Michael McManus Movies

In this sci-fi adventure, an awesome intergalactic warrior engages in an epic battle with the hologram of an ancient poet while on the planet Brunnis. The fighter is assisted by his cadre of friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Family Pictures is a two-part TV adaptation of the Sue Miller novel of the same name. Anjelica Huston and Sam Neill are Lainey and David Eberlin, a 1950s married couple with six children, one of whom, Randall (Jamie Harrold), is autistic. The parents' initial decision not to institutionalize the boy results in a terrific strain on the rest of the family, until finally only Lainey is willing to shoulder the responsibility of raising Randall. The second half of Family Pictures, related from the vantage point of the 1980s by the Eberlins' oldest daughter (Kyra Sedgwick), details the effect that Randall's inevitable institutionalization had on the family. This anecdotal four-hour drama first aired on March 21 and 22, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As a birthday present for Peg (Katey Sagal), Al (Ed O'Neill) takes her to the beautiful Bowlarama. Here he continues the celebration by breaking the record set by his longtime bowling rival Puggy (Michael McManus). Alas, Al's triumph is shortlived; grabbing the ball herself, Peg ends up bowling a perfect 300! Sportcaster Roy Firestone and TV journalist Garrett Glaser appear as themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long "special"), the Night Court staff is quarantined in the courtroom building when a toxic experimental virus is accidentally spilled. Forced to share close quarters, the staffers begin to recall the separate turning points in their lives. Flashbacks reveal Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) pursuing an abortive career as a stage magician, acerbic court matron Roz (Marsha Warfield) working as a stewardess, public defender Christine (Markie Post) competing for the "Miss Buffalo" crown, and libidinous prosecutor Dan (John Larroquette) as a 25-year-old virgin! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"In my films, you're always encouraged to remember that you're watching a collection of designed images." Thus spake Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan in describing his calculatedly non-realistic style. In keeping with his earlier works, Egoyan's Speaking Parts, though grounded in reality, could never be confused with the facts of life. Arsinee Khanjian plays a near-somnambulistic maid who carries a torch for aspiring actor Michael McManus. She obsesses on McManus by renting tapes of the films in which he's appeared as a non-speaking extra. As McManus ignores Khanjian while wooing would-be filmmaker Gabrielle Rose (he wants to star in a film based on Rose's life-saving organ donation), Khanjian develops a sort of rapport with video store manager Tony Nardi, who also harbors dreams of becoming a filmmaker. The most curious (and, to some, maddening) aspect of Speaking Parts is that all the characters physically resemble one another. What this has to do with Egoyan's "message"--if any--is unclear, but it sure works towards the director's goal of assuring that the viewers are constantly aware that they're watching a movie and not Real Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of Night Court's two-part Season Six opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long "special"), prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) is still marooned in a remote Eskimo village after surviving a plane crash. Successfully--if nervously--performing an emergency appendectomy, Dan then manages to alert the authorities to his whereabouts. Returning to New York City in a barely recognizable condition (shaggy beard and all), Dan arrives just in time to attend his own funeral! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In 1982, five young left-wing extremist shook up the Canadian government and its people by bombing a power plant, destroying a Litton Industries plant that made cruise missile guidance systems and firebombing several pornographic video stores. Based on interviews with one of the convicted bombers and wiretap transcripts, this made for Canadian television drama tells their story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Oh No! Mr. Bill is about to be splattered by the evil Mr. Sluggo in this live action film. ~ All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Kip Niven returns to the series, but not in his familiar role as Vera's duplicitous ex-fiance Steve Marsh. Instead, he shows up as Steve's cousin Travis Marsh, a heavily bewhiskered country-western singer. After hearing Alice (Linda Lavin) warble a tune, Travis invites her to join his travelling band--but his interest in Alice is a bit more than professional! Linda Lavin and Kip Niven sing "Higher and Higher". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Television film featuring the Marvel Comics hero doing battle with a mad industrialist who wields a neutron bomb. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide

Carmine (Eddie Mekka) may be many things, but he's never been a criminal--or has he? Suspecting Carmine of participating in a counterfeiting ring, the FBI uses the apartment of Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) for a stakeout. Not wishing to see "The Big Ragu" go to the pen, the girls do everything in their power (and then some!) to distract the federal agents. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this episode of the sci-fi adventure series, the spaceship Lexx's crew find themselves battling addiction after imbibing a strange liqueur made from body parts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this futuristic sci-fi adventure, an intergalactic warrior and his pals team up to stop the wicked dictator His Shadow. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide