Janis Hirsch Movies
You may not recognize her name, but Janis Hirsch has left an indelible imprint on American situation comedy. She's a behind-the-scenes star, writing the wit and wisdom that television viewers have quoted and witnessed for years, starting with Square Pegs and The Facts of Life, then moving into more high-brow humor with It's Garry Shandling's Show, Anything But Love, and Bette. The highlight of her career would undoubtedly be her Emmy nomination (along with the other writers of the show) for Frasier in 1993. She has several producing credits to her name, including Co-Executive Producer on the hit series Murphy Brown and Consulting Producer on Hope and Gloria, and The Nanny (the latter for which she was also a writer). ~ Sandy Lawson, All Movie Guide- 1999
Niles (David Hyde Pierce) has all the more reason to rue the day that he introduced his "secret love" Daphne (Jane Leeves) to charming attorney Donny Douglas (Saul Rubinek) when Donny asks Daphne to marry him. It is especially hurtful to Niles that he has received this news not from Daphne but from well-meaning Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Martin (John Mahoney). But things may not be as bleak as they seem: When Daphne confides to Niles that she has been having dreams about marrying a "mystery man" wearing a red bow tie, guess what happens next. Just guess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Frasier's dad Martin (John Mahoney) is an eligible widower. Roz's mom Joanna (Eva Marie Saint) is likewise unattached. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Roz (Peri Gilpin) are thus convinced that the union between Martin and Joanna would be the proverbial "match made in Heaven." The results: Joanna is exultant -- and Martin is annoyed. And speaking of matchups, listen for the Very Famous Couple providing "guest voices" during Frasier's radio call-in show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Murphy Brown returned from a four-month hiatus with this episode, originally telecast April 6, 1998. Now finished with chemotherapy, Murphy (Candice Bergen) hopes to celebrate her 50th birthday in grand style. Picking up on Murphy's high spirits, Frank (Joe Regalbuto) concocts a surprise party to end all surprise parties: A full-scale recreation of the classic TV dance party American Bandstand, replete with Dick Clark, Fabian, Chubby Checker and Lesley Gore. Also appearing is Sally Field as the 91th in a long line of Murphy's hired-and-fired secretaries (and as usual, Field's character has a minor character flaw--in her case, a VERY short-term memory!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
After Murphy (Candice Bergen) generously arranges a reunion between her cancer support-group friend Lisa (Tracy Nelson) and Lisa's high school crush Wally (Eric Allan Kramer), the "FYI" gang decides to do the same for our heroine. It seems that Murphy once carried a torch for Dennis Page (Michael McKean), who'd starred in her high school musical. The "FYI"-ers manage to track down Dennis, who has kept up his singing into adulthood--but with an unexpected twist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
The "all-salsa" format at Seattle radio station KACL has apparently laid a large and noxious egg. Can it be that station management will reverse its earlier decision and rehire all of its talk-show hosts -- including Frasier (Kelsey Grammer)? And what of Frasier's equally unemployed producer (and new single mother) Roz (Peri Gilpin), who after hitting up Frasier for a 1,500-dollar loan proceeds to squander the money on frivolities? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The rest of the "FYI" staff displays a variety of reactions--from shock to solace--when Murphy (Candice Bergen) reveals the results of her biopsy. Once this is done, Murphy must decide which of two painful surgical options to choose; she also spends much of the episode going through doctors like she goes through secretaries! And what effect does all this have on Murphy's love life? Welll, Kay (Lily Tomlin) thinks she knows the answer to that one--but she's wrong. This episode originally ended with Candice Bergen doing a PSA for the American Cancer Society. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Feeling that she is living on borrowed time, Murphy wants to fulfill a lifelong dream: conducting a symphony orchestra. She is given this chance during a charity auction, only to find that Olivia Newton-John) is determined to fulfill the same dream herself. Meanwhile, Jim (Charles Kimbrough) launches a campaign to win back his estranged wife Doris. With this episode (originally scheduled to air on November 24, 1997), Concetta Tomei takes over from Janet Carroll in the role of Doris Dial. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Robin Williams' comic shtick sabotages any attempt at comic development in Harold Ramis' patchy comedy farce Club Paradise. Williams plays Jack Moniker, a Chicago fireman injured in the line of duty, who uses his disability money to open up a run-down Caribbean resort. Jack eagerly awaits the planeload of tourists who will be his first patrons. This group of low-rent jackanapes include Barry Nye (Rick Moranis) and Barry Steinberg (Eugene Levy), a couple of horny geek bachelors; Phillipa Lloyd (Twiggy) and Terry Hamlin (Joanna Cassidy) as a couple of gals on the make; and Linda White (Andrea Martin), as a bossy American tourist. While the tourists shindig around Jack's ramshackle resort, a revolution is brewing on the island headed by revolutionary Ernest Reed (Jimmy Cliff). Trying to prevent the revolutionary upheaval is the dissipated British governor-general of the island, Governor Anthony Cloyden Hayes (Peter O'Toole), and the pompous Prime Minister Solomon Gundy (Adolph Caesar). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, (more)
On her first day at an all-girls Catholic High School in Chicago, shy and reserved Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) meets the wild and wacky Lynne Sands (Helen Hunt). Even though her oppressive dad, Col. Glenn (Ed Lauter), won't let her go, Lynne talks her into sneaking out to try out for a spot on the beloved show Dance TV. Janey wows the judges with her gymnastic ability and makes first cuts, conveniently assigned to a cute dance partner: blue-collar bad boy Jeff Malene (Lee H. Montgomery). They compete against the bratty rich girl Natalie Sands (Holly Gagnier), who sabotages them because she wants Jeff and the contest for herself. Janey and Lynne get revenge by inviting punks and street kids to crash her debutante ball. Natalie then resorts to making her wealthy industrialist dad, J.P. Sands (Morgan Woodward), threaten Jeff; If he doesn't let Natalie win, his dad (Biff Yeager) could lose his job at the factory. It all leads up to the live television broadcast of the Dance TV contest, right when Janey's dad races to the studio to stop her. Also starring Shannen Doherty as Jeff's little sister, Maggie. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Montgomery, (more)
