Lori Loughlin

As the sun rises on yet another uneventful summer, a spirited teen named Moondance Alexander finds her life taking an unexpected turn thanks to the appearance of a pinto pony named Checkers that appears to have leapt clear over the walls of his paddock. Always keen to do the right thing, Moondance returns the pony to its rightful owner -- the gruff Dante Longpre. But Moondance suspects that there's something special about Checkers, and that with a little encouragement, he could become a world-class jumper. Perhaps this summer won't be quite so dull and predictable after all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Drew (Drew Carey) has fallen in love with Dawn (A.J. Langer), whom he met by chance during a bus ride. Now he must gently let down Robin (Lori Laughlin), the girl chosen as his future bride by professional matchmaker Larry. But there's another problem that needs an instant solution: Drew is never permitted a moment alone with Dawn, thanks to her ex-boyfriends who keep hanging around her house (in fact, one of them is still living above her garage!) And what about Kellie (Cynthia Watros), who still hasn't gotten over her high school crush on our hero? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ed Raymond's action thriller Critical Mass comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that produces an image with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include filmographies for the cast and director, a trailer, still photographs, and previews of other Artisan titles. This is a fine release that will appeal primarily to genre enthusiasts. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The double trauma of seeing his wife Vivian (Gail O'Grady) walk out on him and having his government funding eliminated causes nuclear scientist Rogers Henry (John Glover) to go off the deep end. But Vivian doesn't know about her husband's insanity when she agrees to deliver what she thinks is his model of a thermonuclear device called Medusa to the Pentagon. Nor do charter pilot Scott Nash (Vincent Spano) and researched Linda McCoy (Lori Laughlin) suspect anything amiss when Vivian boards Scott's plane en route to Washington. Only when the plane is aloft is it discovered that the "model" is a genuine bomb that has armed itself and will explode should it be taken any more than fifteen feet away from Vivian, whose pacemaker is the bomb's "control." Even worse: There's a hurricane threatening Washington, and the plane is unable to land--and someone on board requires emergency heart surgery! Based on the best selling novel by John J. Nance (who appears in a cameo role), the two-part TV movie Medusa's Child first aired November 16 and 20, 1997, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Serenity now" are the control words that George's dad, Frank (Jerry Stiller), is supposed to utter every time his blood pressure rises. Conversely, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) finally learns how to lose his temper -- and it isn't pretty. In other developments George (Jason Alexander) is invited to join Frank's latest business enterprise, selling computers -- bringing him in very close contact with his old enemy Lloyd Braun (Matt McCoy). Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) discovers her "shiksappeal" when a young Jewish boy tongue-kisses her during his bar mitzvah. And Kramer (Michael Richards) takes on "Anytown, U.S.A." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Los Angeles district attorney Jess Kostner (Lori Laughlin) inaugurates her own personal descent into hell when she agrees to prosecute an accused rapist named Sean Ferguson (Tracey Walter). Having just recovered from a nervous breakdown brought about by the mysterious death of her mother, Jess is in no mood to discover that Sean's defense attorney is her own ex-husband Don Shaw (Bruce Greenwood). Things get really dicey when Ferguson's victim Connie (Lauren Tom) refuses to appear in court. Jess manages to persuade Connie to testify, only to be plunged into the abyss of guilt and self-loathing when Connie is "mysteriously" killed just before her testimony. The only positive aspect of this sordid affair is Jess' growing relationship with amiable courtroom spectator Adam Stiles (Joe Flanigan). Ultimately, the trial--and acquittal--of Sean Ferguson is revealed to be an elaborate charade, designed as a prelude to a uniquely perverse form of vigilante justice! Boasting so many plot twists that one virtually needs a scorecard to keep abreast of new developments, Tell Me No Secrets debuted January 20, 1997 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed on location in South Carolina, The Price of Heaven represents one of the rare forays into the realm of made-for-TV movies by celebrated director Peter Bogdanovich. The story takes place in the early 1950s, as Korean war hero Jerry Shand (Grant Show) returns to his Southern hometown. Aspiring to medical school, Jerry lands a low-paying but steady job selling funeral insurance to the local black community. When ordered to collect back premium payments from the elderly and impoverished Vesta Battle (Cicely Tyson in a virtual reprise of her "Miss Jane Pittman" characterization), Jerry is prevented from doing so by his newly awakened compassion and social consciousness--thereby placing his job, and his entire future as a "good Southerner", in jeopardy. On a more personal level, Jerry is torn between love for his childhood sweetheart, whose family runs a local laundry, and lust for the predatory daughter of a wealthy cotton-mill owner (shades of Bette Davis!) Based on a novella by Allan Gurganus and first telecast over the CBS network on August 17, 1997, The Price of Heaven has since been shown on cable TV under the title Blessed Assurance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season eight of Full House was supposed to have been the occasion that one of the two Olsen twins (Ashley and Mary-Kate) was to take over the role of Michelle Tanner, youngest daughter of San Francisco TV host Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), on a full-time basis. Previously, both girls had shared the role, but now the time had come for one girl to remain and another to leave the series. But thanks to the intervention of co-star John Stamos (who played Danny's brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis), both Olsen girls continued alternating in the role of Michelle -- and both were given special billing at the beginning of each episode. This was the major event of Full House's eighth and final network season, though there were plenty of other highlights. In the season opener, rock-star wannabe Jesse is unceremoniously fired by his own back-up band -- and later replaced by Brady Bunch regular Barry Williams. Also, Jesse's twin children, Nicky and Alex (Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit), are poised to begin pre-school, provided their over protective parents allowed this rite of passage. Danny continues fretting over his oldest daughter D.J. (Candace Cameron) and her choice of dates, notably the well-named Viper (David Lipper); meanwhile, middle daughter Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) is just as boy-crazy, at one point auditioning for the lead role in a school play in hopes of getting her handsome co-star to kiss her on-stage. On a more serious note, D.J. and her friend Kimmy (Andrea Barber) are crestfallen when they aren't accepted by the college of their choice; the audience learns for the first time what caused the death of Danny's wife, Pam; and in the two-episode series finale, Michelle suffers a serious injury which causes her to lose her memory. This final predicament, is, however, resolved long before the episode's warmhearted and sentimental fadeout, in which the cast bids an affectionate goodbye to Full House's legions of fans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season six of Full House had ended with widowed dad Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) proposing marriage to his longtime girlfriend, Vicky Larson (Gail Edwards). But during the summer hiatus, the series' producers had second thoughts about tinkering with the series' "single parent" premise, thus by the middle of season seven, Danny and Vicky have come to an amicable parting of the ways. Meanwhile, Danny's three daughters -- D.J. (Candace Cameron), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Michelle (played by twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) all grow a little older and a lot more independent-minded. As for Alex and Nicky (Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit), twin children of Danny's brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) and his wife, Becky (Lori Loughlin), they are now undergoing "the terrible twos" -- with chaotic results. So what else happens during the series' sixth year on the air? Well, D.J. breaks up with her college film student boyfriend, Steve (Scott Weinger); Jesse inherits "The Smash Club," which he hopes to transform into Frisco's trendiest nightspot; Jesse's grandfather (Jack Kruschen) pays a visit -- and promptly drops dead; Danny's daughters learn a valuable lesson when a much-vaunted toy action figure proves to be less than was advertised; and in the guest-star department, Vanna White plays a dual role in the episode "The Test," while in another installment, singer Little Richard is revealed to be the uncle of series semi-regular Denise Frazer (Jurnee Smollett). As the season ends, there is the distinct possibility that the main characters will be moving out of their familiar San Francisco townhouse. Full House closed out its sixth season as the 16th most popular series on American network TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When two young twins decide to go to Grandmother's house, they take off on an adventure they're not likely to forget. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide