Grant Goodeve Movies

As conceived, written, directed, and produced by Fred Ashman, this unabashedly patriotic, flag-waving film celebrates Americana and the elements of the United States that make it a unique and dynamic country -- from its ethnic, religious, and ideological tolerance to its peerless emphasis on educational opportunity. In addition to featuring picturesque American scenery and patriotic music on the soundtrack, the film interweaves five dramatic vignettes, each relaying the story of an extraordinary American citizen. The cast includes Marc McClure (Superman: The Movie), James B. Sikking (Made of Honor), Ken Howard (In Her Shoes), and Yakov Smirnoff (Brewster's Millions). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Take a very big look at a very small world as some of the bet wildlife photographers on the planet team with host Grant Goodeve to offer an up close look at some of Africa's most microscopic residents. Though largely unseen to human eyes, these tiny invertebrates thrive in vast quantities just beneath the surface of the earth - often providing anonymous support to creatures hundreds of times larger and completely unaware of their existence. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The sixth and final season of Northern Exposure opens with the typically self-reflective "Dinner at Seven-Thirsty," in which Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), New York-born doctor of the Alaskan village of Cicely, envisions what life might have been like had he never left home. In a similar inward-looking vein, "The Letter" allows local mail pilot Maggie O'Donnell (Janine Turner) to contrast the dreams and desires that she'd had at age 15 with the realities of her early thirties. And just when you think that things can't get any funkier, Satan himself shows up in the guise of a whirlpool salesman (Charles Martin Smith) in the episode "The Robe," and "Zarya" finds the regular cast members assuming the roles of certain people living Russia at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution. Of special importance is the fact that, after six years of verbal sparring, Joel and Maggie have finally realized that they love each other. In fact, they briefly move in together, but when Maggie registers a protest about Joel's obsessive-compulsive traits, the temperamental doctor leaves Cicely and is assimilated into a nearby Eskimo tribe. At this point, Rob Morrow is no longer a series regular, and Cicely's premier entrepreneur, Maurice Minnifield (Barry Corbin), is compelled to send for a New town doctor, Dr. Philip Capra (Paul Provenza), who sets up camp in town in the company of his journalist wife, Michelle (Teri Polo). Joel Fleischman makes his final appearance in yet another "cosmic" episode, in which he and Maggie take a journey of the mind to the strange land of Keewaa Anni (which looks curiously familiar to both Joel and the audience!). As the series approaches its finale, Maggie is elected mayor of Cicely, and Maurice finally pops the question to his female counterpart, tough-talking Officer Barbara Semanski (Diane Delano). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season four of Northern Exposure dawns on the tiny Alaskan village of Cicely and the eccentric residents living therein -- not to mention New York-born doctor Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), still reluctantly working off his student loans as Cicely's general practitioner. The season opener, "Northwest Passages," finds local mail pilot Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner) commiserating with the ghosts of her six deceased boyfriends, all of whom have met with bizarre but grimly amusing deaths. This episode is but a prologue for the season's main plot development: the introduction of Maggie's newest beau, former lawyer Mike Monroe (Anthony Edwards), who suffers from so many toxic allergies that he must live in a plastic biosphere, and can emerge from his cocoon only when wearing a secondhand astronaut suit. Viewers are, of course, prepared for Mike to become the latest victim of "Maggie's curse" -- but surprise of surprises, he is cured of his immunodeficiencies by Joel late in the season. Alas, it is at this point that Mike must leave Maggie for even greener pastures -- but not before delivering a curtain speech that gives us an indication of what The Grapes of Wrath might have sounded like had it been written by Al Gore! In other developments, Adam Ant essentially plays himself in the episode "Heroes"; Bob the Flying Man (Bill Irwin) takes another crack at winning the heart of Joel's taciturn Eskimo receptionist, Marilyn (Elaine Miles), in "On Your Own"; twentysomething Shelly Tambo (Cynthia Geary) finally marries sixtysomething tavern owner Holling Vincoeur (John Cullum), but not before a nasty run-in with Holling's obnoxious daughter, Jackie (Valerie Perrine), in "The Bad Seed"; "Crime and Punishment" finds local radio DJ Chris Danforth (John Corbett) being extradited to West Virginia for violating parole; in "Revelations," the friendship between town entrepreneur Maurice Minnifield (Barry Corbin) and shopkeeper Ruth-Anne Miller (Peg Phillips) nearly comes to an end after she finally pays off the mortgage on her store; "Grosse Point, 48230" finds Joel being bribed into posing as Maggie's boyfriend during her visit to her family in Michigan; and in "Ill Wind," Joel and Maggie end all the suspense by "getting it together" under some very unusual circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After what amounted to a brace of "trial runs," the quirky seriocomic series Northern Exposure entered its third year on CBS with a full season's worth of episodes -- more than enough to thoroughly explore the mystical eccentricities of the citizens of Cicely, AK, and the constant bafflement of the town's premier "outsider," New York-bred doctor Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow). As season three begins, local mail pilot Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner) is struggling to overcome the demise of her boyfriend Rick Pederson, the most recent victim of "Maggie's curse," whereby all of Ms. O'Connell's beaux meet bizarre and perversely amusing deaths. Elsewhere, Joel is kidnapped by mercurial hermit Adam (Adam Arkin) and his hypochondriac live-in girlfriend, Eve (Valerie Mahaffey) -- a crime that the rest of Cicely seems willing to overlook, inasmuch as Adam is a brilliant gourmet chef (later in the season, Adam and Eve are wed, and their nonplussed former "victim" Joel is among the guests). Also, Joel's taciturn Eskimo receptionist, Marilyn (Elaine Miles), falls in love with a traveling carnival mime (Bill Erwin), in an episode built around the talents of the amazing Cirque du Soleil troupe; Joel's now-widowed former fiancée (Jessica Lundy) pays a memorable visit; Maggie's slightly addled mom (Bibi Besch) drops in on her daughter -- and promptly burns down her house; and Bernard Stevens (Richard Cummings Jr.), enigmatic "doppelganger" of local radio DJ Chris Danforth (John Corbett), unexpectedly returns. Among the season's best episodes are "Jules et Joel," with Rob Morrow in a dual role; the multiple Emmy winner "Cicely," with virtually everyone in the cast playing their 1909 counterparts (who'd a thunk that Joel Fleischman might have been Frank Kafka in a previous life?); and the unforgettable "The Body in Question," in which the town gets all worked up over the discovery of an 18th century Frenchman whose corpse has been encased in ice for two centuries (yes, this is the "Frozen Pierre" story...remember?). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this series, which is aimed at the adventurer, some of the world's greatest scenery is admired while viewers participate in challenging activities, including mountain climbing, rafting through white water, trekking the Antarctic, and cycling. Rand McNally Video Expeditions: Climbing to the Top of the Caucasus looks at one of these trips that requires a certain amount of endurance and fortitude. Join climbers as they try for the summit of Mount Elbrus -- at 18,000 feet, the highest in the Caucasus range. Leonard Nimoy narrates this exciting climb. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide

Northern Exposure made its first appearance as an eight-week Thursday-night "tryout" on CBS in the late summer of 1990. With swift, sure strokes, the series' producers quickly established that 27-year-old Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), freshly graduated from Columbia University Medical School, was required to spend four years working in Anchorage, AK, to pay off 125,000 dollars in student loans. Though Joel had seldom strayed off his native Manhattan Island, he took a deep breath and prepared for his journey northward (the alternative was a 10,000-dollar fine and/or 18 years in jail). Upon arrival in Anchorage, Joel discovered that his services were no longer required -- but there was an opening in the tiny (population 815) Alaskan village of Cicely, whose only doctor had just died. Throughout the eight episodes of Northern Exposure's first season, Joel bemoans his "exile," desperately tries to pull strings to get out of his contract...and slowly, almost imperceptably becomes adjusted to his new life in Cicely.

Just as the series wasted no time in establishing its locale and premise, so too did the writers vividly bring the other characters to life with efficiency and economy. During season one, the viewer was introduced to Joel's attractive landlady Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner), the local air-taxi pilot, whose love life was complicated by an inexplicable "curse" whereby all of her boyfriends were doomed to die under bizarre but undeniably amusing circumstances (her latest beau, fellow pilot Rick Pederson (Grant Goodeve), knew he was living on borrowed time, but managed to survive the series' first season). Also seen for the first time were worldly ex-astronaut Maurice J. Minnifield (Barry Corbin), who owned Cicely lock, stock, and barrel, and entertained dreams of transforming the remote community into the "Alaskan Riviera"; Maurice's best friend, the aggressively masculine tavern owner Holling Vicoeur (John Cullum); Holling's 18-year-old fiancée, Shelly Tambo (Cynthia Geary), former "Miss Northwest Passage"; Maurice's Native American assistant, Ed Chigliak (Darren E. Burrows), an orphan with a murky past and an overwhelming desire to gain fame as a big-bucks moviemaker; and Chris Danforth (John Corbett), the quirky, poetic morning DJ on Cicely's radio station KBHR, who functioned as the series' combination narrator and Greek chorus. Also seen in these formative episodes were Ruth-Anne Miller (Peg Phillips), no-nonsense proprietor of the local general store, and Marilyn Whirlwind (Elaine Miles), a poker-faced Eskimo who worked as a nurse in Joel's medical office.

By the end of season one, the series had introduced at least two of the peripheral characters who would add to the funkiness and eccentricities of Cicely from time to time. The first was Adam (Adam Arkin), a shaggy, sociopathic brute who happened to be a "damn good" gourmet cook; and the second was Bernard (Richard Cummings Jr.), a peripatetic African-American who turned out to be the rootless Chris Danforth's half brother. Although Northern Exposure set no fires in the ratings, the word-of-mouth buzz about the series was sufficiently encouraging for CBS to give it another limited-run tryout in the spring of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Upon graduation from medical school, 27-year-old doctor Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow) must work off 125,000 dollars worth of student loans by accepting a practice in Anchorage, AK. Having seldom ventured any farther than the boundaries of his native Manhattan, Joel balks at this assignment, only to be told that if he refuses, he faces a 10,000-dollar fine and 18 years in jail. Resigning himself to Anchorage, Joel shows up in the Alaskan metropolis only to be told that his services are not required and that he has been transferred to the remote village of Cicely -- population 815, mostly eccentrics and oddballs. The fish-out-of-water Joel swiftly makes the acquaintance of his new neighbors including his attractive landlady, mail pilot Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner); Maurice Minnifield (Barry Corbin), the worldly ex-astronaut who owns Cicely; Maurice's ultra-macho best friend, 62-year-old tavern owner Holling Vicoeur (John Cullum); Maurice's 18-year-old beauty-queen fiancée, Shelly (Cynthia Geary); Maurice's assistant, Ed Chigliak (Darren E. Burrows), a laid-back Native American (and aspiring filmmaker) who seems to know everything there is to know; and Chris Danforth (John Corbett), the enigmatic, poetic morning DJ at local radio station KBHR. After several harrowing and mind-numbing experiences both personal and professional, poor Joel throws a tantrum and declares, "I will under no condition, NO condition, spend the best years of my life in the worst place on Earth!" Wanna bet? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having racked up excellent ratings for the 1987 TV movie Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion, the producers concocted yet another "retro" film, 1989's An Eight is Enough Wedding. Dick Van Patten returns as Tom Bradford, who anxiously prepares for the wedding of his oldest son David (Grant Goodeve). While most of the original cast shows up for the nuptials, Tom's wife Abby is played by Sandy Faison. She replaces Family Reunion's Mary Frann, who in turn had replaced the original Abby, Betty Buckley. Dick Van Patten's real-life wife and son Pat and Jimmy also show up in supporting roles. Like Family Reunion, An Eight is Enough Wedding was telecast opposite the World Series (on October 15, 1989, to be exact); and like the earlier film, Wedding won its timeslot in the ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Les (Corey Haim) is embarrassed when he fails his driving test in this routine teen comedy. His buddies are depending on him to provide the wheels for the weekend, but Les is more interested in his Saturday date with Mercedes (Heather Graham). Les secretly steals his grandfather's immaculate 1972 Cadillac for the adventure. The dream date soon turns into a nightmare when Dean (Corey Feldman) bothers Les with camera flashes and cigar smoke, and his sloppy-drunk date dances on the hood of the car with high heels. The car is towed when he parks illegally, and later the teens are chased by revved-up motorheads who challenge him to a race. Carol Kane and Richard Masur play Les' parents. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Most of the original cast members of TV's Eight is Enough are on hand for the "retro" feature Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion. The single most conspicuous defector is Betty Buckley, who is here replaced by Mary Frann in the role of Abby Bradford. The premise: On the eve of his 50th birthday, Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) is in danger of losing his job as a journalist. He is offered moral support by his offspring, who have gathered together to celebrate Tom's half-century mark. Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Susan Richardson, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Connie Needham, Dianne Kay and Laurie Walters portray the Bradford kids. The warm-and-fuzzy script is by Gwen Bagni-Dubov, who'd been churning out teleplays since the black-and-white era. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode reunites Jessica (Angela Lansbury) with her former sweetheart David Everett (Leslie Nielsen), a man of great charm--and a great capacity for causing trouble. This time, Everett has spearheaded a search for buried treasure off the coast of Cabot Cove. When one of the divers is murdered, Jessica agrees to investigate in hopes of clearing Everett's name, only to discover that, as usual, her ex-lover has not been entirely honest and above-board with her (nor anyone else, for that matter!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode was filmed on location in Seattle, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has been asked to deliver a university lecture. During her first few days in town, Jessica is impressed by the efficiency and vast intellect of her temporary secretary David Tolliver (Andrew Stevens). When his wealthy girlfriend is murdered, David is fingered as the main suspect, whereupon Jessica endeavors to clear the young man's name--and in the process, she unearths a hotbed of academic intrigue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide