Luke Schelhaas Movies
- 2003
For their 200th assignment together, Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) were supposed to bring hope and faith into the heart of embitteredt DMV instructor Kelly (Lesley Warren). But when Tess is "disqualified", angel-in-training Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) takes over. On surface, Kelly is a standard-issue assignment, a woman who has soured on life after spending 14 years caring for a streetwise orphan named Jessie (Edwin Hodge) in a crime-ridden Chicago neighborhood. But there is a whole different dimension to this case: Kelly is herself an angel, who since going AWOL from Heaven has evolved into a human being...with far more than her share of human failings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the first half of Touched by an Angel's series finale, Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey) is at long last on the verge of being promoted to supervisor. First, however, she is required to pass one last test--and it's a formidable one indeed. Monica must somehow restore hope and faith to the profoundly grief-stricken citizens of Ascention, where all the children have been killed in a school explosion. Curiously, several of Monica's former "clients" have apparently settled in Ascention, including mentally challenged Joey (Paul Wittenberg), the sole witness to the tragedy. And what exactly is the story of happy-go-lucky handyman Zack (Scott Bairstow), who shows up in town just in time to be accused of setting off the explosion? Guest star Randy Travis sings "When Mama Prayed". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 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
- 2003
In the conclusion of Touched by an Angel's two-part series finale, it appears as though Monica will fail her final test to become a Heavenly Supervisor. The town of Ascention remains entrapped in the grip of bitterness and hatred following a schoolhouse boiler explosion which killed all of the town's children. Worse still, genial handyman Zack (Scott Bairstow), the only person in town with a positive outlook on life, has been accused of deliberately causing the tragedy and put on trial for his life. Even with Monica's fellow angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) and her old friend Mike (Patrick Duffy) handling his defense, the cards are obviously stacked against Zack--especially since the prosecuting attorney is really Satan in disguise. But what seems to be a hopeless situation takes a unexpected turn in the final moments...and there is a startling revelation at the very end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In his final acting appearance, Dennis Weaver is cast as Emmet Rivers, an elderly, eccentric inventor who has spent a good portion of his life trying to create a new water-based energy source. Altruistic angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli), employed as research assistant for big-oil magnate Carl Northram (Michael Nouri), tries to persuade Emmet to sell his invention to Northram's company in a move to save the environment. But Emmett angrily turns down the offer, convinced that Northram's motives are less than honorable...and much to Gloria's dismay, it turns out that Emmett's instincts are right on target! Della Reese (Tess) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
One of the worst snowstorms in New England history threatens to cancel the marriage of overbearing young bride Liz (Kim Rhodes) and her long-suffering fiance Jonas (Neil Patrick Harris). It's bad enough that none of the guests are able to make an appearance at the wedding in the lobby of Washington DC's Perry Hotel; it's even worse when the only people who do show up are Liz's much-despised Aunt Meg (Lainie Kazan) and a seedy derelict. Meanwhile, angel Andrew (John Dye), posing as a cab driver, has driven poor Jonas (remember him?) to the wrong location, where the groom-to-be is robbed of his money and clothes and ends up in a homeless mission. Can there really be a Heavenly conspiracy to ruin what should be the happiest day in Liz and Jonas' life--or is something wonderful about to happen? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Monica (Roma Downey) continues struggling with her emotions as Tess (Della Reese) sinks deeper and deeper into Alzheimers' Disease. Tess' plight makes Monica's current assignment, to help reformed wastrel Kevin Greeley (Charlie Schlatter, repeating his role from the third-season episode "Inherit the Wind", adopt his foster son despite resistance from a woman named Hannah (Jenice Bergere), who claims to be the boy's real mother. The fact that Hannah works in the same nursing home where Tess is currently residing is a subtle hint that somehow, some way, the episode's two main crises will intertwine. Ossie Davis and Keb Mo' make return visits as the Archangel Gabriel and the Angel of Music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Much to the dismay of 15-year-old Lucy Baker (Amanda Fuller), her father John (Eve Gordon) has no room for God in his heart: To him, the earth and the universe are merely the byproducts of "luck." Without violating classroom protocol, Lucy's English teacher Monica (Roma Downey encourages the girl to explore the question of Divine Intervention--and as result, Lucy decides to write an essay proving that God exists. But even the eternally upbeat Lucy cannot reconcile her faith with the tragic news that her mother Erica (Eve Gordon) is dying of ovarian cancer. (The outcome of the story is inherent in the episode's title, but this does not become clear until the final moments). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Monica (Roma Downey) takes novice angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli) under her wing to show her how best to bring the love and hope of God to ordinary human motals. Just when she is making headway, Monica is literally shaken by a bomb blast in an office building which kills dozens of people (ironically, this episode originally aired several months before 9/11). Suffering a near-total loss of faith, Monica wanders aimlessly in the desert, where she hitches a ride with a handsome, charismatic stranger (Mandy Patinkin). It doesn't take long for the stranger to betray his true demonic identity as he tempts Monica with the prospect of forsaking her angelic ways by becoming a human being...and his earthly emissary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The opening episode of Touched by an Angel's eighth season introduces the series' newest regular: Valerie Bertinelli, in the previously recurring role of bespectacled novice angel Gloria. As Monica (Roma Downey, Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) do their best to indoctrinate Gloria in the intricacies of their Earthly responsibilities, the plot proper gets under way with William Russ guest-starring as agnostic college professor Thomas North (William Russ). Armed with an ancient map, North goes on an expedition in search of the fabled Ark of the Covenant--accompanied by the Angels, who hope to dissuade the professor from disturbing the sacred religious artifact. Sharing screen time with the main story is the of 88-year-old Catherine Knight (Julianna McCarthy), whose bitter life experiences have caused her to lose faith in everything except her grandson Paul (R.D Robb)--who happens to be the person who sent Prof. North off on his quest for the Ark! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
