Earle Hyman Movies

While being escorted to prison from Phoenix to New York, crazed killer Peter Cronin (Anthony Michael Hall) hijacks a commercial jet in flight with the help of accomplices. Holding the 200 passengers and the crew members hostage, Cronin forces the plane to land in Dallas, then demands another, more powerful aircraft for the last leg of his escape. As FBI agent Frank Layton (Perry King) and detective Deni Patton (Ally Sheedy) attempt to negotiate with Cronin, time runs perilously short for the hostages, who know that the killer isn't bluffing when he threatens to kill one prisoner per hour unless his demands are met. A curious reunion for former Breakfast Club costars Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy, the made-forTV Hijacked: Flight 285--which is so weighed down with the "backstories" of the many characters that it could well have been retitled "The High and the Mighty at Gunpoint"--made its ABC network debut on February 4, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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

In the concluding half of The Cosby Show's now-legendary series finale (originally shown as a single, hour-long special), Cliff (Bill Cosby) prepares for Theo's college graduation by recalling how his son struggled to keep apace in high school. Elsewhere, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Dabnis (William Thomas Jr.) remain on the verge of getting back together; and word comes that a certain former series regular is now pregnant. Don't miss that unforgettable final shot, as Cliff and Clair elegantly share a last dance--then casually stroll off the set, past the studio audience, and into sitcom immortality. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad) are worn to a frazzle by the disruptive behavior of their twin grandkids Nelson (Gary Gray) and Winnie (Jessica Vaughn). Even more annoying is the unwillingness of the twins' parents Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) and Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) to curb the kids' antics--and since the couple won't be able to move into their own house for another sixty days, it looks as though things will get worse before they get better. In desperation, Cliff constructs a makeshift "fort" in his living room to keep the twins at bay--and when this fails, he tries to palm the youngsters off on his own parents! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Olivia (Raven-Symone) comes down with a bad case of laryngitis just before she is to sing for her grandparents' 55th anniversary. When none of the family's exotic "home remedies" prove successful, Olivia retreats to her bedroom, refusing to attend the anniversary party because she feels she's let everyone down. At the last moment, Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) come up with a solution to Olivia's plight--a solution involving a spirited lip-synch rendition of Koko Taylor's "I'm a Woman". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With his parents' guarded permission, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) arranges to have a dinner date with Cheryl (Vanessa Williams) in the Huxtable home. Just before the big event, in walks Ellen (Troy Beyer), the girl friend of Theo's pal Denny (Troy Winbush), who wants to discuss Denny's upcoming birthday party with Theo. Inadvertently mixing wines with her antihistamines, Ellen ends up falling asleep in Cliff and Clair's bedroom. As a nervous Theo tries to hide the unconscious Clair from both his parents and Denny, Cheryl finally shows up--and she's no mood for explanations! Previously slated to air on two separate occasions in the fall of 1990, this episode marks the last regular appearance of Joseph C. Phillips as Martin Kendall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Not only has new mom Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf) been worn to a frazzle caring for the twins, but she is also sore that her med-school student husband Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) seems to be taking her for granted. As for Elvin, his efforts to convince Sondra that he's as caring and concerned as ever fail dismally. Ulitmately, the couple's female relatives figure out how to get Sondra and Elvin back on track--but not before Cliff (Bill Cosby), in his zeal to castigate Elvin for his lack of consideration, is shown to be even LESS considerate than his son-in-law! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

With the rest of the family out of town, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) has the Huxtable house all to himself. Taking advantage of the sitaution, Theo's pals Howard (Reno Wilson) and Denny (Troy Winbush) talk hm into throwing a small, intimate party for themselves and their girl friends. You guessed it: The festivities quickly get out of hand and the house is overrun with a plague of uninvited guests, who wreak both havoc and damage in equal measure--and worst of all, Theo's girl never shows up! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Russell (Earle Hyman) manages to scrounge up tickets for a sold-out Michael Jackson concert, but hasn't got enough for the entire Huxtable family to attend. Rather than have her children miss out on the event, Clair (Phylicia Rashad) talks Cliff (Bill Cosby) into staying home with her to babysit Sondra and Elvin's twin babies--only to leave Cliff alone with the kids when she's called away on business. This episode marks the first appearance of infant twins Donovan Bryant and Darrian Bryant as Nelson Tibideaux and Jalese Grays and Janelle Grays as Winnie Tibideaux, all of whom unintentionally "ad-lib" as Cliff tries to tell them a melancholy story from his youth. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

America's number one-rated series for three years running, The Cosby Show manages to hold on to this lofty status throughout its fifth season on the air. Bill Cosby is of course back as obstetrician Cliff Huxtable, as is Phylicia Rashad as Cliff's attorney wife, Clair. Three of the five Huxtable children are still being seen on a regular basis: Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa, Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo. Also back after a year's hiatus as star of the spin-off series A Different World is Lisa Bonet as daughter Denise, though the actress' pregnancy would severely curtail her appearances this season. Likewise, oldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), now the wife of Elvin Tibideaux (Geoffrey Owens) and the mother of twins Nelson and Winnie (born in an hour-long episode, originally aired November 10, 1988), is only seen on a sporadic basis. Season five is distinguished by the fact that Theo has graduated from college and is attending New York University for graduate school, while Denise has dropped out of Hillman College and is preparing to journey to Africa as a photographer's assistant (a plot development which neatly coincides with Lisa Bonet's maternity leave). Likewise worth more than a passing nod is the episode "If the Dress Fits, Wear It," which features appearances by series regular Phylicia Rashad's sister Debbie Allen and husband Ahmad Rashad. And in the episode "No Way, Baby," Sammy Davis Jr. makes one of his last TV appearances as a cranky old cuss named Ray Palomino (Davis earned an Emmy nomination for his performance). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Aspiring to become her school's first male drum major, Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) is thwarted by the "good ol' boy" chauvinism of the student jury. Exerting pressure on his friends, Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) forces the jury to hold another audition, but doesn't let Vanessa know what has happened--while she assumes that the new audition is being conducted solely because of her "dazzling" talent! Meanwhile, Grandpa Russell (Earle Hyman) has a lot of trouble repaying a long-standing debt to his old musician pal Slim Claxton (Dub Taylor), who stubbornly refuses to accept the money. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally networkcast as an hour-long special), Sondra (Sabrina LeBeau) gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, whom she names Nelson and Winnie (as in "Mandela"). Grandfather Cliff (Bill Cosby) is of course elated, but he's also worried that Sondra's husband Elvin will not be able to shoulder his new financial responsibilities--but Elvin has a surprise for all concerned. Meanwhile, Clarice (Phylicia Rashad) and Mrs. Tibedeaux (Marcella Lowry) adjust (sort of) to being grandmothers; and Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) continues to be attracted to his pal Howard's girlfriend Julia (played by supermodel Naomi Campbell), which doesn't bother Howard (Roy Wilson) but certainly annoys Theo's girl Justine (Michelle Thomas). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi