Kirsten Nelson
- 2006
The weekly, hour-long detective dramedy Psych made its USA network bow on July 7, 2006, right after the fifth-season opener of the thematically similar Monk. James Roday starred as Shawn Spencer, the genial "slacker" son of no-nonsense police officer Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen). Relentlessly trained from an early age to recognize the smallest and most minute clues at a given crime scene, Shawn developed a photographic memory, which he generally used to coast through life and avoid honest work. Hoping to gain a bit of prestige as a police consultant, Henry made the mistake of providing so much "inside" evidence that at one point he was accused of being a perpetrator. In his efforts to wriggle out of this dilemma, Shawn managed to convince the authorities that he possessed psychic powers (which he most certainly did not), and as such became a permanent "troubleshooter" for the Santa Barbera police department, answerable to interim police chief Karen Vick (Kristen Nelson) -- who, luckily, was an old friend of Shawn's father. Grudgingly partnered with our hero was hard-bitten detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), who harbored serious doubts about Shawn's psychic prowess, and Lassiter's co-worker Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Lawson), a gung-ho, ebullient type who believed every word that Shawn said. Also on hand was Shawn's best friend and confidante, Gus (Dulé Hill), an overcautious type who resented being continually thrust into harm's way, but who couldn't hide his fascination with various aspects of crime and crime-solving. In a clever directorial gimmick, viewers at home "saw" and "memorized" the various clues in each episode through Shawn's eyes, via freeze-frame and zoom lens. A few episodes of Psych were seen on the over-the-air NBC network beginning July 14, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Roday, Dule Hill, (more)
- 2003
Originally titled Brave New World, the weekly, half-hour seriocomedy The O'Keefes was based in part on the real-life experiences of Mark O'Keefe, who also co-produced the series. Judge Reinhold and Kirsten Nelson starred as Harry and Ellen O'Keefe, a brilliant and eccentric couple who elected to home-school their three children, sheltering the kids from such insignificant distractions as TV, contemporary music, and other forms of popular culture. Though the O'Keefes were affectionate and well-intentioned, the kids -- Lauren (Tania Raymonde), Danny (Joseph Cross), and Mark (Matt Weinberg) -- eventually yearned to lead normal lives. Under protest, Harry enrolled his youngsters in public school, whereupon the erudite but unworldly O'Keefe progeny found that they may have been conversant in several languages, but "teentalk" wasn't one of them. The O'Keefes debuted May 22, 2003, on the WB network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judge Reinhold, Kirsten Nelson, (more)
- 2002
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) interrupts a recap of the latest attack from the super-nerd troika (see "Gone") with a startling announcement -- to make ends meet, she's taken a job...at a burger joint! Clad in an embarrassing orange uniform, the Slayer bravely confronts her first shift at the Doublemeat Palace, a fast-food restaurant where the workers all seem lifeless and morose -- when they show up to work at all. Depressed by her own minimum-wage lot in life, the Slayer continues her sweaty liaison with Spike (James Marsters). But when she's not busy having sex behind the dumpster on her dinner break, she grows disturbed by the company's rampant absenteeism and by rumors of a sinister mystery ingredient in the burgers. Buffy's worst fears are confirmed when human body parts show up near the meat grinder. Fired rather than rewarded for her grisly discovery, Buffy turns to the Scoobies for help. Willow (Alyson Hannigan), who's been fending off the forcible companionship of fellow magic junkie Amy (Elizabeth Anne Allen), uses some old-fashioned science to analyze the meat. As it turns out, though, the body parts and disappearances are the work of a particularly loyal customer who happens to be a demon. Vanquishing the beast, Buffy uses Willow's research into the Palace's secret recipe to secure renewed employment for herself. Elsewhere, Anya (Emma Caulfield) hooks up with Halfrek (Kali Rocha), an old vengeance-demon friend who questions the wisdom of Anya's upcoming nuptials to Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Originally broadcast January 29, 2002, on UPN, "Doublemeat Palace" marked episode 112 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Shawn (Rider Strong) and Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) are so fed up by the efforts of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) to bring them back together that they issue their own version of a restraining order. Even so, the two ex-sweethearts cannot help running into one another no matter how hard they try. Meanwhile, with Amy (Betsy Randle) expecting a baby, Alan (William Russ) tries to make himself feel young enough for parenthood by making an unsual purchase, while Eric (Will Friedle) appoints himself the family's birthing coach (a job that requires more talk than action, apparently!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
