Nina Girvetz Movies
- 2003
In this followup to the previous episodes "Psalm 151" and "Mother's Day", the Angels pay a return visit to their old friend Audrey Carmichael (Wynonna Judd), who is about to be married to Scott Morgan (Gregory Jbara). Much to the dismay of Monica (Roma Downey) and her Heavenly coworkers, Scott is a non-believer--a fact that Audrey is willing to overlook, if only because Scott's son Kyle (Brandon Mauro) so closely resembles her own late son Petey. It will take something perilously close to a tragedy before Audrey is able to determine if she really wants to make a commitment to Scott, or remain true to her religious convictions. Guest star Wynonna Judd sings "Testify to Love". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Angela Lansbury guest stars as Lady Penelope Berrington, the proud and very haughty matriarch of a famous tea-manufacturing family. When told that he and his wife Sarah (Kate McNeil) can never have children, Lady Berrington's grandson and heir James (Brian McNamara) decides to adopt a Chinese orphan. The outraged dowager is dead set against the notion of her noble lineage being "tainted" by a non-Caucasian--at least until angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) forces Lady B. to reveal an embarrassing secret about her "aristocratic" past. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Young Mickey Dempsey (Matt Weinberg) is in complete denial over his mother's death. Worried about Mickey's mental health, his older brother Ryan (Tony Denman) asks the help of actor Guy Garfield (Lee Horsley), who plays a Heavenly dogooder on the popular TV series "The Avenging Angel." Alas, Garfield is far from an angel in real life: In fact, he plans to exploit his "generosity" toward Mickey for publicity purposes, then drop the kid like a hot potato once he's outlived his usefulness. As Garfield's temporary assistant, Monica (Roma Downey) is determined to do right by Mickey even if her boss won't...and along the way, even the odious Mr. Garfield learns some hard lessons about genuine spirituality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Although her parents Charlie (Gary Cole) and Kate (Gary Cole) are out of touch with modern technology, 13-year-old Sarah Radcliff (Evan Rachel Wood) is an experienced internet surfer. But Sarah is still a child, with a child's innate curiosity. When her parents take away her computer privileges when she accidently taps into a porn website, Sarah begins seeking answers to her questions about sex at a cyber-café managed by angel Andrew (John Dye), who has been assigned to help patch up the differences between Sarah and her folks. The episode takes a sinister turn when Sarah naively strikes up a cyberspace friendship with a person who identifies himself as a 16-year-old boy--but is actually a middle-aged sexual predator! This is the final episode of Touched by an Angel's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
When Angela McCannell incurs irreversible brain damage, her husband Dan (Travis Tritt) refuses to accept the fact that his beloved wife is, for all intents and purposes, a dead woman. Dan blocks all efforts to donate his wife's heart to Ilena (Christina Vidal), a 16-year-old on the threshold of death. Meanwhile, Monica (Roma Downey) tries to make brighten Ilena's gloomy existence by introducing her to young Casey (Jena Malone), the daughter of heart surgeon Dr. Sandra Pena (Maria Conchita Alonso). Sandra warns Casey not to get too close to Ilena, whose chances for survival are fading with each passing day. Refusing to accept this, Casey boards a bus all by herself and travels to Idaho, in hopes of talking sense to Dan. Ultimately, tragedy strikes again--and it looks as though Casey, and not Angela, will end up as the heart donor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Youthful lawbreaker Jason DeLee (Vicelllous Reon Shannon) is "volunteered" by Monica (Roma Downey) to participate in a program sponsored by Denver Juvenile Services, wherein at-risk teenagers help out with physically disabled youngsters at the Linwood Children's Academy. Despite his initial resistance, Jason manages to form a bond with cerebral palsy victim Kelly (Marisa Velez). Unfortunately, Kelly's mom Anita (a pre-The Practice Camryn Manheim) has a deep and abiding hatred for all "gang-bangers," and she is convinced that Jason is beyond redemption. When originally telecast on April 27, 1997, this episode was introduced by General Colin Powell, who at the time was General Chairman of the President's Summit on America's Future. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Maya Angelou is more or less typecast as celebrated poet Clarice Mitchell, the mother of Sam Mitchell (Michael Beach) and godmother of HIV-positive Megan Brooks (played by singer Natalie Cole). A lifelong friend and admirer of Megan, Sam valiantly disregards her illness and proposes marriage--which angers and upsets Clarice, who demands that Sam break off the engagement instantly. Making the situation worse for Sam is Megan herself, who is convinced that Clarice is right. It is up to Tess (Della Reese) to smooth out this unusually rough situation. Maya Angelou wrote a special poem for this episode--as did series star Roma Downey (Monica), whose own literary contribution is hilariously (and deliberately!) dreadful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
