Laurie Metcalf Movies

After a blow on the head, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) awakens in the tiny backwater town of Purnell, Wyoming, with both his memory and all traces of his identification gone. As Monk tries to figure out what's happened, a local woman named Cora (Laurie Metcalf) appears, declaring that he is her husband--and with no proof to the contrary, Monk takes Cora at her word, returning to her house and acting the role of dutiful helpmate! By and by, however, Monk's inherent detective skills begin to resurface, and soon he is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a waitress named Debbie (Bre Blair)--which may or may not be linked with the fate that has recently befallen local big shot Roger Zisk (Jim Parrack), whose body is covered with painful bee stings! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In his second bid for sitcom stardom (the first was the late, unlamented Encore! Encore!), Broadway favorite Nathan Lane starred as Charlie Lawrence, a gay TV actor who forsook his popular weekly series "Guppy Sherman" to enter politics. Appointed to fill out the term of a recently deceased New Mexico congressman, Charlie did his best to use his showbiz savvy to cut through the deeply ingrained B.S. of Washington, D.C., and sometimes actually succeeded. The cookie-cutter supporting characters included Sarah (Laurie Metcalf), Charlie's uptight, no-nonsense chief of staff; Charlie's neighbor and friend Graydon Cord (Ted McGinley), a politician who happened to be a member of the loyal opposition; ditzy office manager Suzette Michaels (Stephanie Faracy), who couldn't see past Charlie's carefully cultivated TV image; and klutzy office intern Ryan Lemming (T.R. Knight), the son of a millionaire campaign contributor. Charlie Lawrence made its CBS bow on June 15, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Barbra Streisand and Cis Corman are the executive producers of this TV movie, filmed in Toronto by director Joseph Sargent (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three). The fact-based film recounts the aftermath of the night of December 7, 1993 when gunman Colin Ferguson (Tyrone Benskin) opened fire on a packed Long Island Rail Road commuter train, killing six and wounding 19. However, instead of re-creating that attack and focusing on Ferguson, this drama follows the life of suburban housewife Carolyn McCarthy (Laurie Metcalf), who entered politics on a gun-control platform after her husband of 30 years was killed and her 26-year-old son was wounded during the incident. McCarthy is depicted here as a crusading media personality appealing for assault weapon control, then a political candidate, and finally as the congressional representative from the fourth district of New York. Premiere April 19, 1998 on NBC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Season seven opens with Roseanne announcing her pregnancy, which later becomes medically complicated. Darlene and David break up and Roseanne tells Darlene she can't go back to school. Meanwhile, David still lives in the Conner family house, causing increasing tensions between him and Mark, which leads to an even bigger fight between Darlene and Becky. Eventually, Mark and Becky move out of the house and into a trailer. Darlene gets a new boyfriend (Danny Masterson), and David shows an interest in a couple of girls (Lisa Rieffel, Traci Lords). However, they get back together toward the end of the season when Darlene reluctantly confesses her true feelings to him on the front porch. This season contains two really memorable episodes: "All About Rosey" is the hour-long clip show featuring classic sitcom moms and the season finale, "Sherwood Schwartz," is a hilarious tribute to the legendary television writer/producer and his magical creation Gilligan's Island. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The powerlessness of sensitive children in the face of adult perversity is one of the themes of this drama about a young girl who faces the prospect of life without her mother. At first, when nine-year old Margaret's (Remy Ryan) mother (Laurie Metcalf) is taken to the hospital, Margaret tries to make sure that no one knows that her mother is dying and that she will soon be left alone. For a while, it looks as though she will succeed, but after her mother dies and her next of kin, Margaret's Aunt Fergie (Shirley Knight), is notified, any foolish hopes she might have along those lines are quickly and efficiently squashed. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Season five of Roseanne contains some of the best-remembered episodes of the show, and marked the first of many Emmy awards (Laurie Metcalf won for Best Supporting Actress in a comedy series in 1992). The season started in the usual dire financial straits, with the bike shop out of business and Roseanne out of work. Her mother, Bev (Estelle Parsons) moves into a retirement home in Lanford and helps to finance the sandwich shop, the Lanford Lunch Box. In the two-part season opener, Mark (Glenn Quinn) and Becky (Lecy Goranson) elope and move to Minneapolis. Right after they leave, Darlene turns 16 and quickly advances her relationship with David (Johnny Galecki), who ends up moving in with the Conners. Darlene dyes her hair black, stages an animal rights protest at the Lanford Lunch Box, and goes to the Daisy Chainsaw concert with new next-door neighbor Molly Tilden (Danielle Harris).This season contained some pretty heavy episodes, like when Roseanne and Jackie's father died or the two-part episode where Jackie left her abusive boyfriend, Fisher (Matt Roth). Also significant is the episode where Nancy (Sandra Bernhard) reveals that she's gay and introduces her lover, Marla (Morgan Fairchild). Other guest stars that appeared this season include Joan Collins, Loretta Lynn, Ed Begley Jr., and Red Buttons. The season ends when a business opportunity gets messed up by shady partner Roger (Tim Curry), and Darlene has to decide between staying with David in Lanford or going to art school in Chicago. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Season three of Roseanne opened following the media frenzy surrounding the infamous baseball game where Roseanne slaughtered the National Anthem on television. Married to Roseanne in 1990, Tom Arnold makes a few guest appearances and starts writing episodes as well. The Conner family's problems with money escalate in this season, when Dan (John Goodman) gives Arnie (Tom Arnold) a loan right before he finds himself in debt. Dan also gets injured at work and Roseanne starts working at the coffee shop. Becky's (Lecy Goranson) behavioral problems escalate significantly as she gets sent to the principal's office, runs away from home, throws a party, and steals Dan's motorcycle with her boyfriend, marking the first appearance of Mark Healy (Glenn Quinn). Darlene (Sara Gilbert) goes to her first school dance and develops an interest in boys, but she still would rather play baseball than wear a dress. Dan's father, Ed (Ned Beatty), proposes to their family friend, Crystal (Natalie West), who is pregnant with his child. Also, Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) becomes a full-fledged police officer and breaks up with her boyfriend, Gary (Brian Kerwin). The season ends with Ziggy's (Jay O. Sanders) return to Lanford and the birth of the motorcycle shop. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The first season of Roseanne served as an introduction to the working-class Conner family and their humorous struggles to get through the day in Lanford, IL. Roseanne is presented as the sarcastic head of the household, snapping rude comments to everyone and working full time at Wellman Plastics. Dan (John Goodman) is a freelance building contractor, but his salesman father (Ned Beatty) thinks that he should be doing more with his life. Frequently shouting back at her mother's comments, Becky's (Lecy Goranson) interests lie mostly in boys; during this season, she prefers the tougher Johnny (Tony Crane) to the wealthier Chip (Jared Rushton). Darlene (Sara Gilbert) is a tomboy who shares her mother's caustic wit and constantly fights with her little brother, D.J. (Michael Fishman ). Darlene approaches getting her first period with serious dread, and she appears to have developed a high propensity for manipulation. Neurotic Jackie (Laurie Metcalf ) works at the plastics factory and dates the manager, Booker (George Clooney). In the season finale, Roseanne finally quits her factory job. This season went through several writers, including Roseanne's first husband, Bill Pentland. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

This 1981 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Chevy Chase and features musical guest Jr. Walker & the All Stars. This is the first episode produced by Dick Ebersol, after the firing of former producer Jean Doumanian. However, a writers' strike also made it the last episode of the season. Laurie Metcalf makes her first and only appearance as a featured player. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide