Bruce Rasmussen Movies

The new owners of NeverendingStore.com (formerly Winfred-Louder) decide to hire Drew (Drew Carey) back, unaware that his computer-tech prowess is less than zero. Back at home, Drew experiences horrible nightmares about his departed girlfriend Kate and develops insomnia. There is only one cure for this affliction: Drew must make plans to get married--but not to his ex Nicki, who is still living in Drew's house because she is emotionally incapable of leaving. Taking Nicki out on a "pity date", Lewis finds that he and she are on the same wavelength...disturbingly so. Kaitlin Olson joins the cast as prickly computer wonk Traylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Drew Carey Show departs from its usual format in the series' two-part Season Seven opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long special). Fluctuating between their sitcom characters and themselves, Drew Carey and the cast serve up a crazy cornucopia of quickie sketches, unified by the common theme of "back to school". Part Two features Drew, Kate (Christa Miller) and a little girl in a cautionary fable about "the dangers of cooties"; a lecture from Kate about how being a cheerleader can help you meet politicians in later life; a drug-expose spoof wherein undercover cop Oswald (Diedrich Bader) forgets to take off his uniform while orchestrating a "bust"; and a talking zit, who looks and sounds like Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson), dispensing sage advice about dating. Musical guest stars include Uncle Kracker, who sings "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and helps Mimi (Kathy Kinney) with a crossword puzzle; Peter Frampton, performing "You Had to Be There" and revealing a past fling with Mimi (the source of his tattoo); and Sugar Ray, whose lead singer Mark McGrath squeezes in a math lesson while joining a rendition of "Answer the Phone". This episode was originally slated to air on September 19, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A victim of cutbacks at Winfred-Louder, cross-dressing Steve (John Carroll Lynch) decides to move in with brother Drew (Drew Carey) during his layoff. When Mimi (Kathy Kinney) happens to see Steve without his female drag, she is instantly attracted to him. Drew is disgusted by this turn of events, but not nearly as disgusted as Mimi when Steve adamantly refuses to appear in public without women's clothes. The ensuing temper tantrums and screming sessions are halted only when Steve issues an ultimatum to Drew and Mimi--one which may change the whole course of The Drew Carey Show, at least until the end of the episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Drew (Drew Carey) doesn't like the fact that his old friends Kate (Christa Miller) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) are now living together. Oswald n turn accuses Drew of carrying a torch for Kate--and as much as Drew denies this, he finds it impossible to hide his true feelings. The upshot of all this is a Valentine's-Day "compatability competition", with Kate and Oswald on one side, Drew and Nicki (Kate Walsh) on the other, and a startling outcome at episode's end. Meanwhile, Mimi (Kathy Kinney) is coached by a psychologist (Eugene Levy) in order to pass a lie-detector test as part of her trumped-up lawsuit against the store; and DrugCo's pet guinea pig Pinky (Ashley Gardner) has gone "catty" in more ways than one! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Horndogs have reorganized, with Drew (Drew Carey) as the leader and Ed Walsh, Jimmy Fox and Dale Peters of The James Gang joining main performers Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). Unfortunately, the two last-named Horndogs are exiled from the group following a misguided attempt by self-appointed groupie Darcy (Pauley Perrette) to freshen the Horndogs' image by dyeing their hair blonde and getting them to grow goatees (Drew despairs that the band now looks like "Hanson In 30 Years". Back at Winfred-Louder, Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson) orders Drew to collect urine samples from his fellow workers when cocaine is found in the men's room--and never mind that the coke is from Wick's own stash; and the relationship between Mimi (Kathy Kinney) and her married boyfriend Ron (Gregory Jbarra) comes to a miserable end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Any episode that opens with Tim Allen parachuting into Drew's backyard has got to be an instant classic! Once this bizarre prologue is dispensed with, we shift our attention to Winfred-Louder, where Mr. Bell, angry that he has been forced to fire his assistant-mistress Suzie (Angela Dohrmann), threatens to dismiss any other employees who are dating coworkers. Not wanting to break up their budding romance, Drew (Drew Carey) and Lisa (Katy Selverstone) formulate a plan: Kate (Christa Miller) will pose as Drew's girlfriend, while Kate's real boyfriend Jay (Robert Torti) will impersonate Lisa's sweetheart. Ah, but the two couples have reckoned without the mean-spirited curiosity of Drew's mortal enemy Mimi (Kathy Kinney). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Wings moved from its second-season Friday slot back to its original Thursday-evening berth for this episode, in which Joe (Tim Daly), having lost his taste for piloting, inaugurates a flight school, with the full support of Helen (Crystal Bernard). Unfortunately, Joe's only students are his funky mechanic Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) and another misfit. Backing away from the flight school that she'd so eagerly promoted, Helen decides to take up Brian's (Steven Weber) offer to let her fly his plane -- only to be forced into a dangerous solo situation! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A writer from "American Flyer" magazine is winging his way toward Nantucket, intending to interview Sandpiper Air owner Joe (Tim Daly). Unfortunately, the writer evinces more interest in the self-proclaimed exploits of Joe's brother Brian (Steven Weber). Meanwhile, two expatriates from Wings' sister series Cheers -- Norm (George Wendt) and Cliff (John Ratzenberger) -- show up on the island with fishing poles in their hands and big hopes in their hearts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide