Brian Stokes Mitchell Movies

Country music mainstay Reba McEntire steps into the role previously made famous by Mary Martin in this filmed version of a special, one-night-only Carnegie Hall benefit engagement of South Pacific also starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Alec Baldwin. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Broadway's Lost Treasures II contains 90 minutes of memorable moments and performances from the various Tony-award telecasts throughout the years. Included on this edition are performances from such famous productions as Man of La Mancha, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, and Anything Goes. Such notables as Gregory Hines, Patti LuPone, Michael Jeter, Nathan Lane, and Jerry Orbach take part in the proceedings. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Daphne's boorish brother Simon (Anthony LaPaglia) has finally left town, but her busybody mother Gertrude (Millicent Martin) is still very much in attendance. Gertrude won't leave until Simon returns, while Daphne (Jane Leeves) can't move in with Niles (David Hyde Pierce) as long as her mom is around. As this crisis reaches the boiling point, so does the ongoing war of wills between Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and his stubborn neighbor Cam (Brian Stokes Mitchell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As a child, Lucy Cullins asked Santa Claus to bring her father home from Vietnam. But when her dad returned in a pine box, the embittered Lucy decided that Christmas -- and every other holiday for that matter -- was a humbug. Now all grown-up (and played by Whoopi Goldberg), Lucy is the hard-as-nails producer for the Shop-A-Lot Channel, a home-shopping cable service. While auditioning actors to play Santa Claus for a hokey Yuletide informercial series, Lucy hires a twinkly eyed old gentleman named Nick (Nigel Hawthorne), who, unbeknownst to everyone but the audience, is the genuine, bonafide "Ho Ho Ho" man himself. Facing mandatory retirement at age 200, Nick must find someone to take his place as Santa Claus for the next two centuries. The person he chooses in none other than Lucy Cullins -- and if she doesn't accept the job, the North Pole will melt, wreaking havoc upon everyone in the world, whether they're "naughty" or "nice." Originally conceived as a vehicle for a black man, Call Me Claus was reshaped as a showcase for Whoopi Goldberg when the actress signed on as co-executive producer. Also in the production lineup was country & western singer Garth Brooks, who penned a handful of new songs for the occasion. Call Me Claus debuted over the TNT cable network on December 2, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The top-rank performances of Lauren Bacall, Richard Chamberlain and Lindsay Frost elevate the two-part TV biopic Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke from the usual malaise of lurid, voyeuristic trash. As she lies near death in her luxurious mansion, 80-year-old tobacco heiress Doris Duke (Bacall) hardly seems to take notice of the sinister behavior of her boozing, control-freak butler Bernard Lafferty (Chamberlain). Ultimately, of course, Doris will die (in 1993), and the mysterious circumstances will cast suspicion on the redoubtable Mr. Lafferty (who himself died three years later). Before this happens, however, Doris flashes back to the sordid events of her life, whereupon the title role is taken over by a series of younger actresses, with Frost playing Doris from ages 20 through 50. We see how Doris' future is shaped by her loving, overindulgent father (Joe Don Baker) and her aloof, icy mother (Kathleen Quinlan). Though warned early on that Doris would always have to be wary of fortune hunters, she progresses through a string of highly publicized and largely unhappy romances, and also endures two disastrous marriages. All the familiar players in this real-life drama are in attendance, including writer Louis Bromfield (Brian Dennehy), international playboy Pofirio Rubirosa (Michael Nouri), and Doris' adopted daughter Chanzy (Mare Winningham) who is destined to break Doris' heart time and time again until the grieving millionairess finally worked up the courage to renounce the girl. Also touched upon are Doris' lifelong obsessions, which ranged from mysticism to belly-dancing. Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke was originally telecast by CBS on February 21 and 22, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the concluding episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's two-part Season Four opener (originally seen as part of a single hour-long telecast), Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) discovers to his horror that his "dream girl" Jackie (Tyra Banks) is actually an old Philadelphia acquaintance of his cousin Will (Will Smith). This leads to a brawl between our two heroes, whereupon they are evicted from their tiny apartment and forced to move back into the Banks home, much to the dismay of Carlton's dad Philip (James Avery). Meanwhile, Hilary (Karyn Parsons) pressures Trevor (Brian Stokes Mitchell, in his final series appearance) into delivering a "very special" wedding proposal--which proves to be the last thing he will ever do! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The political campaign between Philip (James Avery) and Judge Robertson (Sherman Hemsley) begins in earnest--deadly earnest, as it turns out. Will (Will Smith) seriously jeopardizes his uncle's chances when he is hauled into jail to account for $2000 worth of unpaid parking tickets. Though he may be senile, Judge Robertson isn't stupid, and he intends to exploit Will's "indiscretion" to the fullest in public! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's election night, and incumbent Judge Robertson (Sherman Hemsley) handily defeats opponent Philip Banks (James Avery). This comes about because of the outrageous pack of lies told by Robertson against Philip in the course of the campaign. An angry Will (Will Smith) shows up at Robertson's victory rally and tells him to "drop dead"--whereupon the senile old judge instantly does so! The rest of the episode deals with a guilt-stricken Will and a not-so-unhappy Philip, who ironically is called upon to deliver Robertson's eulogy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is the second of four "Day in the Life" episodes, in which the Night Court staff must process a huge number of cases before a midnight deadline. Upping the stakes on this occasion is a Texas millionaire (Pat Corley) who has agreed to finance an orphanage if the staff can successfully try 207 cases within the time allotted; also, Dan (John Larroquette) stands to win a large an office pool if he's guessed the correct number of convictions. Keep an eye out for those "Three Stooges" nuns! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide