Tom Williams Movies

Jonathan Kellerman's Edgar Allan Poe Award-winning novel When the Bough Breaks was evocatively adapted for the TV screen in 1986. Ted Danson plays a clinical psychologist, brought in to tend to an emotionally withdrawn little girl (Rachel Ticotin). There's a possibility that the child may have witnessed an unsolved double murder. As Danson and the girl draw closer, he becomes enmeshed in a homicidal conspiracy sparked by a clique of wealthy, well-connected men. Ted Danson also coproduced When the Bough Breaks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After scoring a best-seller with her recipe book, Mel's mom Carrie (Martha Raye) purchases the apartment building in which her son resides. Convinced that his existence will be rent-free from here on in, Mel (Vic Tayback) is sorely disappointed when Carrie actually increases his rent by an additional 50 bucks--and then evicts him when he refuses to pony up. This is the final episode of Alice's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, guest star Joel Grey has agreed to headline the musical play starring Alice (Linda Lavin) and bankrolled by Mel (Vic Tayback). But Grey ankles the project when Mel transforms the show from a sophisiticated Manhattan revue to a desert "folk opera", repleted with a line of cowboy-clad chorines and such deathless tunes as "Ramona from Arizona" (this is Alice's big solo, much to her dismay). As indicated by the episode's title, Joel Grey WILL save the day...but not until the very, very last minute! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In order to pay for college, Tommy (Philip McKeon) takes a night job as a singer in a non-alcoholic bar. Unfortunately, Tommy's nocturnal duties are so demanding that he begins cutting classes in the daytime, prompting Alice (Linda Lavin) to take a hand in matters. This proves disastrous for both mother and son when Alice's well-meaning interference ends up getting her fired. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An autopsy X-ray reveals that the corpse of a murdered courier contained a sack of diamonds worth $2,000,000, hidden within a pacemaker. Under pressure from a team of U.S. Customs officials, Quincy (Jack Klugman) agrees to go undercove in hopes of flushing out a dangerous gang of international jewel smugglers. This explains why Quincy shows up at a Las Vegas beauty contest ("Miss Coroner", no less), offering to sell the diamonds to a notorious gangster...and acting very, very nervous about the whole thing. The climax of this episode bears a striking resemblance to the film noir classic D.O.A. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Not surprisingly, Mel (Vic Tayback) is skeptical at the news that Vera (Beth Howland) has suddenly developed ESP. He is less skeptical when several of Vera's prognostications come true. Ultimately, skepticism gives way to greed as Mel tries to cook up a scheme to use Vera's fortune-telling talents to his advantage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much against his will (and his better judgement), Jim (James Garner) gets involved in the trials and tribulations of Warren Weeks (Ron Rifkin), the wimpish cousin of attorney Beth Davenport (Gretchen Corbett). Warren was recently fired from his job by a man who later turned up murdered. The principal suspect in the killing is the victim's own boss Perry Lefcourt (Joe Maross)--who happens to be the husband of Warren's current sweetheart Catherine (played by onetime Playboy centerfold Anne Randall). When Lefcourt himself turns up dead, the feckless Warren finds himself facing charges for both murders--and in his efforts to clear Warren, Jim ends up getting arrested no fewer than three times! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed in 1966 (when screenwriter Richard Breen was still around), this made-for-TV feature marked the return of Jack Webb's classic 1950s cop series Dragnet after a seven-year absence. Ordered to cut his vacation short, Sgt. Joe Friday (played by Jack Webb) is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappeances of two beautiful models and a pretty young war widow. In concert with partner Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan), Friday does his best to follow the trail of evidence, only to be continually stymied by contradictory or reluctant eyewitnesses. Before arriving at the disturbing conclusion that the missing girls have been the victims of a voyeuristic serial killer, Joe and Bill manage to solve another, unrelated murder involving a visiting Frenchman. Several members of Jack Webb's radio and TV Dragnet stock company are cast in colorful supporting roles, including Virginia Gregg, Victor Perrin, and Herb Ellis, while L.A. Dodgers catcher John Roseboro is seen as a fellow cop. A powerful opening sequence and an thrilling action climax more than compensate for the unevenness of the script (the last such by veteran Webb collaborator Richard Breen) and the occasional pokiness of the direction. Although this 97-minute Dragnet was good enough to convince NBC to revive the vintage Jack Webb series on a weekly, half-hour basis (it ran successfully for three seasons), the film itself was shelved for several years, not making its network TV debut until January 27, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ken Berry essays a dual role in this episode as mild-mannered Captain Wilton Parmenter and his ill-mannered lookalike, a fugitive bank robber named Kid Vicious. As O'Rourke (Forrest Tucker), Agarn (Larry Storch) and doddering Sheriff Lawton (Sterling Holloway) conduct an extensive search for Kid Vicious, the outlaw overpowers Parmenter and assumes his identity. It looks like the only way we'll be able to separate the good guys from the bad guys is to have Wrangler Jane (Melodie Patterson) identify the real Parmenter--for whom she has been carrying a torch since Episode One. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide