Michael Sardo Movies

Originally titled Emma Brody, the weekly 60-minute drama series American Embassy was intended to be the "diplomatic" version of Fox's Ally McBeal, but the events of September 11, 2001 changed all that. Arija Bareikis starred as Emma Brody, a young Toledo woman who had entered diplomatic service to get over an unhappy romance. Assigned to be vice-counsel at the U.S. Embassy in London, the inexperienced Emma fell prey to the autocratic whims of her boss, Elque Polk (Jonathan Adams), who demonstrated his lack of confidence in the girl by assigning her cases that apparently no one else wanted. The heroine could take some solace in her friendships with mercurial CIA operative Doug Roach (David Cubitt) and her cross-dressing neighbor Gary Furbush (Michael Cerveris). The first episode, which aired over Fox on March 11, 2002, ended with a terrorist attack, indicating that the rest of American Embassy would be anything but a lighthearted lark. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Part one of Wings' series finale (originally telecast as part of a single-hour long episode) brings things full circle, as Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) once again receive an inheritance from their late father. The festivities begin when the brothers stumble across a hidden 100 dollars with a note promising "there's a lot more where this came from." Following the clues left behind by dear old dad, Joe and Brian ultimately locate a suitcase -- and true to the clue, there's a lot more money inside...a lot more! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

George Kennedy plays himself in an extended sequence wherein the actor's number one fan, Brian (Steven Weber), reaches heretofore unscaled heights of annoyance. Meanwhile, Larry Mohr (Mark Blum), the contractor hired to build a new house for Joe (Tim Daly) and Helen (Crystal Bernard), is booted out of his own home by his wife. Thus it is that Joe and Helen are saddled with the care and feeding of the morose Mr. Mohr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A careless medical courier has left a package containing a human heart in the termional on Halloween. Once they'd ascertained the package's contents, most of the terminal gang embark upon a frantic search for the missing courier. Most, but not all: Sensing a quick financial turnover, Roy (David Schramm) hatches a scheme to sell the heart to the highest bidder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After a fight with Helen (Crystal Bernard), Joe (Tim Daly) has a dream in which he and his wife both perish in a plane crash. The next morning, Joe freaks out as the events leading up to the tragedy in his dream begin to re-occur in real life. Coincidence? Maybe -- but how can one explain away the spectacle of Roy (David Schramm) performing a belly-dance? And then, there's the terrifying climax to this episode.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The impending wedding of Joe (Tim Daly) and Helen (Crystal Bernard) hits a legal snag when Helen discovers that she is still married to Antonio (Tony Shalhoub), whom she'd temporarily wed a few seasons back to prevent Antonio from being deported. Roy (David Schramm) isn't worried about this technicality, advising Helen to fly to Mexico for a quickie divorce -- but to keep Joe in the dark. Meanwhile, Antonio honors his religion by seeking an annulment, only to locate a well-meaning priest (Charles Cioffi) who insists that the couple try for a reconciliation! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cult TV favorites Peggy Lipton and Soupy Sales are respectively cast in this episode as ninth-grade teacher Miss Jenkins and aging con artist Fred Gardner. Having long harbored a crush on his former teacher Miss Jenkins, Brian (Steve Weber) is a bit taken aback when she lets him know that she's "available" -- any time, any place. As for Gardner, he has set his sights on the fat social security checks held by the mother of the contentious Roy (David Schramm). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide