Jeff Perry Movies

Robert Altman's over-frenetic satire on American marriage rituals and hypocrisy concerns the upper-crust marriage between Dino Corelli (Desi Arnaz Jr.) and Muffin Brenner (Amy Stryker). As the film begins, a senile bishop forgets the lines to the wedding ceremony and Nettie Sloan (the groom's grandmother) drops dead in an upstairs bedroom. Nettie's death is not disclosed to the two families who converge at the wedding reception. As the two sets of in-laws slam into each other, the bride and groom disappear in the ensuing whirlwind of chaos as both extended families vie for sexual favors and try to keep hidden never-discussed family secrets. Regina Corelli (Nina Van Pallandt) is revealed to be a drug addict, while Luigi, is endeavoring unsuccessfully to keep his Mafia connections under wraps. Meanwhile, the bride's family, although more down to earth, are revealed to be no better. Tulip Brenner (Carol Burnett) begins to flirt with one of the wedding guests, Mackenzie Goddard (Pat McCormick), while Snooks Brenner (Paul Dooley) acts like a lout and drinks heavily. And flying around the edges of the action like Tinkerbell is Buffy Brenner, the Brenners' youngest daughter, who is pregnant by the groom. As other characters bang into each other -- sexual degenerates, hard-nosed radicals, raw-boned emotional wrecks -- the wedding reception heads for its inevitable nuclear explosion. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

There's no shortage of suspects when much-hated standup comic Dougie Max (Jeffrey Ross) dies during his act after drinking what appears to be tainted water. The plot thickens for CSI investigators Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) and Grissom (William L. Petersen) when a 15-year-old is poisoned to death by the same water in a convenience store. And Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) orders the re-opening of a case when the husband of Shelley Stark, who ostensibly died accidentally, is seen throwing his money around in the company of a flashy young woman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Let's see: who is the character played by Fisher Stevens supposed to be? Stevens plays an egomaniacal Hollywood director, whose negligence causes an on-set death. Cleared of all responsibility, Stevens is confronted with cold, hard evidence of his complicity by the victim's brother. The director then utilizes his knowledge of special effects to murder his accuser and make the whole thing look like an accident. Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk), however, suspects foul play. With such clues as traveller's check and a pair of ice cream sodas at his disposal, Columbo slowly tightens the noose around Stevens' neck. The two-hour Columbo: Murder, Smoke and Shadows was originally telecast February 27, 1989, as part of the ABC Monday Mystery Movie package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Magoo's, a local hangout frequented by the ER staffers, is the scene of a bloody holdup, in which three people are killed and one seriously injured. As Chen (Ming-Na) pieces together a sketchy description of one of the likely perps, her African-American colleagues Gallant (Sharif Atkins) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) are picked up on suspicion and subjected to harsh treatment by a pair of white cops who refuse to check out the doctors' alibis or credentials. The usually mild-mannered Gallant is more angered by this harassment than the cynical Pratt -- but both doctors relish the opportunity to serve up a delicious comeuppance to one of the cops. And elsewhere, Carter (Noah Wyle) really, really wants to pop the question to Abby (Maura Tierney)...but.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Recovering from her near-death experience, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) is convinced that her outlook on life has completely changed. More and more candidates are vying for the chief-of-surgery position soon to be vacated by Webber (James Pickens Jr.), among them handsome doctor Colin Marlow (Roger Rees), whose arrival has a strange effect on Cristina (Sandra Oh). Derek (Patrick Dempsey) finds himself treating an old friend (Shohreh Aghashloo) whose tumor may well be inoperable. Still trying to cope with the loss of Denny Duquette, Izzie (Katherine Heigl) is profoundly moved by WW2 vet Scofield (James Gammon),who has come to Seattle Grace to remove a bullet that has been lodged in his body for over sixty years. And Alex (Justin Chambers) prepares the first of several operations on the severely injured "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser). This is the episode in which George (T.R. Knight) begins questioning the wisdom of his marriage to Callie--culminating in a drunken misadventure with another female staffer! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, things are sunny indeed (at least temporarily)for Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Burke (Isaiah Washington), but things don't look so good for George's cancer-patient father (George Dzundza); even so, this medical crisis serves to bring George and Callie closer together. Elsewhere, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has harsh words for Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and even harsher ones for her estranged father Thatcher Grey (Jeff Perry). Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is none too thrilled when she is forced to keep a secret. And the money for Heather's operation is provided by an anonymous source (Hint: which of the series' characters has just come into a multimillion-dollar inheritance?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) heads to LA for a reunion old medical-school friends, blissfully unprepared for what it is in store for her. Meredith's stepmom Susan (Mare Winningham) is brought in with a truly bad case of hiccups, just as Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) thinks she has come to terms with their relationship. "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser) has been identified as "Ava", and Alex (Justin Chambers) is happy with her by any name. And Cristina (Sandra Oh) prepares for her wedding with the dubious input of her own mother (Tsai Chin) and Burke's mom (Diahann Carroll). This episode serves to introduce the future costars of the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice: Tim Daly (Pete), Amy Brennerman (Violet), Taye Diggs (Sam), Chris Lowell (Dell) and Paul Adelstein (Cooper) (the character of Naomi, here played by Merrin Dungey, would be taken over by Audra McDonald in Private Practice). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With the dust barely settled from the literally explosive climax of the previous episode, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) endures the one-two punch of finding out about her mother's uniquely colorful love life. Also learning a few secrets is Burke (Isaiah Washington), who doesn't entirely like what he now knows about Cristina (Sandra Oh). Meanwhile, Alex (Justin Chambers) and Izzie (Katherine Heigl) wonder what they can do for an encore after their linen-closet rendezvous; a patient (Arlene Tur) suffering from persistent spontaneous orgasms has the staff all a-twitter; and a blast from the past drives yet another wedge between Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) with the unexpected arrival of Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) in his first series appearance). But the best is reserved for last--and it involves the hospital's Least Likely Couple. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally made for cable television, this biographical drama chronicles the life of Huey P. Long (John Goodman), whose corrupt political machine dominated Louisiana for years. The movie opens with a 1930's newsreel giving a report on Long's plan to a run for U.S. President while depicting him as a demagogue in the tradition of Hitler and Mussolini. Shortly after the newsreel, Long is gunned down by an assassin, and the story is told in flashbacks as he reflects on his rise from humble beginnings, to Governor of Louisiana, and on to U.S. Senator. Long's power in his home state eventually bordered on dictatorship, but he received widespread support from the poor and disenfranchised because of his populist programs, such as providing free schoolbooks and building rural roads. The film also shows the private man behind the public persona, including a poignant scene at a relative's funeral where Long's father reproaches him for lying about his family to garner votes. Goodman was Emmy-nominated for his performance. ~ All Movie Guide

