K.C. Martel Movies

Jerry Fogel is cast as Paul Billingham, aka "Ralph Alfalfa the Happy Farmer" of Chicago radio fame. Though a huge success on the airwaves, Billingham harbors a dark secret: He stutters. Now that he has been offered a TV job, Billingham is terrified that the bizarre physical subterfuges he uses to speak coherently into the microphone will be exposed -- so naturally, he goes to Bob for advice. Written by Andrew Smith, "Easy for You to Say" originally aired on February 11, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This TV movie stars Jean Stapleton as the real-life "Aunt" Mary Dobkin, a physically handicapped woman living in the Baltimore of the 1940s. Concerned that juvenile delinquency is destroying her neighborhood, Aunt Mary organizes the "Dobkin Dynamiters", a baseball team comprised of disadvantaged and minority children. As she fights to have her biracial team officially sanctioned by the highly segregated Baltimore power structure, Aunt Mary is further challenged by the amputation of her left leg and right foot. Nonetheless, she perseveres over the next two decades, providing nearly 35,000 disenfranchised boys the opportunity to escape the streets and play ball. Sportscaster Ernie Harwell, who'd once called the shots for the Baltimore Orioles, makes a cameo appearance in this 1979 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Beulah Land is an edited, movie-length version of the three-part TV miniseries adaptation of Lonnie Coleman's multi-part novels. The film is set in the Old South, with a time span ranging from 1827 to the postwar Reconstruction Era. Lesley Ann Warren stars as Sarah Kendrick, young belle of the Beulah Land plantation, who finds herself in love with a "damn Yankee." Sarah must also contend with a weakling brother (Paul Rudd) and a former slave (Dorian Harewood) who demands freedom as a right rather than a privilege. Beulah Land took forever to get before the cameras due to protests from black historical organizations; when it was finally telecast on October 7-9, 1980, NBC conducted a low-pressure ad campaign, as though the network was still fearful of stepping on toes despite the testimonial of a black Yale history professor, who commended the production for its "special sensitivity." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sort of a triple-threat Bad Seed with a more overtly violent streak, this film tells the tale of trio of cherubic youngsters whose births all coincided with a solar eclipse, which somehow initiated a kind of time-release evil reaction that reaches its climax on the kids' tenth birthday, causing them to transform into miniature homicidal psychopaths. These darling little tykes then proceed to beat dad's brains out with a baseball bat, gun down their teacher, and otherwise beat, stab and strangle anyone who even looks cross-eyed at them. They also seem to be strangely fond of leering at naked teenage girls... or maybe that's just the director's favorite pastime. Produced in 1980, this proto-slasher opus was shelved for six years, then released to video to capitalize on the already-waning trend of Friday the 13th sequels and their hellish offspring. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Both a classic movie for kids and a remarkable portrait of childhood, E.T. is a sci-fi adventure that captures that strange moment in youth when the world is a place of mysterious possibilities (some wonderful, some awful), and the universe seems somehow separate from the one inhabited by grown-ups. Henry Thomas plays Elliott, a young boy living with his single mother (Dee Wallace), his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Elliott often seems lonely and out of sorts, lost in his own world. One day, while looking for something in the back yard, he senses something mysterious in the woods watching him. And he's right: an alien spacecraft on a scientific mission mistakenly left behind an aging botanist who isn't sure how to get home. Eventually Elliott puts his fears aside and makes contact with the "little squashy guy," perhaps the least threatening alien invader ever to hit a movie screen. As Elliott tries to keep the alien under wraps and help him figure out a way to get home, he discovers that the creature can communicate with him telepathically. Soon they begin to learn from each other, and Elliott becomes braver and less threatened by life. E.T. rigs up a communication device from junk he finds around the house, but no one knows if he'll be rescued before a group of government scientists gets hold of him. In 2002, Steven Spielberg re-released E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in a revised edition, with several deleted scenes restored and digitally refurbished special effects. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Mike (Kirk Cameron) would sooner go to a Bruce Springseen concert by his himself, but since it was dad Jason (Alan Thicke) who bought the tickets, it ends up a father-and-son night. Things go relatively smoothly until Jason inadvertently manages to embarrass Mike when the two of them are interviewed by the press. And back at home, mom Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and daughter Carol (Tracey Gold) have an argument on the subject of mice. Josh Andrew Koenig and K.C. Martel make their first series appearances as Mike's pals Boner and Eddie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

A young Renee Estevez guest stars as Robin, a teaching assistant at Mike's school. In order to get permission from his parents to go on a ski trip, Mike (Kirk Cameron) must pass a certain course. When he receives a dismal "D", Robin agrees to alter the grade to an "A"--but only on condition that Mike take her along to the ski slopes! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Also released under the title The Rites of Summer, this film follows the adventures of pampered city boy Alan Block (Sean Astin) when his parents ship him off to a wilderness camp. Once there, Alan and the other three campers must attempt to live up to the tough expectations of their guide, Vic (Kevin Bacon), who is determined to push the kids as far as he can--and maybe farther. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, the family bands together to scotch the quarrel between Jason (Alan Thicke) and Mike (Kirk Cameron). Once a truce is reached, Mike moves out of the house and into the attic above the garage, a living arrangement that meets with Jason's approval, so long as Mike can come up with his own rent money. But when Jason catches Mike borrowing cash from Maggie (Joanna Kerns), another nasty fight ensues--and this one may drive a permanent wedge between father and son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is pressed into service as a deejay for the school dance which she and Jason (Alan Thicke) have agreed to chaperone. Out on the dance floor, a disillusioned Mike discovers that his "dream girl" Lydia (Cathy Podwell) has a voice that would shatter glass, while Carol (Tracey Gold) suffers repercussions after tripping the light fantastic with Mike's pal Boner (Josh Andrew Koenig). And elsewhere, Ben (Jeremy Miller) and Stinky (Jamie Abbott) end up in a seedy diner during their quest for a legendary pinball machine known as The Flipper. With this episode, Growing Pains moved from Tuesday to Wednesday evening, where the series would remain for the rest of its third season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Mike (Kirk Cameron) bristles at the household rules and regulations set down by dad Jason (Alan Thicke), feeling that, as an 18-year-old college student, he should be treated as an adult. Things come to a head when Jason refuses to let Mike go on a skiing trip, even after the boy's college classes have been postponed. In high dudgeon, Mike runs out of the Seaver house--and spends the next several days living in his car! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide