Isabella Hoffman Movies

Some six months after the cancellation of the popular, hard-hitting TV cop series Homicide, most of the cast members were reunited for a two-hour TV movie, which deftly (and somewhat surprisingly) combines stark, raw realism with Sartre-esque flights of fantasy. Several members past and present of the Baltimore Police Department's homicide squad are brought back together when their former skipper and current mayoral candidate, Al "G" Giardelli (Yaphet Kotto), is gunned down by a would-be assassin. As former partners Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor) conduct their own personal search for the perpetrator, the comatose "G" discovers that not all police review boards are conducted by the living. Like its weekly predecessor, Homicide: The Movie was co-produced by Baltimore native Barry Levinson. The film made its first NBC network TV appearance on February 13, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of the uninhibited, uncensored satirical cable sitcom Beggars and Choosers begins with yet another vicious power play between E.L. Luddin (Bill Morey), doddering owner of the LGT television network, and his avaricious trophy bride Lydia (Carol Kane). In the final analysis, both Luddins lose out when 53 percent of the network's stock is scooped up by flaky dot.com billionaire Dan Falco (Beau Bridges). This upheaval inspires LGT's predatory vice president of development Lori Volpone (Charlotte Ross) to put her romance with poetry-spouting Russian gangster Nicky Krasnakov (Rudolf Martin) on hiatus while she plays up to the fabulously wealthy Falco. Before long, however, Falco has departed the country to enter a Bhuddist monastery, leaving the network in the hands of his dimwitted brother Freddie (James Belushi), whose "experience" in television consists largely of turning his set on and off and changing the channels. Despite Freddie's ineptitude, popular LGT star Sandra Cassandra (Samantha Ferris) figures it is in her best interest to inaugurate an affair with the younger Falco. Meanwhile, long-suffering LGT president Rob Malone (Brian Kerwin) is given all sorts of new reasons to bash his head against the wall, not least of which is the breakup of his marriage to the demanding Cecile (Isabella Hofmann). Elsewhere, the network's "outed" cast director Malcolm (Tuc Watkins) once again stirs up negative publicity when he casts a gay actor in a straight role; Nicky Krasnakov makes a talk show appearance and manages to offend a powerful minority group; the inherent bitterness and backstabbing at LGT gets really up close and personal when the police seal off the network's headquarters during a bank robbery; and the sperm bank containing the "legacy" of late sitcom star Parker Meridian suffers a freezer breakdown. One of the most persistent of the season's many subplots involves a case of industrial espionage, when it appears that a "mole" in the network is leaking LGT's best series ideas to rival web NBC. Intimately involved in this intrigue are two of LGT's newest hires, bed-hopping staff assistant Kelly Kramer (Christina Hendricks) and opportunistic Britisher Nigel Gibney (Justin Carroll). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season one of the racy Showtime sitcom Beggars and Choosers begins as Rob Malone (Brian Kerwin), the harried president of the LGT television network, pins all his hopes for high ratings and job security by greenlighting a reality series about a group of violent extroverts called the Mountainmen. Though Rob's strategy proves successful, it later bites him in the backside when LGT faces a lawsuit after a youthful fan imitates the Mountainmen's destructive behavior. If this wasn't migraine-inducing enough for Mr. Malone, he must also contend with the self-serving program ideas cooked up by Lydia Luddin (Carol Kane), the conniving trophy wife of LGT's comatose owner E.L. Luddin (Bill Morey). Then there are Rob's problems on the home front, namely the neverending efforts by his wife Cecile (Isabella Hoffman) to conceive a child, his son Cary's (Kaj-Erik Ericksen) attempts to have "phone sex" with a beautiful TV star, and his teenage daughter's romance with Parker Meridian (Paul Provenza), the egotistical star of the popular NGT sitcom "Parker's Pals." While the "Parker matter" would ultimately be resolved, there are plenty of other intrigues to keep the NGT employees in a state of constant hysteria. Lori Volpone (Charlotte Ross), the network's sharkish vice president of development, is swept off her feet by poetry spouting Russian gangster Nicky Krasnakov (Rudolf Martin), who is pitching a miniseries based on his career. Casting director Malcolm Laffley (Tuc Watkins) wiffles and waffles about declaring himself a homosexual, until an embarrassing sexual harassment suit forces him to "out" himself on a coast-to-coast network hookup. The lead character in the LGT ethnic soap opera "Puerto Vallarta," who suffers from Tourette's Syndrome, runs afoul of the FCC as the result of her uncontrollable outbursts of profanity. And the much-beloved female star of the heartwarming LGT family drama "An Angel in the Family" is revealed to be sleeping with her teenaged co-star. Amidst all this fictional chaos, real-life TV favorite Bea Arthur makes an appearance as herself, showing up at LGT to pitch a TV biopic about Ethel Merman with herself in the lead -- only to end up competing for the role with a transvestite hooker! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of Homicide: Life on the Street's two-part season five finale, word comes through that former homicide detective Beau Felton (Daniel Baldwin) has committed suicide. As investigating detective Paul Falsone (Jon Seda, in his first series appearance) assembles the evidence, medical examiner Cox (Michelle Forbes) arrives at the conclusion that Felton was murdered, thereby sparking a series of flashbacks detailing what Beau had been doing since leaving the department. In other developments, Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) pens a bitter letter indicting his higher-ups for past misdeeds; Bayliss (Kyle Secor) keeps mysteriously dropping out of sight when he is needed most; and Russert (Isabella Hoffman) returns from her romantic liaison in France. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The highlight of the homicide unit's New Year's party is the unreeling of "Back Page News," a documentary produced by the unit's in-house video photographer Brodie (Max Perlich). Some of the events covered by Brodie's camera prove to be embarrassing, especially when the identity of the infamous "lunch bandit" is revealed. And some of them are most amusing, notably the sequence in which Kellerman (Reed Diamond) and Lewis (Clark Johnson) chase a suspect right onto the set of a TV series titled "Homicide: Life on the Street," much to the consternation of director Barry Levinson (playing himself). Former series regular Isabella Hoffman makes a cameo appearance as Megan Russert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jay Leno makes a brief uncredited appearance in this first episode of a two-part story , in which the homicide unit "celebrates" the new year by going after a serial sniper who strikes every eight hours. Having already claimed nine victims, the elusive killer taunts the cops by leaving behind cryptic clues based on the old game hangman. While investigating the case, Bayliss (Kyle Secor) is hampered by back pains, leading to a potentially dangerous dependency on medication. And Barnfather (Clayton LeBouef), frustrated by the lack of progress in tracking down the sniper, takes out his frustrations on Russert (Isabella Hoffman), leading to a momentous showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode of Homicide: Life on the Street is the conclusion of "Charm City," a two-part story introduced on the TV series Law & Order. Baltimore homicide detectives Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor) have gone to New York to investigate a subway bombing which may be linked to a similar case that occurred in their own city five years earlier. It soon becomes clear that their investigation is being thwarted by a widespread official coverup. Also involved in the case are three Law & Order regulars: detectives Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) and Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), and ADA Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy). The presence of Briscoe ticks off Baltimore detective John Munch (Richard Belzer); it seems that Lennie was once intimate with John's ex-wife. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While traveling to Harrisburg, PN, to extradite suspected murderer Rose Halligan (Lily Tomlin), Baltimore homicide detectives Lewis (Clark Johnson) and Kellerman (Reed Diamond) bide their time and relax as much as possible. Their lethargy proves to be their undoing when Halligan slips through the cops' fingers while they make a pit stop at a popular diner. Meanwhile, an important piece of evidence turns up missing from Brodie's (Max Perlich) surveillance tapes, and Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) misses out on a major promotion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As the staffers at County General anxiously await news as to which hospital in their county is going to be closed down, a number of personal dramas play themselves out. Both Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) strike out with their respective blind dates; Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) begins to understand the negative effect that being HIV-positive will have on her life; and Carter (Noah Wyle) plots revenge against Benton (Eriq La Salle) for making his first day as an ER intern so miserable. John Aylward makes his debut appearance as Dr. Donald Anspaugh, the ER's new chief of staff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An attorney found floating in a swimming pool appears to have suffered a heart attack. Before long, however, a man confesses to killing the attorney, giving up himself and an incriminating videotape to homicide detectives Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor). Further complicating matters is the presence of the National Security Agency, who serve up a murder suspect of their own -- resulting in a major blowup by Bayliss. Meanwhile, Kellerman (Reed Diamond) is determined to find out who has been stealing lunches from the homicide unit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A radio talk show host who "dared" his audience to seek revenge for his volatile opinions is found murdered. Investigating the case, Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) and Howard (Melissa Leo) come up with a likely suspect -- or do they? Elsewhere, Kellerman (Reed Diamond) reacts strongly when he is told that Lewis (Clark Johnson) is going to be married, while Munch (Richard Belzer) is convinced that Kellerman is being set up for an elaborate practical joke; and Pembleton's (Andre Braugher) nervousness increases as his pregnant wife's due date rapidly approaches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The entire Baltimore homicide squad quietly surrounds the apartment of a suspected serial killer, with all the detectives taking 24-hour stakeout shifts. Forced into closer proximity than usual with one another, the cops begin to unload their pent-up feelings and bare their souls. At least two of the detectives would rather be somewhere else: Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) worries that he won't be able to attend his daughter's wedding, while Bayliss (Kyle Secor) is on the verge of giving up police work for good. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although several years have passed, Bayliss (Kyle Secor) continues to be haunted by his first case on the Baltimore homicide unit: the unsolved rape and murder of young Adena Watson. When a 12-year-old girl is assaulted and killed in a manner resembling the Watson incident, Bayliss becomes obsessed with finding out if the crimes are linked -- leading to a bitter argument between himself and Pembleton (Andre Braugher). Elsewhere, the squad's crime-scene photographer Brodie (Max Perlich) messes up an opportunity to express his affections for Howard (Melissa Leo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide