic Roy Gaddis (Jeff Kober) and tries to convince the police of his innocence. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Michael Hall, Jenny Wright, (more)
Newly divorced Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) moves herself and her young son to a small Arizona town, hoping to establish a horse farm. Town pharmacist Murphy Jones (James Garner), the town's most eligible bachelor, develops a platonic friendship with Emma, but he decides to keep his distance when her ex-husband Bobby Jack (Brian Kerwin), who claims he's changed his irresponsible ways, moves back in with her. At a party at Emma's ranch, Murphy and Bobby Jack get into a verbal row, but nothing is settled until Wanda (Anna Levine) shows up with two babies in tow, claiming that Bobby Jack is the father. Once rid of her ex, Emma commisserates with her friend Murphy at his drug store--and is quite surprised to discover that she's fallen in love with the older man, and he with her. Murphy's Romance is a very gentle romantic comedy; even Murphy's cast-away lady friend (Georgann Johnson) behaves like a civilized human being instead of a woman scorned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Field, James Garner, (more)
- 1984
Originally broadcast as a two-hour TV movie, this opening episode of Highway to Heaven has since been divided into two one-hour installments for syndication. In part two, probationary angel Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon), adopting the guise of an earthly handyman, continues in his efforts to bring some joy and sunshine into the lives of the unhappy residents of Havencrest, a retirement home slated for demolition. Although most of the elderly residents respond positively to Jonathan's efforts, a bitter, selfish old lady named Estelle (guest star Helen Hayes) refuses to have anything to do with either Jonathan or her contemporaries. Not only is Estelle's attitude hurting her, but it also might ruin Jonathan's chances of ever earning his wings. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1984
Having gone to his Heavenly reward in 1948, lawyer Arthur Morton is "reborn" in 1987 as Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon), a probationary angel who in order to earn his wings must return to Earth and offer help and support to unfortunate mortals. In this debut episode of Highway to Heaven, Jonathan is assigned to Havencrest, a retirement home that is facing demolition. Adopting the earthly guise of a handyman, our hero sets about to improve the quality of life of Havencrest's surly and sullen residents. Originally telecast as a two-hour TV movie, the opening episode of Highway to Heaven has since been divided into two one-hour installments for syndication. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1983
In Black Rock, California, a seriously wounded B.A. (Mr. T) is tended to by Dr. Maggie Sullivan (Tricia O'Neil), who suspects that her patient is a member of a biker gang that is poised to raid the town and release its leader from prison. As a result, Black Rock's sheriff Hank Thompson (Ed Lauter) places B.A.'s fellow A-Teamers Hannibal (George Peppard) and Face (Dirk Benedict). Ultimately, however, Thompson and his prisoners join forces to protect the town from the savage biker hordes--while Murdock (Dwight Schultz) rushes to the scene in hopes of providing B.A. with a blood transfusion before it's too late! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Stuart Margolin guest-stars "Hot" Rod Crysler, an old Naval Academy buddy of Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck). A hard-luck case if there ever was one, Crysler has only recently been released from prison, and is scratching out an existence as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman. Unfortunately, corrupt narcotics officer Emmet Donner (Roland Hunter) is blackmailing Crysler into using his bookselling job as a front for drug-smuggling. To keep his old pal from being sent back to prison for keeps, Magnum joins forces with "Hot" Rod's sympathetic parole offiecr (Carlene Watkins). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
In an episode reminiscent of Smokey and the Bandit, young widowed mother Mary Lou Tomkins --played by Janeen Best, daughter of series regular James Best (Sheriff Roscoe)--hides her baby in the General Lee. It is now up to Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) to prevent the child from falling into the hands of the hoodlums hired by Mary Lou's grouchy father-in-law, who despises "country bumpkins" and will stop at nothing to reclaim the kid. Meanwhile, Sheriff Roscoe and Deputy Enos (Sonny Shroyer) try to get used to doing their work on horseback (don't ask!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
When several people are killed in a hotel blaze, the authorities pin the blame on a known pyromaniac. But after a careful forensic examination, Quincy (Jack Klugman) is convinced that the wrong man is behind bars. To help prove this theory, Quincy persuades his old pal, insurance investigator Jake Carter (Gerald O'Loughlin, to come out of retirement. The opening fire sequence in this episode was excerpted from 1978's Inferno, a two-hour TV movie spinoff of the popular Jack Webb series Emergency! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Robert Carnegie returns as Burt, former trucking partner of waitress Jolene (Celia Weston). Realizing that the worn-out Burt is on the verge of collapse, Alice (Linda Lavin) and Vera (Beth Howland) volunteer to help Jolene haul her former partner's rig on an important delivery to a mining town. Too bad that the girls have never seen the classic French film The Wages of Fear, or they might have guessed that they're literally playing with dynamite! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
After literally getting away with murder, sadistic small-town bully Harry Moeller (Brion James) is himself shot to death. Six of Moeller's longtime victims step forward and confesses to the crime, which each man claiming to have taken one shot at the man with the same gun. With no way to determine which bullet was the fatal one, police chief Frank Ollano (John Anderson, happy to be rid of Moeller, is willing to write off his killing as self defense. But Quincy (Jack Klugman), who had appeared as a witness as Moeller's earlier murder trial, isn't about to let anyone get away with a second murder--even one that seems eminently justifiable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Nature-loving Vera (Beth Howland) is outraged when the local Parks Department decides to cut down a 100-year-old tree in the front of the diner. Protesting this move, Vera chains herself to the tree and refuses to budge when the chainsaws and bulldozers arive. Ultimately, however, there is a mighty crash of lumber--and it is Mel (Vic Tayback) who bears the brunt of the damage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Celia Weston joins the cast as Jolene Hunnicutt, a tough-talking female trucker. During a stopover at Mel's Diner, Jolene escapes her rapacious male driving partner by hiding in the ladies' room--at which point her partner leaves her stranded. With no other recourse, Jolene accepts a job as Mel's new waitress, thus filling the gap left by Belle (Diane Ladd in her final series appearance), who has quit to accept a singing job in Nashville. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Country singer Jerry Reed makes a return appearance to Mel's diner in this episode. At the invitation of Mel (Vic Tayback), Jerry deposits a large fish that he has caught in the restaurant refrigerator until he has time to get it stuffed and mounted. But Alice (Linda Lavin) and the girls don't know about this arrangement--and when they come across the fish, they subdivide it into fillets. Diane Ladd (Belle) sings "Uncle Bud." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An orphan grows up to become an Old West legend as the story of the Lone Ranger comes to the big screen in this western saga featuring Christopher Lloyd and Jason Robards. Orphaned as a young boy, John Reid struck up a lifelong friendship with a loyal Indian boy named Tonto. Years later, Reid has become a lawyer and returned to the west in order to ensure that vicious murderers such as the Cavendish gang are brought to justice. Having previously murdered Reid's parents, the Cavendish gang proves that they still rule this lawless land when they launch an ambush that leaves the lawyer serious wounded and his Texas Ranger brother dead. Nursed back to health by his old friend Tonto, Reid dons a mask and sets out to pursue justice anonymously atop his faithful horse Silver. His timing couldn't be better, either, because the Cavendish gang is about to carry out their most ambitious misdeed to date by kidnapping President Ulysses S. Grant (Robards). Upon learning that the president has been abducted by the most violent gang in the Wild West, the Lone Ranger sets out to settle an old score while rescuing the man who will steer the fate of a nation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klinton Spilsbury, Michael Horse, (more)
- 1981
In the opening episode of Alice's sixth season, diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback) once again allows his judgment to be clouded by his mania for gambling. Specifically, Mel plans to make a 90-to-1 bet on a horse race, using $10,000 borrowed against his diner. To save Mel from himself--and to save their jobs in the bargain--Alice (Linda Lavin) and the girls overpower their boss and rope him to a chair (and in case you're curious, Mel proves that he can still yell "Stow It!" with a gag in his mouth!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Sorrell Booke plays a dual role as the flamboyantly larcenous Boss Hogg and Boss' scrupulously honest and virtuous twin brother Abe. Arriving in Hazzard County after a long absence, Abe Hogg hopes to claim some valuable land willed to him by his aunt--only to find out that Boss has declared Abe legally dead so that he can snatch up the property himself. The Duke clan comes to Abe's rescue, a task made difficult when they find themselves unable to determine which twin is which! John Schneider (Bo Duke), who was filming a TV movie at the time, does not appear in this episode, leaving Abe Hogg's salvation in the hands of Luke (Tom Wopat) and Daisy (Catherine Bach). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Paying his respects at the funeral of an old acquaintance, Mel (Vic Tayback) is taken aback by the realization that he is virtually the only mourner in attendance. Worried that the same thing will happen when he himself cashes in his chips, Mel figures it's about time to change his ways. Thus, the "new, improved" Mel goes out of his way to be nice to everyone--and drives them all crazy in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Eddie Barth guest stars as "Rocky" Rockwell, an old buddy of diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback). Paying Mel and extended visit, Rocky arrives bearing news that his wife Mildred (Reva Rose) has walked out on him. Naturally, this places Mel in an awkward position--which gets akwarder and akwarder as the episode progresses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Polly Holliday makes her final regular Alice appearance in this episode, designed as a lead-in for the actress' new spinoff series Flo (which debuted exactly one month later, on March 24, 1980). When a wealthy Houston restauranteur offers Flo a terrific new job, the "Kiss Mah Grits" girl bids farewell to the gang at Mel's diner--and receives a gala party in honor. The fact that Flo would end up laboring away at her own truck stop in the flyspeck community of Cowtown, Texas was of course not revealed to her (or the viewer) until the situation's full comic value could be realized. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Mel (Vic Tayback) couldn't be happier to have his favorite waitress Belle (Diane Ladd) working for him again. Alice (Linda Lavin) and Vera (Beth Howland) aren't quite so happy: In fact, they're getting REALLY ticked off by Belle's irritatingly "helpful" suggestions as to how they can improve their service. The inevitable showdown occurs just before the final commercial, with a huge cake brought into play as a weapon! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Diane Ladd makes her Alice debut in this episode as Belle Dupree, the waitress hired by Mel to replace the departed Flo (ironically, Ms. Ladd had created the role of Flo in the series' feature-film prototype Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore). The Mississippi-born Belle had worked for Mel in the past, and he fondly recalls her as "one of the best waitresses I've ever had" (though he might have been swayed by her looks rather than her talent). Little does he know that Belle is merely biding her time until she can realize her dream of writing country-western songs. One of these, which is performed by Diane Ladd, is titled "Uncle Bud", and the actual composer is Preston P. Ladner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
The up-and-down romance between Vera (Beth Howland) and Brian (Alan Haufrect) has taken yet another downward swing. Though Vera is still eager and willing, Brian seems to have lost all interest in her. Desperately, Vera turns to the enticing Belle (Diane Ladd) to transform her into an object of lust. This episode marks the directorial debut of series star Linda Lavin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
To improve the efficiency of his staff--and to discourage their chronic lateness--Mel (Vic Tayback) installs a timeclock. Alice (Linda Lavin) and the other waitresses respond by demanding to be paid overtime for their Sunday cleanup, which they previously did for free. Mel refuses, sparking a bitter labor strike in which the clock is not the only thing that may be punched out! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
After producer Irwin Allen highlighted the dangers of fire in the Towering Inferno and the dangers of water in the Poseidon Adventure, he is back to fire again but this time it is within the earth, at least for awhile. This fairly routine disaster film is set on a resort island with a volcano that is beginning to rumble. Stars include a long list of names: Paul Newman is Hank, the savvy oil driller who gets people to safety even against their will, Jacqueline Bisset is the woman he is interested in, William Holden, Eddie Albert, Barbara Carrera, Veronica Hamel and several others play individuals trapped on the island. Hank convinces some people to follow him to the highest part of the island as the volcano gets set to blow its top. They encounter several dangerous situations after the dormant volcano wakes up but nothing quite like the non-stop, action filled, death-defying scenes from the explosion of volcano movies that hit the screens in 1997: Dante's Peak, Volcano, Eruption, Volcano: Fire in the Mountain, and a few more from around the world. They formed a virtual 1997 "ring of fire." ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, (more)
- 1980
Mildred Natwick guest stars as Agatha, the elderly, freewheeling aunt of waitress Vera (Beth Howland). While motorcycling her way to Mexico, Aunt Agatha makes a stopover at Mel's Diner. The old lady's footloose-and-fancy-free outlook on life prompts Vera to experience an epiphany--and to join Agatha on her Southbound odyssey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
