Merlin Santana Movies
An Image and ALMA award nominee who rose to fame on The Steve Harvey Show before co-starring with Eddie Murphy in the action comedy Showtime, actor Merlin Santana's career was cut tragically short by a seemingly random act of violence. Born to Dominican Republic immigrants in New York City, Santana was encouraged by his mother to pursue a career in show business as a means to keep the talented youngster off the streets. Following early work as a fast food chain advertising model, Santana landed a recurring role on the enduring sitcom The Cosby Show. Although he co-starred in the sitcom Getting By in the early '90s, it was The Steve Harvey Show that found the actor nominated by the Image awards and ALMA and truly coming into his own as an actor. Sadly, his blossoming career was ended with a bullet as he sat in a parked car in South Los Angeles in November 2002. A woman was arrested in connection to the crime shortly thereafter. Santana was 26. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
In this high-flying comedy, Deon Richmond, Jamahl Hanna, and Merlin Santana play three buddies who work at a smoke shop specializing in exotic pipes designed for unusual smoking products (probably not the kind your grandfather uses on a regular basis). When their boss is away on vacation, the guys get the not-so-bright idea of borrowing some money from the store. While they're certain they can replace the money before the big man gets back, something happens and the cash goes missing, leaving the guys to figure out a way to replace it before they're in deep trouble. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Deon Richmond, Merlin Santana, (more)
Robert DeNiro continues to lampoon his tough-guy persona with this spoof of buddy cop movies that teams him with comic co-star Eddie Murphy. DeNiro is L.A.P.D. detective Mitch Preston, a gruff, no-nonsense 28-year veteran whose bust of a drug gang is botched one night by Trey Sellars (Murphy), a bumbling patrolman who's really a frustrated actor at heart. When Mitch's aggravation is captured by a television news crew, he fires his gun in their direction and becomes an instant media celebrity, while earning himself a temporary suspension at work. After his fame draws the attention of network TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo), Mitch is soon informed that the only way he can get back to work is to allow a production crew to trail him on the job for a new cop reality series called "Showtime". In order to make the taciturn lawman more palatable to the viewing public, he's paired with the camera-friendly, fast-talking Trey. The new partners drive each other crazy, but their mismatched sensibilities make for great TV, while their newfound fame has its advantages in getting them back on the trail of those escaped drug dealers, who possess a powerful new weapon. Showtime co-stars Frankie Faison and William Shatner, who sends up his own TV cop role in T.J. Hooker. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Eddie Murphy, (more)
The intense and often deadly "rap wars" between the East and West Coast hip-hop artists of the 1990s was the inspiration for this made-for-cable feature. Rashaan Nall stars as rising East Coast rap star Jaxx, who has formed a musical partnership with longtime buddy Mayhem (Merlin Santana). Enter Domino Breed (Faizon Love), ruthless CEO of Da Block Records, a West Coast label. Filling Jaxx's head with promises of solo stardom and innumerable creature comforts (not all of them legal), Domino lures the young performer to California. As he becomes immersed in the gangster lifestyle common to so many of Domino's disciples, Jaxx grows distant from his friends and loved ones, especially his wife Shonda (Toni Braxton), who had originally been in favor of her husband's career move. Inevitably, the greed-dictated rivalry between Jaxx and his former partner Mayhem culminates in tragedy. Boasting an impressive wall-to-wall musical score by a number of top rappers, Play'd: A Hip Hop Story debuted June 26, 2002 on the VH1 cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rashaan Nall
- 1997
Simone (Jimmy Smits) regrets his covert participation in an FBI sting against Joey Salvo when he is suspended from the force by Internal Affairs. An arrogant journalist who earlier wrote an article smearing the New York Police Department continues rubbing people the wrong way after he is mugged. And the detectives investigate a particularly vicious murder which, suggests the victim's psychiatrist, may have been perpetrated by the dead woman's father. This final episode of NYPD Blue's fourth season comes to a characteristically jarring climax when Simone and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) are caught in the crossfire of a mob hit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
Having decided to attend grad school rather than accept a job in San Francisco, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) returns to work at the community center, where he ends up moderating a heated debate over whether or not a underprivileged kid named Rahim (Kennan Scott) should return the $600 that he found on the street. Meanwhile, back at the Huxtable house, Olivia (Raven-Symone) and Marlon (Aaron Beener) are unable to get a straight answer from Cliff (Bill Cosby) as they work on school project about Cliff's childhood. Finally, Grandpa Russell (Earle Hyman) comes up with a few embarrassing anecdotes--forcing Cliff to drop the jokes and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
Pam (Erika Alexander) spends an eventful weekend serving as Cliff's temporary assistant at the hospital, highlighted by the contrary attitude of expectant mother Mrs. Minnifield (Lili Bernard), who refuses to follow the pre-natal instructions laid down by Cliff (Bill Cosby). As a result, the woman ends up giving birth in a cab just outside the Huxtable house! Elsewhere, Kenny (Deon Whitfield) tries to make Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) jealous by introducing his classmate Dierdre (Gabrielle Carmouche) as his new girlfriend. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
For the first time in years, Cliff (Bill Cosby) fills out the family's income tax form. Merrily declaring everyone a dependant and everything a deduction, Cliff is ultimately given a good strong dose of reality by his no-nonsense wife Clair (Phylicia Rashad). Meanwhile, klutzy Kenny (Deon Richmond) tries to keep Deirdre (Gabrielle Carmouche) from finding out that her birthday party was hastily slapped together at the very last minute. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
The longer Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) puts off setting a wedding date, the more frustrated Dabnis (William Thomas Jr. becomes--especially since it was Vanessa who insisted upon marriage in the first place. And in another matter of the heart, Kenny (Deon Richmond) begins hanging around the house in hopes of getting his former hearthrob Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam), who has broken up with Stanley (Merlin Santana), on the rebound. In a fascinating plot twist, it is Stanley himself who helps Kenny reclaim Rudy's heart, using words of affection that are remarkably familiar--mainly because they'd been spoken by Dabnis earlier in the episode! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Placed in charge of the community center's upcoming parent-counselor night, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) worries that he will be unable to effectively communicate with the mothers and father of the center's most troubled kids. Further vexing Theo is the fact that single mom Lisa (Saundra Quarterman) is attracted to him, despite his most strenuous efforts to maintain a professional distance between himself and his clients. Meanwhile, Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) falls for Theo's favorite student Stanley (Merlin Santana)--and Rudy's lifelong friend Kenny (Deon Richmond) is not happy about this, not happy at all! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
In another headline-inspired episode of Law & Order, a baby is accidentally murdered by a teenaged hired killer (Justin Crozier). Though assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) is understandably outraged by the concept of kids killing kids, he is more interested in nailing the person who hired the youthful assassin. The trail of evidence ultimately leads to a low-life drug dealer and a supposedly respectable real estate agent. S. Epatha Merkerson, who later became a Law & Order regular in the role of Lt. Anita Van Buren, is here cast as Mrs. Denise Winters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
In the conclusion of a two-part story, novice community-center youth counselor Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) is frustrated in his efforts to help a bright but troubled teen named Stanley (Merlin Santana), who may be suffering from dyslexia--but refuses to be tested for fear of being stigmatized as "different." Weighed down by a plethora of similar crises, Theo begins to wonder if he is capable of handling his new job--prompting his dad Cliff and the center's head Mrs. Hudson (Lynne Thigpen) to team up for some "counseling" of their own. This is the final episode of The Cosby Show's seventh season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
In the first episode of a two-part story, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) begins his internship as a community-center counselor assigned to "The Rosa Parks Group", a collection of underprivileged 7th graders. Unable to maintain his professional aloofness, Theo puts in overtime trying to help a bright youngster named Stanley (Merlin Santana, in his first series appearance), whose inability to finish his schoolwork may be due to dyslexia. And back at the Huxtable home, Cliff (Bill Cosby) instills terror in the hearts of his family as he sets about to fix the sink. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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