J.D. Roth Movies

Making its NBC debut on June 18, 2007, the reality series Age of Love was by its very nature slated for a very limited run. Somewhat reminiscent of The Bachelor, the series focused on celebrated 30-year-old Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis. One of the world's most eligible bachelors, Philippoussis was ensconced in a Manhattan high-rise luxury apartment, where over a period of several weeks he was to take his pick of thirteen beautiful women. The series' title derived from the fact that the ladies' ages ranged from 21 through 48--and they had been instructed by the producers to emphasize their ages when commisserating with Mr. Philippoussis. Would the sexy tennis champ choose his sweetheart based solely on her youth, or would he opt for a more mature (and, it was hinted, more reliable) "love match"? Age of Love was hosted by Mark Consuelos, who like most TV hosts of this nature knew the value of discretion and kept himself scarce as much as possible! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of six Saturday-morning programs comprising the Discovery Kids on NBC three-hour block, Endurance was a sanitized junior version of Survivor. Twenty youngsters, divided into teams of two, were cast away on a remote island bereft of adults. The kids were required to compete in a 12-level series of physical and mental challenges, with points awarded for "knowledge, athleticism, savvy, and team skills." Naturally, the number of contestants was reduced with each successive episode, until only two teams remained. Hosted by J.D. Roth and packaged by Three Ball Productions, Endurance made its NBC bow on October 5, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jane Fonda is the host of this fitness video for young children. The instructor for the video is J.D. Roth who hosts the children's program Fun House. Roth and some children are trying to make their way into the Fun House and learn a dance, the "Swamp Stomp," in order to gain access. Dancers in the costumes of wild animals teach low-impact dance moves appropriate for children ranging in age from three to seven. Throughout, the instructor encourages children to find the fun in fitness, recommends that they drink water before and after exercising, and reminds them that it's okay if they can't get through the whole tape. ~ Leslie Birdwell, All Movie Guide

This series turns the typical game show format on its head, by taking preparation out of the equation. The show's hosts show up at contestant's doors unannounced, to challenge them with quiz questions on the trickiest topic - their families. Under pressure not just to win the game but to prove themselves to their loved ones, competitors answer questions about their own households, hoping to win prizes that range from flat-screen TV's to cold hard cash. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

The old Hanna Barbera cartoon adventure series Jonny Quest was given a new coat of paint -- and infinitely better animation -- in this daily, half-hour cable-TV offering, co-produced by Japan's Pacific Animation and several Korean cartoon firms. The basic characters -- spunky teenager Jonny Quest, his scientist dad Benton Quest, his muscular teacher-guardian Race Bannon, his mystical best pal (and now adoptive brother) Hadji, and his little dog Bandit -- remained intact, as did the original series' globetrotting-adventurer premise. This time around, however, there was whole new cast of voiceover actors, including (during the first season, at least) J.D. Roth as Jonny and George Segal as his dad. Also, there was a typically '90s emphasis on computer technology; in fact, Dr. Quest was now described as a "computer genius," ready and willing to use the vast resources of his Quest Foundation, and the limitless opportunities afforded him by his new virtual-reality domain Questworld, to battle the forces of evil. The scripters also broadened the appeal of the series by adding a strong, positive female character, Jessie Bannon, the teenaged daughter of Race Bannon (whose estranged spouse Estella Velasquez also showed up on occasion). Premiering August 26, 1996 and running until April 16, 1997, the 52 episodes of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest were first-run simulatenously on three different Ted Turner-controlled cable services: TBS, TNT, and The Cartoon Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A major oil company intends to drill in the Florida Everglades, but its efforts are stymied by a band of unseen saboteurs who leave behind an ancient Viking sword. The Quest team investigates the possibility that a hidden community of ancient Norse warriors is responsible, but the bad guys are a bit more "contemporary" than originally suspected. A highlight is Race Bannon's battle with a surly alligator. "Alligators and Okeechobee Vikings" was first broadcast on November 1, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Benton Quest and Race Bannon are invited to attend a phenomenology conference in the Himalayas, little suspecting that the conference is a sham created by their old enemy Jeremiah Surd. With Quest Compound apparently unprotected by adults, Surd leads his henchmen on an assault of the Quest team's Maine headquarters -- and also enslaves the mind of Jonny's friend Hadji. With no other choice, Jonny and Jessie pretend to be their fathers, Benton and Race, in order to foil Surd's mad scheme. "Assault on Questworld" first aired on September 4, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Several ships have vanished without a trace in the Indian ocean, near Christie Island in the Republic of Seychelles. The Quest team investigates the phenomenon, hoping to disprove rumors of a huge sea monster in the region. Inevitably, however, both Jonny and Hadji find themselves in the grip of an enormous squid -- and at the mercy of the squid's human "masters." "East of Zanzibar" made its first cable-TV appearance on September 3, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although the villainous Ezekial Rage first appeared in "Rage's Burning Wheel," episode four of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, the character was introduced in the episode that ended up as the series' ninth telecast, the appropriately titled "Ezekial Rage." A horribly disfigured former government agent, Rage has been driven insane by the deaths of his family during a botched covert operation. Swearing vengeance against the entire "evil" world, Rage happens to be cooking up his latest scheme in the same location where the Quest team has arrived in search of a missing naturalist -- and a giant bat. "Ezekial Rage" originally aired on September 5, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Quest utilizes Questworld computer technology to reassemble a shattered statue of the God Apollo. His efforts are interfered with by Quest's perennial foe Jeremiah Surd, who, hacking into the computer system, lures Jonny into a surreal chamber of horrors in which the statue's supernatural powers are summoned to their full, frightening height. The 25th filmed episode of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, "Heroes" was the 18th episode to be telecast, on September 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide