Richard Reinhart Movies
- 1992
After eight months at sea, Mike's lifelong friend Eddie (K.C. Martel) pays an unexpected return visit to Long Island. Under normal circumstances, Mike (Kirk Cameron) would be delighted--but instead, he keeps the notoriously irresponsible Eddie at arm's length, worried that his old pal might prove to be a bad influence on Luke (Jeremy Miller). Meanwhile, Ben (Jeremy Miller) shoots a video of the Seaver family on behalf of Carol, who is still studying in London. In the original network version of this episode, the cast of Growing Pains touchingly acknowledges the conspicuous absence of series regular Tracey Gold (Carol), who had been forced to leave the show because of severe health problems. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first half of Growing Pains' two-part series finale (originally telecast as a single hour-long episode), the Seaver family is faced with a major uprooting when Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is offered a job in Washington, DC, as media relations director for a US Senator. While Maggie and Jason (Alan Thicke) look forward to leaving Long Island behind, Ben (Jeremy Miller) and Carol (Tracey Gold) are dead set against the move. As for Mike (Kirk Cameron), his reaction is, if not entirely unexpected, certainly characteristic! This episode was originally seen on the same evening that two other popular ABC series, MacGyver and Who's the Boss, ended their lengthy runs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Carol (Tracey Gold) worries that she has become trapped in the Blind Date from Hell when she goes out with her girlfriend's brother, a doofus from Yale named Brad (Manfred Melcher). Even worse, Brad ditches Carol when the couple goes to a carnival, making her feel all the more unattractive and unwanted. But salvation--and a truly "uplifiting" experience--is in the offing when Carol is rescued by charismatic carny worker Jake (Jay Acovone). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is a bit surprised when her dad Ed (Gordon Jump) shows up on the spur of the moment. Alas, the reason for Ed's visit is that he has some bad news for the family: the doctor has given him only a short time to live. Hoping to make the best of what time they have left, Ed and Maggie decide to go off together on a fishing trip--but tragically, things don't go according to schedule. This very special episode features a poignant flashback sequence, with Alexis Greig and Larry Marks respectively cast as the younger versions of Maggie and Ed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Despite the trepidations of his parents Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns), teacher Mike (Alan Thicke) arranges for homeless high school student Luke (Leonardo DiCaprio) to stay with the Seaver family. It soon becomes obvious that Luke is an adroit liar--and possibly worse than that, when Jason's precious cache of rare wine disappears. With this episode, Growing Pains moved from its familiar Wednesday-night timeslot to a new Saturday berth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Gordon Jump makes a return appearance as Maggie Seavers' father Ed Malone--or rather, as the late Ed's ghost. This spectral visitation occurs when Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and the rest of the Seavers pay a visit to her childhood home, which her widowed mother Kate (Betty McGuire) plans to sell. Naturally, each bit of furniture and bric-a-brac arouses a memory for Maggie...and also makes her acutely aware that a benevolent spirit is watching over her every move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Harry tries to prevent overzealous Federal Agent Moody (Michael D. Roberts) from shooting down misguided patriot Nesbit Sherman (Jeremy Lawrence), who is holding an original draft of the U.S. Constitution hostage. Meanwhile, Roz (Marsha Warfield) continues to cavort wildly on the courthouse roof, still under the influence of an insulin overdose. Can these problems be resolved before President Reagan arrives to tape a TV special? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
In the first episode of a two-part story, Roz (Marsha Warfield) seriously considers quitting her job when she is diagnosed with diabetes--and later disrupts the decorum of the courtroom when she o.d.'s on insulin. Come to think of it, however, the courtroom's decorum has been disrupted from the outset by a surfeit of Presidential impersonators, hired for a TV special on American history. And we haven't yet mentioned the unhinged Nesbit Sherman (Jeremy Lawrence), who is wielding a cigarette lighter and threatening to destroy an original draft of the U.S. Constitution! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
While the rest of the Seavers are visiting Maggie's parents Ed and Kate Malone (Gordon Jump, Betty McGuire), Mike (Kirk Cameron) is allowed to hold a party at home. Unfortunately, things get out of control, and what started as a "mild" affair is quickly upgraded to "wild." Meanwhile, the family is shocked to discover that Ed and Kate are about to be turned out of their house...and when Jason (Alan Thicke) offers to lend the couple the money needed to pay the bills, he's in for yet another shock. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
When Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke) come up with radically different responses to the same compatability test, Maggie concludes that Jason is keeping secrets from her--and not pleasant secrets at that. Meanwhile, Ben (Jeremy Miller) aspires to break a record--any record--to qualify for the "Guinness" book. And Mike (Kirk Cameron) risks life and limb in a karate class to impress a pretty student named Linda (Ami Dolenz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Monroe Ficus (J.M. J. Bullock), erstwhile house guest of the Rushes, is on a self-pity kick again. This time, Monroe is feeling sorry for himself because he is still a virgin. He doesn't want to be a virgin, and he says so. He says so in front of every member of the Rush family, including the prudish Henry (Ted Knight). And in his characteristic beat-a-dead-horse fashion, Monroe bemoans his "un-deflowered" status over and over and over and over and over and over again. (And over and over and over and over....) ~ All Movie Guide
- 1980
Sara (Lydia Cornell) takes a part-time job at the bank where her sister, Jackie (Deborah Van Valkenburgh), works. Before long, Sara gets a much-coveted promotion. This sets her dad, Henry (Ted Knight), a-wondering: did Sara receive her promotion on her own merits or in exchange for "certain favors" from her notoriously flirtatious boss (Jim Weston)? Former Bob Newhart Show regular Jack Riley appears as a holdup man. ~ All Movie Guide