The death of Ethan Rom has removed one of the biggest threats to the well-being of the survivors, but they still aren't completely out of danger yet. As for Ethan's killer, Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), he has become unhinged by his violent act, compelling Hurley (Jorge Garcia) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews) to ponder a strategy to save Charlie from himself. And in an incredible onslaught of soul-cleansing, several dark secrets about Kate (Evangeline Lilly), Sawyer (Matthew Fox), and Jack (Matthew Fox) are revealed. In particular, more flashbacks to Sawyer's troubled past detail his misguided quest to avenge his mother's murder. A prior connection between Jack and Sawyer is also revealed during the flashbacks to Sawyer's time in Australia. ~ All Movie Guide

Gordon Dillit (Jeff Perry) stumbles into the 15th to report that he has been mugged, and that a valuable watch belonging to his wife has been stolen. During their investigation of this incident, the detectives uncover evidence placing Dillit in the apartment of a murdered "tranny," or transvestite prostitute. In another development, an 18-year-old Pakistani woman pays a terrible price for "disgracing" her family. And the tense domestic relationship between Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) reaches a breaking point. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An actress takes a dangerous detour on the road to success in this suspense drama. Jamie (Jennifer Rubin) is a struggling starlet who is trying to win a role in an upcoming film called Playmaker. Eager to gain advantage on the competition, Jamie's pal Eddie (John Getz) says that he can arrange an introduction with Ross Talbert (Colin Firth), an acting teacher with a reputation for grooming top talent. Ross agrees to tutor Jamie for $5,000; she scrapes up the money, only to discover that his lessons are mainly exercises in psychological abuse. Jamie learns that a number of Ross' students who didn't respond to his techniques have turned up dead, and she spies an "F" next to her name in his grade book shortly before he attacks her with a knife; she grabs a gun and kills him. The police determine that Jamie acted in self-defense -- but the man who she's been taking lessons with wasn't the real Ross Talbert. Playmaker features an original score by Mark Snow. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide