Michael B. Silver Movies

Magoo's, a local hangout frequented by the ER staffers, is the scene of a bloody holdup, in which three people are killed and one seriously injured. As Chen (Ming-Na) pieces together a sketchy description of one of the likely perps, her African-American colleagues Gallant (Sharif Atkins) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) are picked up on suspicion and subjected to harsh treatment by a pair of white cops who refuse to check out the doctors' alibis or credentials. The usually mild-mannered Gallant is more angered by this harassment than the cynical Pratt -- but both doctors relish the opportunity to serve up a delicious comeuppance to one of the cops. And elsewhere, Carter (Noah Wyle) really, really wants to pop the question to Abby (Maura Tierney)...but.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The hectic early days of live television are spoofed in this irreverent made-for-cable movie. The story is told from the viewpoint of Audrey Drummond (Christina Hendricks), a naïve young script girl hired by the newly formed Empire Television Network in 1948. Among Audrey's colleagues are the network's owner, eccentric scientist Doc Powers (Christopher Lloyd); Doc's blonde, pneumatic young "trophy wife" Marion (Molly Ringwald); the Colonel (Dylan Baker), Empire's visionary programming chief; and Walt Kaplan (Michael B. Silver), a studio floor manager who aspires to be a director. The story revolves around Empire's efforts to stage the first live TV production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, while trying desperately to adhere to Doc Powers' cast-in-stone broadcast edicts: "No profanity, no suicide, no cleavage." Amidst a flurry of missed cues, fainting actors, collapsing scenery, and malfunctioning equipment, the network also manages to outrage its sponsors by allowing a black musician (Sharif Atkins) to actually (gasp! egad!) speak directly into the camera. Co-executive produced by The West Wing's John Wells and ER's Carol Flint (who also wrote the script), The Big Time debuted October 21, 2002 on the TNT network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Famous film star Tom Haviland (Chad Michael Murray) is the primary suspect when a young Asian woman is found murdered in his bed. As Grissom (William L. Petersen) investigates, his findings are challenged by his old friend and mentor Philip Gerard (Raymond J. Barry). In fact, Gerard has been hired by Haviland's defense counsel to discredit the conclusions of the CSI in court. As it turns out, Grissom and his crew have made several significant errors -- but all this pales in the light of the episode's most startling revelation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Andy (Dennis Franz) is relieved to learn that his son Theo is out of the woods regarding his medical condition -- at least for the present. Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney), back together again, decide to keep their renewed relationship quiet. On the job, Andy and Danny investigate a series of violent attacks on cabbies; Capt. Brass (Larry Joshua) takes over Fancy's (James McDaniel) office for his new task force; and Diane's contact Danny DiSalvo (Jay Acovone) offers to "take out" drug smuggler Don Kirkendall (if and when he is ever found), thereby absolving the 15th precinct of any complicity in Kirkendall's activities. In a related development, the ex-wife of Diane's old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen) may be able to clear up matters in the Kirkendall case -- or maybe not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After private eye Mike Roberts is murdered, John (Bill Brochtrup) tells Sipowicz about Mike's cryptic warning. It all ties in with the wealthy Malcolm Cullinan (Todd Waring), whom John believes was responsible for the death of the benighted Dolores Mayo. Subsequent events relating to this development cause Jill (Andrea Thompson) to sever her relationship with Cohen (Michael B. Silver). And former series regular Gail O'Grady makes a most surprising cameo appearance -- and to tell any more would be unthinkable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) pursue their theory that a man whose body was found in a dumpster may have been killed by his violence-prone brothers. Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) investigate when a young girl disappears, a case that leads to a bizarre videotaped confession. And John (Bill Brochtrup), already distressed that Dolores (Lola Glaudini) has turned to prostitution, is worried when she fails to return from a trip with the wealthy and well-connected Malcolm Cullinan (Todd Waring). Daniel Benzali returns in the role of high-priced attorney James Sinclair in this, the first episode of a crucial NYPD Blue story arc. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) prepares for his courtroom confrontation with Sinclair (Daniel Benzali) during the Cullinen trial, John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) tries again to mollify the father (Bob Glaudini) of Cullinen's possible victim Dolores Mayo. Back at the 15th, Danny (Rick Schroder) tries to get an obviously abused 13-year-old boy to open up -- leading to a horrifying revelation. The conclusion of this 90-minute episode is a burst of gunfire, and the sudden, startling demise of yet another familiar NYPD Blue character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carol (Julianna Margulies) tells Greene (Anthony Edwards) that she is pregnant, and offers some encouraging words to schizophrenic new mother Coco (Sheila Kelley). Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) finds her faith renewed as she cares for Rev. Matthew Lynn (Roscoe Lee Browne). Lucy (Kellie Martin) discovers that her young patient has been overmedicated. Carter (Noah Wyle) mentors a teenager named Antoine Bell (Corey Parker Robinson). And Romano (Paul McCrane) forces Benton (Eriq La Salle) into a crucial decision. There are a few light-hearted moments in this episode -- before everything is literally plunged into darkness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Teenage patients pour into the ER after a suspicious explosion in a high school science class. Lawrence (Alan Alda) becomes erratic and violently angry, leading the staff to wonder if the veteran doctor is functioning at full capacity. Elaine (Rebecca De Mornay) hopes to "connect" with her former brother-in-law, Carter (Noah Wyle), before heading to Europe. Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) gets another much-needed lesson in humanity and humility. Carol (Julianna Margulies) is outraged to discover that pregnant waitress Meg (Martha Plimpton) is shooting heroin. And Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) is finding it increasingly difficult to juggle her workload with her domestic duties. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fresh out of prostate surgery, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) returns to active duty -- only to be sidelined by an accident. The investigation of a murder arising from a love triangle is interrupted when Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) is pulled away to investigate a murder that has taken place in the Brooklyn apartment building that he owns. This brings him back into contact with the troublesome Henry Coffield (Willie Garson) -- who, once again, is a prime suspect. Elsewhere, an immunity agreement may impede justice in a child slaying, and former PAA Naomi (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) visits the precinct with some good news (for a change). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) encounter hostility while investigating a murder with which an off-duty cop might have been involved. Medavoy (Nicholas Turturro) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) follow up clues in the murder of a young girl who left behind a disturbing video. And repressed memory syndrome kicks in when Diane (Kim Delaney) suffers a nervous breakdown in Simone's apartment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Simone (Jimmy Smits) pulls in hoodlum Jimmy Liery (Christopher Meloni) when neighbors complain about gunfire. Jimmy is allowed to walk -- but he doesn't get far, and Diane (Kim Delaney) is upset at Liery's ultimate fate. Elsewhere, Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) takes a troublesome kid (Javier Núñez) under his wing; Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) blames Fancy (James McDaniel) when he is passed over for promotion; and an artist (Michael David Lally) reluctantly agrees to wear a wire in order to trap a group of murderous mobsters. New York Police Commissioner Howard Safir appears as himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide