Jeff Douglas Movies
While on the job at an abandoned Chicago office building, four electrical workers -- Dean (Richard Grieco), Ray (Richard Yearwood), Junior (Jason Jones), and Sheldon (Jeff Douglas) -- stumble upon a time portal. Instantly, Dean and Junior disappear, rematerializing in a modernistic alternate Chicago. Soon after, Ray and Sheldon follow their buddies -- a bad mistake, inasmuch as this parallel world is ruled by cannibalistic, spider-like humanoids. The four heroes link up with a group of survivors of the spider invasion, led by Dr. Morelli (Colin Fox), Elena (Kate Greenhouse), and Crane (David Newman). Will they be able to escape the rampaging arachnids and return to their own world, or will they be betrayed by a spy in their midst and delivered up to the omnivorous Spider Queen? Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the TV series Sliders, the made-for-cable Webs debuted June 28, 2003, on the Sci-Fi channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Grieco, Richard Yearwood, (more)
- 2002
This weekend-morning fantasy series for kids largely took place in a sinister-looking prep school called Blake Holsey High. Because of the preponderance of curious phenomena that occurred within the walls of the school -- from spontaneously combustible desks to mysteriously disappearing freshmen -- the place was known as "Black Hole High" to its students. The individual episodes dealt with the efforts of five teenaged detectives, members all of the school's science clubs, to solve the various paranormal mysteries occurring on campus. The main characters included the analytical Josie (Emma Taylor Isherwood), the overachieving Corrine (Shadia Simmons), the popular but strangely secretive Vaughn (Robert Clark), precocious conspiracy theorist Lucas (Michael Seater), and the cheerfully geeky Marshall (Noah Reid). In keeping with the prosocial edicts of American network television, the series was careful to balance its science-fiction content with a healthy dose of science fact. Filmed at Auchmar Estate, a 150-year-old former monastery near Hamilton, Ontario, Strange Days at Blake Holsey High debuted October 5, 2002, as part of the three-hour Discovery Kids on NBC Saturday-morning programming block. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emma Taylor Isherwood, Shadia Simmons, (more)
- 1998
The flamboyant novelist who brought the world such deathless literary masterpieces as Valley of the Dolls and Once is Not Enough is the subject of this made-for-cable biopic. Michele Lee stars as Jacqueline Susann, a second-string actress and well-known party girl who turned to journalism after her marriage to producer Irving Mansfield (Peter Reigert). Though constantly surrounded by Show Business Glitterati, Susann would not achieve celebrity status herself until age 47, when she published the lurid best-seller Valley of the Dolls. Though outwardly giving the impression that she was tough as nails and utterly invulnerable, Susann in truth had her share of anguish and tragedy, coping with the challenge of raising an autistic son, struggling against substance abuse, and ultimately waging a long, losing battle against breast cancer. According to studio publicity, star Michele Lee (who also served as executive producer) wore some of Susann's own jewelry and wardrobe in the course of making the film. Largely based on the biography by Barbara Seaman, Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story made its USA network debut on December 9, 1998, several months before Bette Midler's theatrically released spin on the Susann legend, Isn't She Great. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Lee, Peter Riegert, (more)
