Marsha Posner Williams Movies
For Pilates beginners looking to build a solid foundation for which to grow upon, renowned Pilates master Rael Isacowitz puts twenty-five years of experience to use to craft a simple, three-step system showcasing all seven fundamental Pilates positions. Isacowitz is one of but a few Masters with the ability to perform the entire Pilates repertoire, and in blending the purity of Pilates with a series of more modern postures, he attempts to create the ideal learning environment for health-conscious individuals looking to expand their physical horizons. Topics covered in the easy-to-learn, one-on-one lesson include proper breathing and alignment for core moves, and a series of poses including the chest lift, pelvic curl, roll up, spine twist, spine stretch, side leg lifts, and basic swan poses. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
The instructional video Rael Pilates: Series 17 stars Rael Isacowitz, who leads the viewer through a Pilates workout that designs the original maneuvers with newer methods. This video is designed for those familiar with the previously released Rael System 7 video. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
This video features a Hatha, or physical, yoga program. Hatha yoga prepares the body via breathing and physical exercises for the spiritual and meditative practices of yoga. This workout is a challenging and energizing yoga routine concentrating on breathing exercises and holding poses. Instructed by Tracey Rich and Ganga White, directors of the White Lotus Roundation Retreat and Institute of Yoga Teacher Training, the program was designed to supplement more strenuous workouts and to be an introduction to yoga for beginners. If practiced regularly and over time, yoga can reduce stress, increase endurance and flexibility, improve circulation, and lower blood pressure. ~ Heather M. Fierst, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tracey Rich, Ganga White, (more)
Having emerged from its first season as the seventh highest-rated program in America -- and one of four NBC sitcoms in the Top Ten -- The Golden Girls waltzed into its second season on NBC's Saturday-night lineup with the greatest of ease. Virtually no changes were made with the basic cast and format: the setting was still the Miami home of flirtatious fiftysomething widow Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) and her housemate contemporaries, outspoken substitute teacher Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) and naïve, timid widow Rose Nylund (Betty White). Also sharing the girls' home was Dorothy's peppery mother, Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), whose lack of "tact cells" (the result of a stroke) had given her carte blanche to say the most outrageous and embarrassing things imaginable. Also carried over from season one were the girls' efforts to make ends meet on their pooled incomes, and to find true romance with a steady stream of eligible middle-aged bachelors. Additionally, Dorothy's unreliable ex-husband, Stan (Herb Edelman), continued in his efforts to re-insinuate himself in his former wife's life. Some of the recurring characters introduced in the first season -- Dorothy's daughter, Kate, Blanche's flamboyant father, "Big Daddy" -- returned to the series, though not played by the same actors as in season one (this season they were played by Deena Freeman and David Wayne, respectively). Of the newer semi-regulars, the foremost was Sophia's estranged sister, Angela, a role that earned an Emmy nomination for guest actress Nancy Walker. Moving up from seventh to fifth place in the ratings (and joining three other popular NBC sitcoms in the Top Five), The Golden Girls also added to its ever-growing list of Emmy awards with honors for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing (Terry Hughes), and Outstanding Lead Actress (Rue McClanahan, winning an award that had gone the previous season to her co-star Betty White). As bonus, the final episode of The Golden Girls' second season performed double duty as the pilot for the soon-to-be equally popular sitcom Empty Nest -- though by the time that series made its official debut in 1988, the entire cast had been changed and the format considerably altered. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Bea Arthur, Betty White, (more)
Legend has it that The Golden Girls, created by Susan Harris of Soap fame, was introduced to NBC's Saturday-evening lineup in the fall of 1986 to counter criticism that the network was ignoring its older viewers (that is, those over the age of 34) in favor of younger fans. Whatever the case, not one of the leading characters in The Golden Girls was under the age of 50 -- and none of them ever acted as if they were any older than 30. Sharing the same home in a placid Miami neighborhood were outspoken divorcée and substitute teacher Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), timid, naïve widow Rose Nylund (Betty White), and another widow, the earthy, man-chasing Southern belle Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), who owned the house. (The series waited until the last episode of season one to explain how these three extremely disparate personalities ended up under the same roof; without revealing too much, the key to the girls' strong bond was as simple as cheesecake.) In the opening episode, Blanche's eightysomething mother, Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), moved in with the "girls" when her retirement home burned down. Having suffered a stroke which destroyed the "tact cells" in her brain, Sophia blithely said anything and everything that came into her mind, much to the embarrassment of her daughter, but to the great amusement of the viewers. During season one, several recurring characters were introduced. The most prominent of these was Dorothy's ex-husband, Stanley (Herb Edelman), who, despite having ditched Dorothy for a much younger woman, never tired of his efforts to worm his way back into her life. Also making their earliest appearances were Dorothy and Stanley's daughter, Kate (Lisa Jane Persky), and son-in-law, Dennis (Dennis Drake); Blanche's bombastic father, "Big Daddy" (Murray Hamilton), and her selfish younger sister, Virginia (Sheree North); Dorothy's wealthy kid sister, Gloria (Doris Belack); and Rose's fiercely independent (and recently blinded) sibling, Lily (Polly Holliday). Some of these characters would make repeat visits in future seasons, though not always played by the same actors. An unqualified hit from its first appearance onward (the series was tied for seventh place in the ratings with Dynasty during its inaugural season), The Golden Girls also garnered enthusiastic praise from the critics and earned four Emmys, for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Technical Direction, and Best Lead Actress (Betty White). ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Bea Arthur, Betty White, (more)
- 1984
Introduced to NBC's Wednesday-night schedule as a mid-season replacement on January 4, 1984, the weekly 30-minute sitcom Night Court quickly built a large and appreciative audience, enabling the series to remain on the network for nine seasons. Harry Anderson, a comedian who had established his reputation as a smooth-talking, nimble-fingered street magician and self-styled con artist, was perfectly cast as affable, irreverent Manhattan night-court judge Harry T. Stone. Although he came across as an iconoclastic jokester who held standard legal procedure in contempt (in one episode, his verdict was based on the flip of a coin), Harry was a highly successful jurist with a well-honed sense of fair play, whose handling of the oddballs that paraded in and out of his court resulted in a gratifyingly low "return" rate and quite a few reformations. Even those who'd never stood before Judge Stone in court were familiar with his lovable eccentricities, including his fondness for faded blue jeans and his adoration of singer Mel Tormé. The supporting cast included John Larroquette as Assistant DA Dan Fielding, who spent as much time trying to score with the ladies in night court as he did trying to secure convictions, and Richard Moll as bald-headed bailiff "Bull" Shannon (Richard Moll), whose bark was worse than his bite, but not by much.
During the series' first season, Paula Kelly was seen as legal-aid defense lawyer Liz Williams, who was alternately appalled and fascinated by Harry's unorthodox tactics; Karen Austin also appeared as court clerk Lana Wagner, who harbored a not-so-secret crush on Harry. In subsequent seasons, Liz was replaced by Billie Young (Ellen Foley), who in turn was replaced by Christine Sullivan (Markie Post); as for Lana, her replacement was Mac Robinson (Charles Robinson). Both Christine and Mac remained for the rest of the series; not so with Selma Diamond as abrasive jail matron Selma Hacker, a character who lasted only until Diamond's death. The actress' replacement, Florence Halop as Florence Kleiner, likewise passed away after only a short time on the series; she in turn was replaced by Marsha Warfield as Roz Russell, a character who stayed in place until the series' own demise. The on-again, off-again romance between Harry Stone and Christine Sullivan was definitely "off" during seasons seven and eight, when Christine was wed to undercover cop Tony Guillano (Ray Abruzzo), a union which produced a baby. After Christine divorced Tony, her relationship with Harry heated up considerably, but before long the ardor had cooled. Eventually, Christine was elected to congress, whereupon she was pursued not by Harry but by the ever-libidinous Dan Fielding. The final episode of Night Court, which set something of a record for the number of bizarre, surrealistic incidents occurring within a single half-hour, was broadcast on July 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
During the series' first season, Paula Kelly was seen as legal-aid defense lawyer Liz Williams, who was alternately appalled and fascinated by Harry's unorthodox tactics; Karen Austin also appeared as court clerk Lana Wagner, who harbored a not-so-secret crush on Harry. In subsequent seasons, Liz was replaced by Billie Young (Ellen Foley), who in turn was replaced by Christine Sullivan (Markie Post); as for Lana, her replacement was Mac Robinson (Charles Robinson). Both Christine and Mac remained for the rest of the series; not so with Selma Diamond as abrasive jail matron Selma Hacker, a character who lasted only until Diamond's death. The actress' replacement, Florence Halop as Florence Kleiner, likewise passed away after only a short time on the series; she in turn was replaced by Marsha Warfield as Roz Russell, a character who stayed in place until the series' own demise. The on-again, off-again romance between Harry Stone and Christine Sullivan was definitely "off" during seasons seven and eight, when Christine was wed to undercover cop Tony Guillano (Ray Abruzzo), a union which produced a baby. After Christine divorced Tony, her relationship with Harry heated up considerably, but before long the ardor had cooled. Eventually, Christine was elected to congress, whereupon she was pursued not by Harry but by the ever-libidinous Dan Fielding. The final episode of Night Court, which set something of a record for the number of bizarre, surrealistic incidents occurring within a single half-hour, was broadcast on July 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Anderson, Richard Moll, (more)
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