Christopher Misiano Movies

This quasi-fantasy offering from ABC starred Jonny Lee Miller as Eli Stone, a successful corporate lawyer who at the outset of the series cared only about the "holy trinity" of America: "Amani, Accessories and Ambition." All this changed when Eli suddenly began experiencing weird MTV-style visions of his late, ne'er-do-well father (Tom Cavanagh)--and, weirder still, of singer George Michael (playing himself). He was also subjected to bizarre hallucinations, notably a huge fighter plane which "buzzed" him in the middle of downtown New York. Interpreting these phenomena as a Sign from Heaven, Eli told off his imperious boss Jordan Wethersby (Victor Garber) and abandoned his lucrative practice in order to got to bat for "underdog" clients, usually those victimized by society in general and corporate fat cats in particular. While Eli's former associates thought that he'd gone crazy, his neurologist Nathan (Matt Letscher) had a grimmer explanation for his radical personality change, insisting that Eli was suffering from the same sort of brain aneuryism that had killed his father. But laid-back acupuncturist Dr. Chen (James Saito) wasn't as willing to write off Eli's new condition in so coldly logical a manner, and offered to help the protagonist interpret his visions in order to best serve humanity. Others in the cast included Loretta Devine as Eli's bemused assistant Patty, Julie Gonzalo as his dewey-eyed protegee Maggie, and Natasha Henstridge as Jordan Wethersby's daughter--and Eli's fiancee--Taylor. Blithely fluctuating between the real and surreal world, Eli Stone evoked memories of such earlier cult favorites as Ally McBeal and Joan of Arcadia, which was undoubtedly the intention of co-creator Marc Guggenheim (who, like Eli, has been a lawyer before turning to scriptwriting). The series first aired on January 31, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

All but one of the interns are fully prepared to take the first-year exams. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and her father have finally come to an understanding, which is more than can be said for Meredith and Derek (Patrick Dempsey). Burke (Isaiah Washington) and Cristina (Sandra Oh) are just a few hours away from becoming husband and wife. Callie (Sara Ramirez) is beginning to figure out what went on between George (T.R. Knight) and Izzie (Katherine Heigl) on that drunken evening. Ava (Elizabeth Reaser) finally regains her memory and identifies herself as "Rebecca Pope"--but this is anything but good news for Alex (Justin Chambers). And in addition to three injured mountain climbers, the hospital admissions room includes such familiar faces as Adele Webber (Loretta Devine) and Joe the Bartender (Steven W. Bailey). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The White House is placed on high alert in anticipation of possible attacks on U.S. military installations. Despite several death threats, not to mention the omnipresence of Secret Service Agent Donovan (Mark Harmon), C.J. (Allison Janney) is determined to go on a shopping excursion with her niece. Toby (Richard Schiff) puts pressure on the TV networks to changes their minds about an announced cutback of convention coverage. And Josh's (Bradley Whitford) gift to Donna (Janel Moloney) somehow winds up in an eBay auction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Psychiatrist Stanley Keyworth (Adam Arkin), the man who treated Josh (Bradley Whitford) for trauma after the shooting incident, is now determined to find out the cause of President Bartlet's post-Iowa insomnia. Also weighing heavily on the proceedings is the possibility that Bartlet (Martin Sheen) will condemn Islamic fanaticism in his upcoming UN address. On this issue, Toby (Richard Schiff) clashes with his ex-wife, Andrea Wyatt (Kathleen York), a congresswoman and foreign policy expert. Elsewhere, C.J. (Allison Janney) asks Leo (John Spencer) to negotiate the release of a White House reporter who has been captured in Africa; Sam (Rob Lowe) quarrels with Republican lawyer Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter) over matters of feminism; and Donna (Janel Moloney) considers accepting a more prestigious job. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally slated to air on September 20, 2001, the eighth-season opener of ER was bumped to September 27 due to ongoing network coverage of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. This inaugural episode hopscotches through time, presenting its events from several sharply differing points of view. First off, several loose ends from the end of season seven are wrapped up, notably the aftermath of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) decision to "terminate" a man who had killed several people before being shot himself, and the aftereffects of the treatment given to Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) when she cut her hand on a vial of HIV-infected blood. In new developments, the ER staff treats the victims of a TV talk show brawl; Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter (Noah Wyle) attend his grandfather's funeral, where Carter is brought into a confrontation with his estranged parents (Michael Gross, Mary McDonnell); Benton (Eriq La Salle) helps his sister Jackie (Khandi Alexander) cope with the death of her son; returning from vacation, Weaver (Laura Innes) worries that she has been "outed" by Romano (Paul McCrane); and Chen (Ming-Na) is appointed chief resident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The staff tries to prevent President Bartlet's estate-tax veto from being overridden by the GOP. Bartlet (Martin Sheen) himself turns on the old charm with Jack Buckland (Kevin Tighe), a Democratic governor who is thinking of running for president against Jed. Presidential aide Charlie Young (Dulé Hill) is encouraged by one and all to accept an immunity deal when called to testify in the investigation of the MS "cover-up." And C.J. (Allison Janney) crosses swords with obstreperous TV entertainment reporter Sherri Wexler (Mary Mara). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steven Hill, the sole remaining cast member from Law & Order's first season, appeared as D.A. Adam Schiff for the final time in this episode. In a case reminiscent of the theatrical feature Missing, a father obsessively seeks out the persons responsible for the torture and death of his son in Chile in 1973. When the father himself dies, A.D.A. McCoy (Sam Waterston) goes after hospitalized Chilean colonel Emilio Pantoya (Tomas Milian), intending to prosecute the ailing officer for murder. "Vaya Con Dios" originally aired in tandem with another episode, "Stiff," on May 24, 2000, bringing the tenth season of Law & Order to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode of The West Wing is structured as a flashback while Josh (Bradley Whitford) addresses a college class on the day-to-day workings of the White House. Toby (Richard Schiff) and Sam (Rob Lowe) must travel to Connecticut in order to smooth over troubles when Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) nominee for the Supreme Court, Roberto Mendoza (Edward James Olmos), is arrested for drunk driving. Media feeding frenzies abound when the African-American head of Housing and Urban Development, Debbie O'Leary (CCH Pounder), accuses a Republican leader of being a racist, and when Josh, subbing at a press conference for suddenly sick C.J. (Allison Janney), claims that the president possesses a "secret plan" to prevent inflation. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The ER is the site of several personal crises: the parents of a premature infant implore the staff to save the child, a gay woman (Rosemary Forsyth) is prevented by legal red tape from getting treatment for her comatose life partner, and a homeless patient who refuses to show up for dialysis sparks a quarrel between Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Romano (Paul McCrane). In another development, Carter (Noah Wyle) attends his first AA meeting, where another of his ER colleagues agrees to be his sponsor. And Greene (Anthony Edwards) pops the question to Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Weaver (Laura Innes) tries to determine if elderly terminal patient Kathy Brennan (Connie Sawyer) is really her long-lost biological mother. In other developments, Carol (Julianna Margulies) wonders if she should keep her baby. And in his efforts to apply for chief residency, Carter (Noah Wyle) takes over Greene's 24-hour shift while Greene is off trying to prevent the deportation of Nigerian janitor Mobalage (Djimon Hounsou). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Going into labor just before Thanksgiving, Carol (Julianna Margulies) gives birth to twins, with OB nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney, in her first series appearance) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in attendance. At first, things go relatively smoothly, but complication quickly set in, forcing Carol's Lamaze coach, Greene (Anthony Edwards), to skip Elizabeth Corday's special Thanksgiving dinner. As a result, poor Corday (Alex Kingston) is left alone to entertain Greene's irascible father (John Cullum) and surly daughter (Yvonne Zima). And back at the ER, Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) collaborates with Carter (Noah Wyle) on a difficult diagnosis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the wife (Swoosie Kurtz) of televangelist Emmitt Chambliss (Gary Grubbs) is brought into the ER suffering the aftereffects of a recent face-lift, Chambliss draws up plans to telecast a fundraiser from the hospital. Elsewhere, Ross (George Clooney) and Carol (Julianna Margulies) put their careers on the line by performing an experimental treatment on six-month-old meth addict Josh McLean instead of returning the baby to his mother. Romano (Paul McCrane) reacts strongly to the relationship between Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Corday (Alex Kingston). And HIV-positive Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) may have contacted pneumonia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The victim of a brutal assault refuses to help detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) in their investigation of the crime. This curious incident serves to stymie the efforts by the NYPD to track down the alleged rapist of two women, one of whom was comatose when she was attacked. Is it possible that one of the victims' parents is concealing a horrible secret? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide