Jeff Ross Movies

Coproduced and cowritten by latenight host Conan O'Brien, Andy Barker PI was conceived as a vehicle for O'Brien's longtime cohort Andy Richter. The star was cast as doltish CPA Andy Barker, who after opening his own business is mistaken for Lew Staziak (Harve Presnell), a two-fisted private eye whose office Andy had inherited. Our hero also inherited Lew's clients and caseload, obliging him to carry on an exhausting double life, handling both expense accounts and baffling murder cases--doing rather better in the latter pursuit because of his uncanny math skills. Andy's partner was Simon (Tony Hale), a video store owner, while his chief contact man and confidant was Wally (Marshall Manesh), the neurotic manager of an Afghan restaurant. Packed with clever references to earlier detective movies and TV shows, Andy Barker PI joined NBC's powerhouse Thursday-night lineup on March 15, 2007. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Adversaries become wary allies in this free-wheeling action comedy. Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) is a Los Angeles Police Department officer who finds himself out of a job after he becomes involved in a violent altercation with police academy flunk-out Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), escalating into a media event which brings the LAPD a wealth of bad publicity. Unable to find work, Hank finally takes a job as a "rent-a-cop" with a private security firm -- and discovers to his annoyance that his new partner is Earl. While neither of them are thrilled to be working together on the lowest strata of the law enforcement community, the two find themselves dealing with bigger crime than they expected when they stumble across evidence of a elite smuggling network operated by criminal mastermind Nash (Eric Roberts). Hank and Earl want to put Nash out of business, and they try without success to persuade the police of the importance of the case. But before long they discover it's not just Nash's men who are after them, but two high-ranking LAPD officials, Lt. Washington (Bill Duke) and Detective McDuff (Colm Feore). National Security was directed by Dennis Dugan, who'd previously helmed antic comedies starring Adam Sandler and Chris Farley; this film also marked Martin Lawrence's entry into the elite of Hollywood's comedy stars, with Lawrence taking home a 20-million-dollar paycheck for his work on the picture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Russell Simmons' HBO series Def Comedy Jam was one of the first nationwide showcases for African-American comedians, who could perform raw, streetwise material without censorship or interference; many of the show's guests have gone on to become some of the best known comic talents in America today, and this home video collects more highlights from the show's history. Def Comedy Jam: More All Stars, Vol. 2 features side-splitting material from Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Don "D.C." Curry, Mo'Nique, Tommy Chunn, and more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Many of today's hottest comedians got their start playing Def Comedy Jam, a late-night forum for their explosive brand of comedy. Of course, many of the names first featured here went on to greater fame and fortune in the years that followed. Two of the names featured here are George Wallace and Mike Epps. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide

This video acts as a highlights reel for some of today's hottest young comedians, many of whom went from stand-up performances on the HBO series Def Comedy Jam to their own television shows and big-screen comedies. Raw, uncensored, cutting-edge humor is the standard for these classic acts from Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence, Sheryl Underwood, and Chris Tucker. Expect outrageous jokes from these comedic superstars, as well as pointed remarks on sensitive social issues .


~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide

Def Comedy Jam gave many young comics of the '80s and '90s the chance they needed to reach a larger audience and strut their stuff on a national stage. Many of these young comics went on to greater fame and greater paychecks in the years that followed. Two of the names featured here include Mark Curry and Steve Harvey. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide

HBO's series Def Comedy Jam provided a showcase for some of the best and brightest new performers on the urban comedy scene, and this home video presents highlights from the show, with Tracy Morgan, Bill Bellamy, and host Martin Lawrence presenting cutting edge comedy that's definitely too rough for prime time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Former Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien is your host for one of the most irreverent and innovative late-night talk shows ever to hit the airwaves. An impressive list of well-known celebrities, cutting-edge comedy sketches, and musical guests have made the Emmy-nominated Late Night With Conan O'Brien the show of choice for insomniac viewers who long for a little something different. Veteran drummer Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg Seven provide the backdrop for the show that has birthed such notorious characters as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the Masturbating Bear, and Pimpbot 5000. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide