Glenn Berenbeim Movies

Everybody Loves Raymond's Doris Roberts is perfectly typecast as lifelong busybody Rose (Doris Roberts), who insists upon meddling in the affairs of her grown daughter Maggie (Mare Winnignham) whether anybody likes it or not. Aware that Maggie's marriage to husband Brian (Tom Verica) is in trouble, Rose tries to "fix" things by arranging a Eastern vacation for the couple, which will allow them to hear the Bells of St. Peters' in Rome; perhaps, reasons Rose, this will bring about the miracle that will bring Maggie and Brian back together. A sudden, fatal illness forces a radical change in plans--and an unhappy ending seems to be inevitable. So where's the miracle? And for that matter, where are Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dying from an inoperable brain tumor, impoverished single mother Lorena (Stacey Edwards) is determined to find a loving home for her 12-year-old daughter--and to make just enough money to pay for her own funeral. Tackling the second problem first, Lorena goes to work for Sidney Alcott (Bob Gunton, an embittered, hard-drinking funeral home director. Regarding Lorena as a nuisance, Sidney's first instinct is to turn her over to his assistant Monica (Roma Downey), who angelic presence in the proceedings is not immediately explained. Ultimately, it becomes crystal clear that Lorena was fated to link up with Sidney all along...and that Sidney truly needs Lorena in a way that he never could have imagined. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) tries to help Nick Albright (Ross Malinger), a troubled teen whose family is going through bankruptcy and a marital breakup just before Thanksgiving. Seeking a way to escape his problems, Nick heads to a popular Rave called Heaven's Portal, and Gloria tags along. So far so good: But in her zeal to "empathize" with Nick, Gloria ends up taking the dangerous drug Ecstacy, naively taking Nick's word that the experience will bring her closer to God! Now Monica (Roma Downey) must team with Nick's mother Jessica (Stephanie Zimbalist) to rescue both the boy and the nearly-fallen angel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

12-year-old Davey Tucker (Jeremy James Kissner) hates his nomadic existence as the son of a travelling circus clown. He is also somewhat ashamed of the fact that his father Leroy (Phil Fondacaro) is a dwarf. Into this tense situation comes Heavenly casewalker Monica (Roma Downey), posing as a clown-in-training. This time, Monica's assignment is twofold: to teach Davey a lesson about tolerance--with the help of a overweight little girl named Maryjane (Rachel Snow)--and to help Leroy overcome his fear of taking over as the circus' new "human cannonball". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In an episode that was clearly a labor of love for Londonderry-born Touched by an Angel star Roma Downey, Heavenly caseworker Monica (Downey, of course) is assigned to shepherd eight teenagers from Northern Ireland--four Protestants and four Catholics--to America as part of a humanitarian effort called Project Children. It is hoped that, by working together as a team to restore an old Victorian mansion, the youngsters will forget their inbred religious animosities and learn to live in peace and harmony. Monica invests most of her confidence in the unofficial "leaders" of the children, Catholic Tommy (Keith McErlean) and Protestant Rose (Lesley-Ann Shaw). Alas, old prejudices are not so easily overcome, nor are painful memories of the kids' war-torn past--and just when it appears that the project is a success, a devastating tragedy threatens to spark hostilties all over again. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The famous candy factory Taffy Town has been inherited from its jovial creator Uncle Dudley (Louie Anderson in a cameo role) by his less-than jovial son Bo (Greg Evigan). Having no great affection for Taffy Town, Bo has allowed the business to run into the ground. Enter Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey), in the guise of an efficiency expert hired to turn Taffy Town around. Though it would seem that the dispirited Bo is Monica's "client" on this occasion, there are several others who need her help, notably Bo's employees Clarence (Tom Sullivan), Susi (Joe Dee Messina), Norma (Jennifer Holliday) and Isaac (Keb' Mo'). Curiously, the solution to everyone's problems involves transforming the Taffy Town work force into a singing group. Alas, a devastating explosion nearly ends Monica's reclamation project before it begins. Musical highlights in this episode include "Hand it Over", sung by Keb' Mo'; "I Have Decided", sung by Joe Dee Messina"; "My Tribute", sung by Jennifer Holliday; and "How Great Thou Art, sung by Greg Evigan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Evidently inspired by Saving Private Ryan, this episode takes place in July of 1944, in the closing stages of WW2. A group of soldiers, led by Sgt. Walker (Matthew Glave), make a pact that if one of them survives the war, that person will deliver letters of hope to the others' loved ones. Monica (Roma Downey) is assigned to watch over this "special" platoon, which includes ultra-cynical Pvt. Faraday (Christian Leffler), and the eternally optimistic Pvt. Rourke (Andrew Kavovit). What follows is a maelstrom of terror, courage, cowardice, stupidity and nobility--but the payoff does not occur until 50 years later, during a poignant visit to a London pet shop. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Having long since renounced his Jewish faith, Jake Weiss (Bruce Davison) has degenerated into a flint-hearted slumlord. Arrested for housing-code violations and ordered to spend two weeks in one of his own squalid tenements, Jake feigns an epiphany in order to escape his sentence, claiming that he must be given time off to celebrate Passover with his mother and son. Posing as a ode-enforcement officer, Monica (Roma Downey) gives Jake a break, hoping he means what he says--but it takes a serious medical crisis to teach Jake the true meaning of Passover, and awaken him to his real purpose in life. Series regular Della Reese) (Tess) sings "Go Down, Moses". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Posing as an Army private, angel Rafael (Alexis Cruz) tries to reconcile hardhearted Col. Victor Walls (Edward James Olmos) with his embittered soldier son Tomas (Vincent Laresca). Already angered that his father has changed his name from Victor Paredes, presumably to distance himself from his Hispanic roots, Tomas is furthered incensed over the Colonel's unwillingness to discuss the fate of his other son, who has been killed in Bosnia. When it turns out that the Colonel himself had recommended his son for the dangerous assignment that resulted in his death, another tragedy seems inevitable--but don't discount the divine "healing" powers of the canny Rafael. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hollywood agent Libby Glaser (Swoosie Kurtz) is surprised when her movie-star mother Vera King (Janet Leigh) refuses to appear at an awards dinner honoring former Hollywood Blacklist victim Clive Hathaway (Joseph Campanella)--especially since Hathaway had been the best friend of Libby's late father, fellow blacklistee Budd Glaser. In confidence, Vera reveals to Libby that Hathaway was the one who'd named her father as a Communist before the HUAC, and that her dad had committed suicide as a result. Now driven by hatred, Libby intends to expose Hathaway as an informer during the ceremony, using an FBI file supplied by none other than Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey)--who, despite the odds against her, must somehow persuade Libby to forgive the man who betrayed her father. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This episode features a rare joint appearance by longtime TV leading man Corbin Bernsen and his real-life mother, daytime-drama diva Jeanne Cooper). Bernsen is cast as celebrated escape artist Eric Weiss, whose lack of concern over his own safety has earned him the Nickname "The Angel of Death". Posing as Eric's assistant, Monica (Roma Downey) becomes painfully aware that her boss harbors a genuine death wish, stemming back to a childhood tragedy involving his twin brother Peter. A visit to Erich's mother (Cooper) brings several long-suppressed secrets to light. Meanwhile, Hudson Leick makes her first appearance as nervous apprentice angel Celeste, who is worried that she won't be able to live up to her Heavenly responsibilities. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Posing as a caregiver, Monica (Roma Downey) is hired to look after elderly author Leonard Pound (Brian Keith), who is in a state of profound grief over the death of his wife. As the story progresses, both Monica and Leonard find themselves uncomfortably reliving the night of October 30, 1938, when Orson Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast panicked the entire nation. While Monica recalls with embarrassment how her well-meaning efforts to calm the populace only made matters worse, Leonard looks back in despair at a devastating personal tragedy. Ultimately, however, Leonard realizes that the chaotic events of that long-ago October evening culminated in the happiest event of his life! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi