Kathy Najimy Movies
American character actress Kathy Najimy specializes in offbeat, theatrical characters. A substantial and energetic woman with distinctive curly hair and exotic features, Najimy has appeared on-stage, in feature films, and on television. She has also voiced cartoons. Film credits include The Fisher King, Soapdish (both 1991), Sister Act (1992), and Jeffrey (1996). In 1996, she appeared -- over 100 pounds thinner -- for a brief but memorable recurring role as a manic-depressive psychiatrist on the CBS TV series Chicago Hope. In 1997, she became a regular on the Kirstie Alley sitcom Veronica's Closet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Disney and Pixar join forces for this computer-animated tale about a wide-eyed robot who travels to the deepest reaches of outer space in search of a newfound friend. The year is 2700, and planet Earth has long been uninhabitable. For hundreds of years, WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) has been taking out the trash, and collecting precious knick-knacks in order to stave off the boredom of his dreary routine. Little does WALL-E realize that he has recently stumbled onto a secret that could save planet Earth, and once again make the ravaged planet safe for all humankind. When highly advanced search robot EVE makes friends with WALL-E and realizes the value of his remarkable discovery, she excitedly races back to let the humans know that there's hope for their home planet after all. But after centuries alone in space, WALL-E can't stand the thought of losing the only friend he's ever known, and eagerly follows her into the deepest reaches of space on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, the friendly trash-collecting robot who has always known what he was made for gradually begins to understand what he was meant for. Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton returns to the helm for this family-friendly sci-fi adventure featuring the voices of Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, and Ben Burtt. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, (more)
FBI Special Agent Don Eppes recruits his mathematical genius brother Charlie to help the Bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles. The two brothers take on the most confounding criminal cases from a very distinctive perspective. Assisting Don at the FBI is behavioral specialist Megan Reeves and FBI agents David Sinclair and Colby Granger. Charlie's colleagues at the University where he teaches include Dr. Larry Fleinhardt and former grad student Amita Ramanjuan, both of whom offer their math expertise to assist Charlie with the most perplexing cases. Don and Charlie's father, Alan Eppes, is pleased to see his two sons working together, but fears their competitive nature will lead to trouble.
- Starring:
- Rob Morrow, David Krumholtz, (more)
- 2006
In response to the American Idol juggernaut on the Fox network, CBS came up with a miniseries titled Game$how Marathon, based on the satirical British weekly Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon. Each hour-long episode lovingly recreated such classic TV games shows as Beat the Clock, The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, The Match Game, Family Feud, Press Your Luck, and Card Sharks. Host Ricki Lake presided over a lineup of celebrity contestants including Kathy Najimy, Tim Meadows, Paige Davis, Leslie Nielsen, Lance Bass, and Brande Roderick -- not to mention such special guest stars as the ageless, indefatigable Bob Barker. In the tradition of American Idol and other such interactive TV contest shows, the viewers at home were invited to compete for the weekly grand prize right along with the winning celebrities. Initially slated to air in 2005, Game$how Marathon was finally unveiled by CBS on May 31, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricki Lake
Taunted by their classmates since grade school and never quite able to escape the culturally suffocating confines of their homogenized Midwestern hometown, a pair of small-town misfits make a break for the big city in this comedy from director Lorene Machado. Celeste (Margaret Cho) is an overweight, Korean, former goth-punk whose best pal since childhood has been queeny African-American Bam Bam (Bruce Daniels). Now in their early thirties and curious to explore the outside world, Celeste and Bam Bam catch wind of a reality television makeover show that's in search of a challenge. Convinced that they are the perfect candidates and encouraged by the show's booking assistant (Alan Cumming) to make the trip, the pair pack up the car and set their sights on New York City. Upon arriving in the Big Apple for their television debut, Celeste and Bam Bam find their moment in the spotlight threatened by a former high school nemesis turned posh salon owner assigned to perform makeover duties on the peculiar pair. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Cho, Bruce Daniels, (more)
- 2006
- G
- Add Brother Bear 2: The Moose Are on the Loose to QueueAdd Brother Bear 2: The Moose Are on the Loose to top of Queue
An old friendship is renewed and new bonds are forged as Kenai and Nita set out on the adventure of a lifetime in this animated, direct-to-video sequel to the 2003 Disney hit Brother Bear. When Kenai emerges from his first hibernation with a hearty appetite and a craving for the best spring berries around, he takes his younger brother Koda to Crowberry Ridge for a delicious feast. As Rutt and Tuke scour the landside looking for some female companionship, Kenai is surprised to find his childhood friend Nita venturing into the wilderness with a pressing problem that only Kenai can solve. It appears as if the amulet given to Nita by Kenai has much greater power than either of them had previously thought, and in order to marry, the old friends must travel back to Hokani Falls to burn the amulet together. Now, as the pair travel over icy mountain ranges and down raging rivers, the plan set into motion by the Great Spirits for Nita and Kenai slowly begins to come into focus. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Dempsey, Mandy Moore, (more)
A gay artist and telemarketer with a special knack for getting along well with children discovers just how closed-minded the suburbs can be when he attempts to find happiness after losing his godson in writer/director Peter Paige's affectionate, not-so-black comedy. Paul Johnson (Paige) is a Portland-based artist and telemarketer who loves nothing more in life than the time spent with his two-year-old godson, Morgan. Upon learning that his best friends the Fabers are moving to Japan and taking their son Morgan with them, Paul wallows in a state of deep denial that ultimately results in him missing the Fabers' departing flight. Encouraged by his good friend Russell (Anthony Clark) to get out of his house and spend more time with others, Paul soon ventures out to a local playground, where he finds comfort and joy in the youthful exuberance that surrounds him. When it comes to the concept of a grown homosexual spending time with young children, not everyone in the suburbs can be so accepting, though, and as Paul attempts to find ways of keeping himself surrounded by his pint-sized pals, nosy neighbor and disapproving mother Maggie Butler (Kathy Najimy) rallies a ready army of angry soccer moms to take action and keep Paul away from the local children. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Paige, Kathy Najimy, (more)
- 2004
Season nine of the animated redneck comedy series King of the Hill begins as Peggy Hill briefly leaves Arlen, TX and returns to her Montana hometown when her mother is threatened with losing her land as the result of an influx of Hollywood movie stars -- including Henry Winkler, heard as himself. Another Happy Days alumnae, Marion Ross, can be heard as the title character in the next episode, "Ms. Wakefield." In later episodes, Hank Hill is outraged when Peggy buys a lawn gnome; the world of conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble collapses when he becomes convinced that the Warrren Commission has been right all along; Bobby Hill tries to unlock the Fox network on the family TV (so that he can watch his own show?); the Hills' niece Luanne begins dating a good ol' boy named Lucky (voiced by Tom Petty); Native American John Redcorn tries to open up his own gambling casino; the "Smoking Bandit" strikes when all tobacco consumption is banned in Arlen's restaurants; and Bobby thrills his macho dad Hank when he makes the school track team -- but not for the right reasons. In the season's final episode, Hank and his pals try to save their barber buddy Bill when his obsession with his hobbies threatens his job. In addition to the celebrity voices mentioned above, the ninth season of King of the Hill also boasts the vocal talents of Jason Bateman, Trace Adkins, Mac Davis, Tone-Loc, Henry Gibson, and Brendan Fraser. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Brad Pitt provides the voice of a fellow named Path, the brother of supremely inarticulate good ol' boy Boomhauer, in the opening episode of King of the Hill's eighth season. In subsequent episodes, Texan Hank Hill regrets forcing his son Bobby to join a "positive" Christian youth group (their voices supplied by Sum 41); likewise, wife Peggy suffers the consequences when she secretly administers testosterone medication to Hank. Later on, Hank, Bobby, Boomhauer, Dale Gribble, and Bill Dauterive embark upon a road trip to Arizona; Peggy creates the Strickland Propane Company mascot "Probot"; the Hills' niece Luanne leaves college to jump-start her career as a beauty stylist; Peggy coaches Tom Landry Middle School's cheerleading squad; the entire town is imperiled by a flood, not to mention Bill Dauterive's unexpected bout with megalomania; Hank gets in trouble when he stages a revisionist version of the Battle of the Alamo; and in the season finale, Bobby winds up as an advice counselor for the girls in his school. Other guest voices heard during King of the Hill's eighth season include Gene Simmons, Fred Willard, Chris Elliot, George Strait, Travis Tritt, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Ben Stiller, Christina Applegate, Melissa Etheridge, Elijah Wood, Ben Stein, Johnny Depp, Marg Helgenberger, Tom Petty, Laura Prepon, Lindsay Lohan, and Alyson Hannigan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Redneck reactionary Hank Hill should by rights be delighted that his "not right" son Bobby has a new girlfriend named Jordan as King of the Hill launches its seventh season; unfortunately, Jordan's parents are the "progressive" kind -- and if there's anything that Hank is opposed to, it is progress! In later episodes, Hank's barber buddy Bill joins the International Federation of Competitive Easting; Peggy Hill's new hairdo literally makes Hank sick just before Thanksgiving; Hank accidentally cuts off the finger of his conspiracy theorist buddy Dale Gribble; Peggy opens a combination bookstore and gun shop; the owner of a pork sausage empire obsessively forces a fashion makeover upon the Hills' niece Luanne (in an episode titled "Pigmalion"); John Redcorn wants Hank to take Joseph (who is John's biological son) on a "vision quest," while Joseph's supposed dad, Dale, still doesn't know what has been going on between his wife Nancy and the redoubtable Redcorn; Bobby is sent to a politically correct boot camp; Peggy is forced to use insecticides after going on a pro-ecological kick; and a black handyman accuses the Hills' dog of racism. The season ends with an episode wherein Bobby's tarot card hobby attracts the attention of a bizarre coven. Guest voices heard during King of the Hill's seventh season include Debra Messing, Eliza Dushku, Milla Jovovich, Elizabeth Perkins, Kid Rock, Lucy Liu, Allison Janney, Michael Keaton, Tom Arnold, George Foreman, Bruce Dern, Carmen Electra, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Kennedy, Bernie Mac, and Janeane Garofalo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
- 2002
Originally titled The Soul Patrol, the made-for-cable The Scream Team was loosely based on a Disney internet game. After the death of their grandfather, young Ian and Claire Carlyle (Mark Rendall, Kat Dennings) discover that the tiny New England home town is something of a halfway house for restless ghosts, who cannot enter Heaven until they have redeemed themselves on Earth. Among the spectral clients of the "Soul Retrieval Center" are Coffin Ed (Eric Idle), a disgraced Revolutionary War soldier, and self-described "beautiful bossy ghost" Maria (Kathy Najimy). Naturally, the Carlyle kids end up as reluctant "case workers" for these and other rueful wraiths. Filmed in Ontario, The Scream Team was first telecast over the Disney Channel on October 4, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Idle, Kathy Najimy, (more)
A very loose remake of the classic multi-star comedy It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), this madcap comedy is directed by Jerry Zucker, one third of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker comedy team and director of Ghost (1990). John Cleese stars as an eccentric casino owner who devises a contest pitting six teams against each other in a race to claim two million dollars from a locker in New Mexico. The competitors are Owen (Cuba Gooding Jr., who ends up driving a bus full of Lucille Ball imitators, a foreigner (Rowan Atkinson) who hitches a ride in an organ donor vehicle, and a recently reunited mother and daughter (Whoopi Goldberg and Lanei Chapman) who anger a "squirrel lady" (Kathy Bates) -- much to their regret. There are also two con artist brothers (Seth Green and Vince Vieluf), the upright Nick (Breckin Meyer), who gets a lift from cute but psychotic pilot Tracy (Amy Smart), and the eccentric Pear family, headed up by Jon Lovitz. Rat Race also stars Dave Thomas, Kathy Najimy, Wayne Knight, Dean Cain, and Paul Rodriguez. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, (more)
Season six of the animated redneck sitcom King of the Hill begins as 13-year-old Bobby Hill, unable to enroll in the Arlen YMCA's boxing class, takes the next available slot in a women's self-defense class, convincing his macho dad Hank all the more that Bobby "ain't right." In other episodes, Hank's substitute-teacher-spouse Peggy takes her students on a field trip to Mexico and ends up being arrested for kidnapping; a carpenter with the initials J.C. performs a miracle during the Christmas episode; the incomprehensible Boomhauer gives Bobby advice on how to handle women, but proves even more tongue-tied than usual when he himself falls in love for the first time in his life; Peggy foments a feminist rebellion at a Renaissance fair; Hank wins the privilege of carrying the Olympic torch through his neighborhood; military-post barber Bill Dauterive steals a tank when he finds out the Army has been using him for a guinea pig; still unaware that Native American John Redcorn is the real father of his son Joseph, conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble becomes convinced that Joseph is actually a space alien; Hank becomes the token white at an all-Asian country club; and the Hills' niece Luanne joins a Stepford-like sorority. In the season's two-part finale, the Hills head to Japan so that Hank's war veteran dad Cotton can make amends to the wife of a soldier that he killed -- and Hank discovers that he has a Japanese half-brother! Guest voices heard during King of the Hill's sixth season include Gary Busey, Bruce Jenner, Laura Dern, Alan Rickman, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Jeff Goldblum, Ed Asner, Megan Mullally, Laura Linney, and Keith Carradine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
This lighthearted romantic comedy in the tradition of Runaway Bride (1999) casts Jennifer Lopez in the Julia Roberts mold. Lopez stars as Mary Fiore, an ambitious and successful San Francisco wedding planner who works only for the most wealthy and exclusive clients but who is also a perpetual single. Pressured by her father Sal (Alex Rocco) to settle down, Mary is saved from a collision with an out of control dumpster by Steve Edison (Matthew McConaughey), a successful pediatrician. After sharing a romantic evening and a dance together, Mary learns that Eddie is engaged and that she's being hired by his controlling fiancée Fran (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras), an Internet tycoon, to plan their lavish wedding. The directorial debut of former choreographer Adam Shankman, The Wedding Planner costars Kevin Pollak, Judy Greer, and Kathy Najimy. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, (more)
Elmo, everyone's favorite Baby Muppet from the children's TV series Sesame Street, stars in this comic fantasy with music. Elmo (voice of Kevin Clash) finds out that the Princess (Keri Russell) is having a ball at her palace, and he decides he'd like to go. But his grumpy Stepmother (Kathy Najimy) wants her other two sons to go instead, since word has it that the Princess is looking for a suitable husband. Just when it looks like Elmo's going to be stuck at home, along comes his Fairy Godperson (Oliver Platt), who arranges for Elmo to attend the party after all. Cinderelmo also features French Stewart as Elmo's dog, who gets to enjoy life as a person for the evening; fellow Muppet stars Bert, Ernie, Kermit, and the Cookie Monster also appear. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Clash
This three-part drama, produced for HBO, examines the changing tides of the lives of lesbians in America, both politically and personally, as we eavesdrop on three stories taking place in the same house over a span of five decades. In 1961, the house is home to Edith (Vanessa Redgrave) and Abby (Marian Seldes), an elderly lesbian couple whose lifestyle is not accepted or acknowledged by their families. When Abby suffers a serious stroke and is on the verge of death, her family rallies to her side, but not understanding the nature of her relationship with Edith, she is not included as her loved ones say their final good-byes. After Abby's death, her nephew (Paul Giamatti) and his wife (Elizabeth Perkins) arrive from out of state with plans to sell the house, without consulting Edith. In 1972, the house is now home to four college students, Michelle (Amy Carlson), Linda (Michelle Williams), Karen (Nia Long), and Jeanne (Natasha Lyonne), all of whom are actively involved in the women's movement and also happen to be lesbians. The four find themselves at odds with the campus women's group when they try to promote an all-women's dance, while the other members of the group feel that feminism, not lesbianism, should be the focus of the group. Similarly, Linda faces hostility from her friends when she becomes involved with Amy (Chloe Sevigny), a very butch townie; Linda's friends see Amy's masculine attire and attitude as a form of self-loathing against being a woman, and while Linda cares deeply for Amy, she's not always comfortable with her and isn't sure that she wants to be public with their relationship. In 2000, Fran (Sharon Stone) and Kal (Ellen DeGeneres), a happy and firmly committed couple, are sharing the house, and after much discussion, they decide that they want to take their relationship to the next level and have a baby. However, deciding that they want a child and dealing with the practicalities of getting pregnant are two different things; Fran and Kal first debate about going to a sperm bank as opposed to asking one of their male friends to help out, and later, either going to a doctor to perform the procedure or trying it at home. DeGeneres' significant other, Anne Heche, wrote and directed the final segment; the 1972 story was directed by Martha Coolidge, and the 1961 episode was directed by Jane Anderson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, (more)
The fifth season of King of the Hill opens as the Hill family of Arlen, TX eagerly prepares to meet then-governor George W. Bush, in an episode ironically titled "The Perils of Polling." In later episodes, Peggy Hill gets into a fierce blood-donating competition with her Laotian neighbor, Minh; Bobby Hill turns 13 and has a vicious attack of puberty; Arlen's Thanksgiving celebration is blighted when mention is made of the cannibalism in the history of John Redcorn's Native American tribe; Hank Hill's obstreperous father Cotton moves out of his retirement home; big-hearted barber Bill Dauterive is victimized by a wheedling juvenile delinquent; a trip to Austin on the occasion of Bill's birthday ends up disastrously when Hank moons former Texas governor Ann Richards; Hank learns to his horror that he isn't a native Texan; and Peggy and Bobby become hopelessly addicted to charcoal-grilled burgers. Also: Hank befriends a pretty co-worker and finds himself accused of being a pimp; the Hill's niece Luanne signs up for her church's "born again virgin" program, prompting an unexpected confession from Peggy; and Dale Gribble's wife Nancy turns 40, loses her job as a TV weather girl, and tries to sue a cigarette company for making her homely. In the season finale, Bobby poses as a high school student, thereby enmeshing himself in a plan to get the rock group No Doubt to play at the prom. Guest voices heard during King of the Hill's fifth season include Carl Reiner, James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Amy Hill, John Ritter, Jack Carter, Ellen Barkin, Tom Poston, Snoop Dog, Renée Zellweger, Lisa Kudrow, Owen Wilson, and Robert Stack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
Season three of King of the Hill had ended with the fate of Peggy Hill literally up in the air when, while skydiving, her chute failed to open. Season four begins with Peggy in a full body cast -- and it will be several episodes before she will make a full recovery. (Who knew that cartoon characters could sustain serious injuries?) Also on the docket this season: Hank Hill's obnoxious dad Cotton becomes the proud papa of a baby boy courtesy of his young trophy wife DeeDee -- a baby whom Cotton contemptuously names "Good Hank." Taking over his recuperating wife's substitute teacher duties, Hank runs afoul of Tom Landry Middle School's zero-tolerance policy. The Hill family's Thanksgiving trip is "fowled up" when airport security mistakes a frozen turkey for a bomb. Hank and Peggy's son Bobby accidentally sees his cousin Luanne "nekkid," and later launches a standup comedy career. Confirmed conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble goes "oh-wow" on psychedelic mushrooms, while Dale's wife Nancy tries to end her affair with John Redcorn. (An infidelity which everybody in town but Dale knows about!) The Y2K computer-crash scare hits Arlen. Barber Bill Dauterive "borrows" an American flag from the Army base where he works. Peggy finally comes to terms with her big feet when they become the "stars" of an Internet fetish site. And in a two-part story, Hank is promoted to manager of Strickland Propane, only to be implicated in the mysterious death of his sexy co-worker Debbie. Guest voices heard during King of the Hill's fourth season include Randy Travis, Clint Black, Lisa Hartman, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, Mac Davis, Meryl Streep, Don Meredith, Drew Carey, Heather Locklear, Kathleen Turner, Reese Witherspoon, Andy Dick, Maura Tierney, Tony Danza, Teri Garr, and Sydney Pollack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
This horror film, directed by Ronnie Yu, marked a return (after an eight-year lapse) of Chucky and the Child's Play series that began in 1988. At the moment of his death, the spirit of former serial killer Charles Lee Ray was mystically relocated in the doll Chucky (voice of Brad Dourif). After being salvaged from the evidence morgue by his ex-girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and a corrupt cop, Chucky is put back in action when Tiffany sews his pieces back together and works a voodoo spell to revive his sinister self. Tiffany sees her dreams of marriage aren't working out, so she keeps Chucky locked away. After an escape, Chucky electrocutes Tiffany by pushing a radio into the bathtub, delivering a chant that puts the spirit of Tiffany into a bridal figurine. Chucky's amulet can switch them back into their original human forms, so they head for New Jersey where the amulet is buried -- putting cops in motion, along with car-crash carnage. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Tilly, Katherine Heigl, (more)
Season three of King of the Hill begins by resolving the cliffhanger ending of season two; specifically, did anyone survive the propane explosion at the Mega Lo Mart? The good news is that practically everyone emerged intact, although Luanne, niece of series protagonists Hank and Peggy Hill, has lost her hair and eyebrows (inspiring her to become "the second Sinead O'Connor"). The bad news is that Luanne's store manager boyfriend Buckley has been killed, though he will ultimately return in ghostly form to advise Luanne to give up beauty school and enroll in junior college. In other developments this season, the Hills' son Bobby begins dating "an older woman" (he's 12, she's 14); Peggy Hill finds out about the clandestine relationship between Native American masseuse John Redcorn and Nancy Gribble, the wife of Hank's pal Dale Gribble (Who, despite seeing sinister conspiracies at every turn, fails to notice his own wife's peccadillos!); the men of the neighborhood attend a "lawn mower focus group"; Hank's inability to get Peggy pregnant proves doubly embarrassing when Hank's obstreperous dad Cotton announces that his trophy bride DeeDee is expecting; mooning over his divorce (for the past three years), Bill Dauterive begins taking on the personality -- and the wardrobe -- of his ex-wife Lenore; substitute teacher Peg is fired for spanking one of her students, and later finds out that one of her former charges is on death row; and Bobby may be forced to marry Luanne. Closing out the season is Peggy's ill-fated decision to do something daring and unexpected on the occasion of her 20th anniversary -- namely, take up skydiving. Guest voices heard during King of the Hill's third season include Sarah Michelle Gellar, William H. Macy, Erik Estrada, Mary Kay Place, Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, Matthew McConaughey, and Mary Tyler Moore. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
Actor/director Forest Whitaker (Waiting to Exhale) helmed this romantic drama about a one-time high-school beauty queen who returns to her hometown of Smithville, TX. The Steven Rogers screenplay begins in Chicago, where blonde Connie (Rosanna Arquette, uncredited) appears on a trashy daytime talk show and tells a nationwide TV audience about her affair with the husband of her best friend, Birdie Pruitt (Sandra Bullock). Walking into the ambush, Birdie is paraded forth for a public humiliation as Connie's claim is confirmed by husband Bill (Michael Paré). Birdie and her young daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman), then move back to Texas to live with Birdie's eccentric mother, Ramona (Gena Rowlands), a taxidermist who has filled the house with stuffed animals. Since most of Smithville saw the TV show, embarrassment keeps Birdie sitting around the house in her pajamas; however, her moment of glory as the homecoming "Queen of Corn" has not been forgotten by handyman Justin Matisse (Harry Connick Jr.), the first guy who kissed her back in high school, so a romance soon begins. "Just give hope a chance to float up and it will," says Birdie. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick, Jr., (more)
Two young adults who are coping with the deaths of their partners try to move forward with their lives and start a relationship with each other. ~ All Movie Guide
The first season of King of the Hill opens with its pilot episode, in which suburban Texas redneck Hank Hill is falsely accused of child abuse when his chubby son Bobby turns up with a black eye, and Luanne Platter, niece of Hank and his wife Peg, moves in with the Hills after her mom is carted off to jail for knifing Luanne's dad. Luanne wastes no time linking up with motorcyle-driving Buckley, whom she dates while pursuing a career as a cosmetician. In later episodes, substitute teacher Peg wrestles with the embarrassment of teaching her son's sex education class; a snipe hunt turns sour; and in the series' first utilization of guest voices from the world of country music, Willie Nelson can be heard in the episode "Hank's Got the Willies"; and another singer, Chuck Mangione, makes his inaugural series "appearance" in "Luanne's Saga." Other highlights amongst King of the Hill's first 12 episodes are "Hank's Unmentionable Problem," cited by co-creator Greg Daniels as his favorite episode; "Westie Side Story," in which the Laotian Souphanousinphones move into Hank's neighborhood; and "Shins of the Father," introducing the character of Hank's loud, hyper-judgmental war veteran father Cotton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, (more)
