Cathy Podewell Movies
Actress Cathy Podewell studied both drama and dance at the University of California in Santa Barbara before getting involved in show business, appearing in 1988's Night of the Demons. In 1988, she got her big break playing Cally Harper Ewing on the hit show Dallas, which she stayed with until 1991. She subsequently appeared on numerous TV shows, including Growing Pains and Walker, Texas Ranger. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide- 1991
Not long after ruthless journalist Jane Dawson (Jessica Walter) informs Jessica (Angela Lansbury) of her plans to publish an unauthorized biography of former movie star Ellen Lombard (Barbara Bain), Jane is found electrocuted in a hot tub, thanks to a TV set which "accidentally" tumbled into the water. Seen fleeing from the scene of the tragedy is Ellen's husband, Arthur Brent (Bradford Dillman)--who, inevitably, is one of Jessica's oldest and dearest friends. In her efforts to clear Arthur's name, Jessica leaves no stone unturned...nor does she fail to find out who it was who first "discovered" Jane's body. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The made-for-TV Earth Angel stars Cathy Bodewell as Angela, a prom queen who dies in 1962. Unfortunately, Angela has not always lived up to her name, and her entry into Heaven is held up indefinitely. She is given a chance to redeem herself by returning to earth in 1990, where she is to successfully complete an important mission. Thing of it is, she has no idea what her mission is-though she suspects it has something to do with romance. Clearly intended as a hybrid of Ghost and Peggy Sue Got Married, Earth Angel was first telecast March 4, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cathy Podewell, Cindy Williams, (more)
- 1990
The 14th and final season of Dallas finds ruthless oil executive J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) escaping from a mental institution, then resuming his Herculean efforts to wrest control of Ewing Oil from his brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy). It turns out that poor Bobby may well be vulnerable to J.R.'s conniving: his new wife, April (Sheree J. Wilson), has just been kidnapped and killed during their Parisian honeymoon by the insane Sheila Foley, alias Hillary Taylor (played by daytime-drama diva Susan Lucci). Even so, Bobby is determined to keep Ewing Oil out of J.R.'s hands, and to that end his sells his interests to billionairess LeeAnn De La Vega (played by Larry Hagman's onetime I Dream of Jeannie co-star Barbara Eden!), who is determined to get even with J.R. for seducing and abandoning her back in college. LeeAnn in turn sells the business to April Stevens' sister Michelle (Kimberly Foster), now the wife of J.R.'s illegitimate son, James Beaumont (Sasha Mitchell). After murdering Sheila Foley to avenge her sister's death, Michelle breaks up with James, but not before selling half-interest in Ewing Oil to J.R.'s lifelong enemy, Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval). With startling rapidity, J.R.'s world falls apart. First, Cliff gains full control of Ewing Oil; next, J.R. fails in his efforts to regain his fortune by purchasing Ewing Oil; then, his beloved son, John Ross (Omri Katz), abandons him to live in Europe with J.R.'s ex-wife, Sue Ellen; and James Beaumont likewise relocates abroad with his new bride, Debra Lynn (Deborah Tucker). J.R. doesn't even own the Southfork estate any more -- it's in the hands of Bobby, who generously but contemptuously doles out an allowance to his once-swaggering brother. Besotted with alcohol, J.R. contemplates ending it all -- -whereupon a rather odd-looking "angel" (Joel Grey) appears to show J.R. what life in Dallas would have been like if he'd never been born. And it is with this perverse spin on It's a Wonderful Life, capped by another "cliffhanger," that the 14-year saga of Dallas comes to an end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, (more)
- 1989
As Dallas enters its 13th season on the air, only actors Larry Hagman and Ken Kercheval, cast respectively as ruthless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing and his lifelong enemy, attorney-executive Cliff Barnes, have been seen in every season. Though rumors occasionally spread that Hagman was poised to leave the show, the fact that he had been appointed one of the executive producers pretty much put the kibosh on such talk. The season opens as a Ewing Oil tanker collides with a tanker from rival Westar Oil, thereby laying the groundwork for a full-scale government investigation of the Ewing empire, spearheaded by the vengeful Cliff Barnes. With the assistance of high-pressure PR agent Stephanie Rogers (Lesley-Anne Down), Barnes is elected United States energy czar -- all the more reason for J.R. to spite Cliff and step up his efforts to bring about his enemy's downfall. Meanwhile, J.R.'s brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy), reconciled to the fact that his wife Pamela is dead (Victoria Principal had long since exited the series), proposes to April Stevens (Sheree J. Wilson). This turn of events permits the writers to introduce a new character, April's younger sister Michelle, played by Kimberly Foster. Also making their first appearances this season are Gayle Hunnicutt as J.R.'s former lover Vanessa Beaumont, and Sasha Mitchell as James Richard Beaumont, J.R. and Vanessa's illegitimate son. A true chip off the old block, 20-year-old James bids fair to be even more conniving, underhanded and untrustworthy than his father. But even as "new blood" is pumped into Dallas, we lose an old favorite: namely, J.R.'s mom, Miss Ellie, played by Barbara Bel Geddes. As the season rushes to a close, James conspires with J.R.'s new wife, Cally (Cathy Podewell), to gain full control of Ewing oil -- while J.R., having fraudulently committed himself to a mental institution in order to get a controlling interest in Westar Oil from Jessica Montford (Alexis Smith), the insane sister of J.R.'s stepfather, Clayton Barlow (Howard Keel), finds that he is unable to leave the institution, and may spend the rest of his life in a padded cell! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, (more)
In this comedy, a wealthy teen convinces a burglar to kidnap him so he can get his family's wayward attention. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Young, Martin Sheen, (more)
A group of teens plan a Halloween party at an abandoned funeral parlor in this well-crafted horror film. The home is rumored to be haunted after the owner slaughtered his family and killed himself years before. The teens plan on scaring their classmates, unaware that demons from hell are released for a night of terror for bad behavior. One by one, the teens fall victim to the evil that dwells within the parlor. The audience is left guessing who, if anyone, will be alive the following morning. This fright feature is rife with references to other teen slasher flicks. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lance Fenton, Cathy Podewell, (more)
- 1988
Having avoided getting shot by his frustrated wife, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), at the end of Dallas' 11th season, ruthless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) decides to relax a bit as season 12 gets under way. Embarking on a hunting trip to Arkansas, serial philanderer J.R. has brief tryst with hillbilly gal Cally Harper (Cathy Podewell) -- which turns out to be a major mistake when Cally's brothers, in cahoots with a crooked sheriff, contrive to have J.R. arrested and sentenced to a work farm! In order to save himself, J.R. agrees to divorce Sue Ellen and marry Cally -- who isn't quite as vacuous and guileless as she looks. Once J.R. and Cally are hitched, the vengeful Sue Ellen purchases a movie studio for the express purpose of collaborating with screenwriter Don Lockwood (Ian McShane) on a shocking filmed exposé of J.R. and his highly questionable business practices. (This collaboration reaps unexpected benefits when Sue Ellen and Lockwood are married!) Season twelve marks the exit of two longtime Dallas regulars: Steve Kanaly and his character, J.R.'s half brother, Ray Krebbs, bid farewell early in the season; and by mid-year, Linda Gray (aka Sue Ellen) is also gone. Conversely, Audrey Landers as Afton Cooper, former sister-in-law of J.R.'s niece Lucy (Charlene Tilton), returns after an absence of several seasons. Newcomers to the cast include George Kennedy as rival oil man Carter McKay, who after purchasing Ray Krebbs' ranch takes over Westar Oil and mounts a range war (both literal and figurative) against the Ewing family, hoping not only to destroy J.R. but also to remove Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) as head man of Ewing Oil. The McKay-Ewing conflict would spread far beyond the boundaries of Texas and extend into the wilds of Washington, D.C., Austria, and Russia! Along with Carter McKay, Carter's unhappy wife, Rose (Jeri Gaile), and his profoundly troubled children, Tommy (J. Eddie Peck) and Tracy (Beth Toussaint), make their first appearances this season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, (more)
- 1988
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
- 1988
In the first episode of a two-part story, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke) agree to chaperone a school dance attended by Mike (Kirk Cameron) and Carol (Tracey Gold). In the course of the evening, Mike manages to hook up with his "dream girl" Lydia (Cathy Podwell), Carol sets herself up for endless ribbing by dancing with Boner (Josh Andrew Koenig), and Maggie ends up subbing for the incapacitated deejay. Meanwhile, Ben (Jeremy Miller) and his pal Stinky (Jamie Abbott) embark upon an "excellent adventure" that ends up a "bogus journey." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
