Deborah Rush Movies
Deborah Rush performs in theater, feature films, and on television. In film, she has worked with a number of respected directors, including Woody Allen, John Schlesinger, Blake Edwards, and Sidney Lumet. Born in Chatham, NJ, Rush's interest in performing began in childhood, when she wrote and starred in a play about the founder of the Sisters of Charity. Following graduation from high school, Rush joined the Playhouse of the Ridiculous comedy troupe and this paved the way to her career in New York. There, she frequently appeared in Shakespeare in the Park productions, often working alongside the likes of such stars as Raul Julia and Meryl Streep. For her portrayal of Brooke in a Broadway production of Noises Off, Rush received a Tony nomination. On television, she has guest starred on numerous programs and has had regular roles on a few series, notably the ABC sitcom Spin City, where she briefly played the Mayor's busy wife. Rush made her feature film debut in Oliver's Story (1978). Her subsequent film roles include A Night in Heaven (1983), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), My Blue Heaven (1990), and In and Out (1997). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Get ready for another dose of love and loss in this sequel to the four-handkerchief classic Love Story (1970). Oliver Barrett (Ryan O'Neal) is emotionally devastated after the death of his wife Jenny, and while he tries to lose himself in his work as a lawyer, the long hours don't ease his pain, especially when he finds that his leftist views conflict with those of the senior partners at the firm. Eventually, Oliver's inconsolable grief begins to alienate those around him, until he finds new love with Marcie Bonwit (Candice Bergen), the wealthy and beautiful heir to the Bonwit-Teller fortune. Despite his affection for Marcie, Oliver finds it difficult to leave the memory of Jenny behind, which causes major problems in his relationship with Marcie. Ray Milland reprises his role from the first film as Oliver's father; the supporting cast includes Charles M. Haid, Swoosie Kurtz, and Jose Torres. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan O'Neal, Candice Bergen, (more)
Blake Edwards' 10 stars Dudley Moore as George, a Mancini-type songwriter. Approaching middle age, George feels as if life is passing him by, especially his sex life. Despite the presence of longtime lady friend Sam (Julie Andrews) in his life, he becomes obsessed from afar with Jenny (Bo Derek), who is engaged to be married. Following her to Mexico without her knowledge, George arranges a meeting with Jenny by saving the life of her fiancé, David (Sam Jones). Once he has made her acquaintance, George suddenly finds himself faced with the realities of embarking on such an affair. Beyond renewing the popularity of Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" and turning Bo Derek into a star, upon its release, 10 was one of the most financially successful Blake Edwards films in years. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews, (more)
In this involved send-up of two American icons -- the automobile and the tourist trap -- the tiny Florida town of Ticlaw strives desperately for success after it has been denied the most essential of all tourist amenities -- a freeway exit. The insane, and mostly successful, schemes of the mayor (William Devane) and other distinctly unbalanced citizens interrupt, often hilariously, the lives of various eccentric travellers forced into a place they never intended to be. Critics disagree violently on whether this is a neglected classic or sophomoric nonsense. The winning record of director (John Schlesinger) (Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man, Cold Comfort Farm, etc.,) and first-class performances by William Devane, Beau Bridges, Beverly D'Angelo, Hume Cronyn, JessicaTandy and a plethora of great character actors -- not to mention the water-skiing elephant and the wild rhino -- argue that it's worth a look. ~ Michael P. Rogers, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beau Bridges, Hume Cronyn, (more)
- 1982
- R
Sure to generate conversation, this provocative drama tells the story of how a middle-class family is torn apart when their clean-cut high-achieving son, who has the potential of making it on the Olympic gymnast team, suddenly joins a religious cult. The parents become deeply worried and try to get him back. The twist is that, unlike other movie religious cults, the leader of this one is not terribly evil even though he does strongly indoctrinate his followers. The members of his group are good people who do good deeds for others. Unfortunately, the parents don't see it this way and so hire a free-lance deprogrammer to "rescue" their son and force him through a deprogramming process that traumatizes him more than the cult did. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael O'Keefe, Karen Allen, (more)
Leonard Zelig, the "human chameleon", is profiled in this mock-documentary. Director Woody Allen appears as Zelig in scenes that purport to be vintage newsreel clips of the 1920s and 1930s, but are actually clever recreations, "aged" and scratched-up Citizen Kane-style by special-effects maestros Joel Hynick, Stuart Robinson and R. Greenberg Associates. An appropriately pompous narrator details the life and times of Leonard Zelig, whose overwhelming desire for conformity is manifested in his ability to take on the facial and vocal characteristics of whomever he happens to be around at the moment. He shows up at batting practice with Babe Ruth, among William Randolph Hearst's guests as San Simeon, side by side with Pope Pius at the Vatican, and peering anxiously over the shoulder of Adolf Hitler at the Nuremberg Rally. Becoming a celebrity in his own right, Zelig inspires a song, a dance craze, and a Warner Bros. biopic. Mia Farrow plays Dr. Eudora Fletcher , a psychiatrist who tries to "reach" Zelig and ultimately falls in love with him (all of Farrow's scenes are in black-and-white and allegedly culled from archive footage; Ellen Garrison, whose resemblance to Farrow is uncanny, plays the older Dr. Fletcher in the interview sequences). In the manner of Reds, the influence of the fictional Leonard Zelig on popular culture is discussed by such real-life notables as Susan Sontag, Irving Howe, Saul Bellow and Dr. Bruno Bettenheim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, (more)
Veering off in several thematic directions at once, A Night in Heaven starts with a torrid student-teacher romance which becomes somewhat derailed by adding on a failing marriage, political allusions related to NASA, a frustrated sister of the teacher, and several additional characters, many of whom are stuffing bills into male dancer's jock straps. Faye (Lesley Ann Warren) has just flunked a student in her speech class when she goes out that night to the "Heaven" nightclub and lo-and-definitely behold, there is Rick (Christopher Atkins), the failed student in his incarnation as a successful male stripper. This was a view of the student that Faye had never expected, and before anyone can flip a $20, the two are making mad, passionate love. While this may satisfy a few fantasies, events lead to an ultimate confrontation between the teacher's husband (who worked for NASA) and Rick that is even less believable than the student-teacher sexual liaison. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Atkins, Lesley Ann Warren, (more)
Woody Allen blurs the the boundaries between the real and unreal in this unique comic fantasy. The scene is a small town in the mid-1930s. Trapped in a dead-end job and an abusive marriage, Cecelia (Mia Farrow) regularly seeks refuge in the local movie house. She becomes so enraptured by the latest attraction, an RKO screwball comedy called The Purple Rose of Cairo, that she returns to the theatre day after day. During one of these visits, the film's main character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels), pauses in his dialogue, turns towards the audience, and says to Cecelia, "My God, how you must love this picture." Then he climbs out of the movie, much to the consternation of the rest of the audience and the other characters on screen. Liberated from his customary black-and-white environs, he accompanies Cecelia on a tour of the town, eventually falling in love with her. Meanwhile, the other Purple Rose characters, unable to proceed with the film, carry on a discussion with themselves. Desperately, the RKO executives seek out Gil Shepherd, the actor who played the hero of Purple Rose. Shepherd (also played by Daniels), is sent to Cecelia's hometown to see if he can repair the damage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, (more)
- 1985
- R
Director Frank Perry brings Susan Issacs' comedic whodunit novel to the screen with Susan Sarandon as a Long Island housewife who tries to escape her deadening suburban life by trying to solve the murder of a philandering local dentist. The dentist, Bruce Fleckstein (Joe Mantegna), is the kind of swinging ladies' man who wears gold chains and jazzy clothing. He also arranges to meet his lonely housewife patients in hotel rooms for afternoon quickies. When he is found murdered in his office, the suspects are as numerous as the names in the Nyack telephone directory, especially since Fleckstein had the habit of taking incriminating Polaroid snapshots during his one-on-one sessions. Judith Singer (Sarandon) is an ex-Newsday reporter and bored wife of Bob Singer (Edward Herrmann), a stuffy business executive, and she was one of the last people to see Fleckstein alive. Considered a suspect by police detective David Suarez (Raul Julia), she determines to solve the case herself, interviewing suspects and searching for evidence. If she solves the crime, Judith hopes to write an article about it and get her old job back at the newspaper. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, Raul Julia, (more)
Burt Reynolds stars as the bitter bodyguard and degenerate gambler Mex in this uneven action film. He wakes up hungover, vowing to rekindle his dream of leaving Las Vegas for good if he can just raise enough money. Mex divides his time working for the low-key millionaire Cyrus Kinnick (Peter MacNicol) at the casino and moonlighting as a paid enforcer. When Mex's pretty neighbor Holly (Karen Young) is attacked by a quartet of perverted thugs, Mex goes after gang leader Danny DeMarco (Neill Barry) and company. The feature was continually plagued by production problems, with three uncredited directors employed in addition to R.M. Richards. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Karen Young, (more)
Thanks to a mix-up at birth, two sets of twins are separated and grow up in radically different social circles. The four baby girls grow up to be Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin-and Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. One of the Midlers is a ruthless New York CEO, while one of the Tomlins is her air-headed "save the whales" business partner. Thousands of miles away in a Southern industrial town, a blue-collar Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin work for a company that the white-collar Midler plans to devour in a hostile takeover. The "poor" Midler and Tomlin head to New York to argue against the takeover, inevitably getting mixed up with the "rich" Midler and Tomlin. Three of the four twins team up to save the small-town company, while CEO Midler remains as nastily greedy as ever. Clear enough? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, (more)
- 1989
- R
In this bizarre and very black comedy set in 1950s suburbia, Michael Laemle (Bryan Madorsky) comes to suspect that his conventional parents (Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt) have a little secret which they have kept from him. Nothing too major - - just that they happen to be cannibals. It seems that Dad has been bringing home some extra meat from his place of work, a mortuary. As the lad grows ever more hysterical, he confesses his suspicions to the school psychologist (Sandy Dennis). She ridicules his notions and even comes to the house to show him how foolish he's being. Instead, she becomes an entree in the next family dinner, as Michael's parents attempt to indoctrinate him into their odd lifestyle. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, (more)
You've probably already guessed that the Family Business in this all-star melodrama is the business of crime. Adapted from a novel by Vincent Patrick, the film stars Sean Connery as Jessie McMullen, the patriarch of a family of career criminals, including his son Vito (Dustin Hoffman) and grandson Adam (Matthew Broderick). Vito has gone legit, but college-educated Adam remains loyal to his grandfather. Reluctantly, Vito joins his father and son on a big-time heist involving millions of dollars' worth of test-tube specimens. There's many a slip-up and betrayal before the three generations can find a common ground. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, (more)
Susan Seidelman directed this loose adaptation of Fay Weldon's novel The Life and Loves of a She-Devil concerning the extreme revenge exacted by a dumpy housewife on her philandering husband. Mary Fisher (Meryl Streep) is a best-selling romance novelist of the manner of Danielle Steel or Jackie Collins. One night at a glamorous dinner party, Ruth (Roseanne Barr), the frumpy housewife of Bob (Ed Begley Jr.), accidentally spills wine over Mary's pink evening gown. Bob rushes to Mary's assistance, they look into each other's eyes, and it is lust at first sight. After a few clandestine interludes, Bob abandons his wife and his two smart-aleck kids to live with Mary at her palace by the seaside. As a result, Ruth goes into high gear to seek vengeance. She deposits her kids with Bob and then, with the help of a collection of other abused women -- including Ruth's mother (Sylvia Miles), nursing home attendant Hopper (Linda Hunt), and dim-witted secretary Olivia Honey (Maria Pitillo) -- she systematically sets out to destroy Bob's life. Bob calls Ruth a she-devil, and Ruth plays the role to the hilt; first she destroys his home life, then his career, then his freedom. And when he has nothing left, she proceeds to haunt and stalk him, bringing Bob to his knees. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Roseanne, (more)
Herbert Ross directed this Nora Ephron-scripted buddy comedy starring Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joan Cusack. Steve Martin plays Vinnie Antonelli, a street smart mobster who agrees to turn state's evidence and is forced to move to Fryburg, California as part of the witness relocation program. Rick Moranis plays the nebbish FBI agent Barney Coopersmith, who is assigned to help Vinnie adjust to small town life. Instead, Vinnie helps Barney come out of his shell, much to the consternation of divorced mother and relentless district attorney Hannah Stubbs (Joan Cusack). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, (more)
- 1991
Alan Bates stars as Hamish Partt an alcoholic writer in the made-for-TV Unnatural Pursuits. Simon Gray's teleplay contrives to have Partt begin singing boisterously whenever confronted by a crisis. This occurs quite often as the playwright follows the progress of his latest work, from rehearsal to debut to worldwide tour. His experiences range from the tragic to the comic, and he emerges from his odyssey a changed man. This BBC production co-stars Bob Balaban, John Maloney, and Sara Mansfield in an effective bit as a video-store clerk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- PG13
In this black comedy, elderly Jack Scanlan (Jack Warden) passes away just as he's about to tell his oldest son Johnny (Bob Hoskins) what he's decided is truly important in life, which does little to ease Johnny's mid-life anxieties. Jack's funeral and the subsequent wake brings together the various members of the Scanlan Family, most of whom are having troubles of their own. Johnny's mother Mary (Maureen Stapleton) is not dealing well with losing her husband. His brother Frank (William Petersen), a would-be union delegate, has a nagging wife, Denise (Debra Rush), and a pregnant daughter, Rachel (Teri Polo). His sister Nora (Frances McDormand) is a leftist nun who has brought along a guest, a South American dissident wanted by the INS. Terry (Pamela Reed) is splitting up with her husband Boyd (Tim Curry) after finally realizing that he's gay. And Johnny is thinking of quitting his job and leaving his wife Amy (Blair Brown), which makes the mysterious Cassie (Nancy Travis) seem all the more attractive. Passed Away marked the directorial debut of successful screenwriter Charlie Peters. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Jack Warden, (more)
- 1995
- PG13
Reckless is a dark, dream-like comedy-fantasy adapted by Craig Lucas from his play that takes place in a strange, hallucinogenic otherworld. Mia Farrow stars as annoying, air-headed housewife Rachel, who discovers on Christmas Eve that her husband Tom (Tony Goldwyn) has arranged for a hit man to murder her. Barely escaping with her life into the snowy wastes of her neighborhood, Rachel crosses paths with a social worker, Lloyd (Scott Glenn), and Lloyd's paraplegic, deaf and mute wife, Pooty (Mary-Louise Parker). Rachel takes up house with the friendly couple, but Lloyd is not quite what he appears to be and the naïve Rachel is forced to flee. This time, her travels take her into contact with a variety of eccentric characters, including game show host Fast Tim Timko (Giancarlo Esposito), the staff of a non-profit group, and a troubled nun. As she crosses America, Rachel visits all 50 states, although she repeatedly ends up in towns called Springfield. Reckless (1995) was the third and final film of director Norman Rene, who passed away the following year. Rene had previously collaborated with Lucas on the films Longtime Companion (1990) and Prelude to a Kiss (1992). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Scott Glenn, (more)
Life is sweet for high-school English teacher and sports coach Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline); he's still living where he grew up, he has a good relationship with his father (Wilford Brimley) and mother (Debbie Reynolds), he's respected by his community, and he's about to marry Emily (Joan Cusack), his fiancée of three years. Fearing she was about to become an old maid, Emily has shed 75 pounds for the upcoming nuptials. But first, the entire town of Greenleaf, IN, settles in to watch the Academy Award telecast, because young stud star Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon), who attended Greenleaf High, has been nominated for an Oscar. What's more, he wins, and in his acceptance speech, singles out Howard -- and announces his favorite teacher is gay. Everyone in town is thunderstruck, including Howard himself. The media descend on the town, particularly Peter Malloy (Tom Selleck), whose job is hanging by a thread. Even worse, Howard's principal Tom Halliwell (Bob Newhart) is shaken by the news, and is toying with firing Howard. The beleaguered teacher tries to convince everyone (and himself) that he's as straight and macho as the next guy; he even tries to follow the rules on a motivational tape, "Be a Man." But his fondness for Barbra Streisand, his theatrical mannerisms, and the fact that he and Emily have yet to make love make everyone's eyebrows stay permanently raised. Meanwhile, out in Hollywood, Cameron, who's really a decent guy, learns about the problems his impulsive comment has caused, and heads back to Greenleaf to see what he can do to help. Howard's mother is fiercely determined to see at least one of her two sons wed -- Walter (Gregory Jbara), the other, is a doofus -- and as the wedding date draws nearer and nearer, poor Howard's life flies even farther out of control. ~ Bill Warren, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, (more)
- 1997
A suicide investigation is turned over to homicide when it is revealed that the white victim may have been killed because she adopted a black baby. While trying to determine the baby's paternity, the detectives and the lawyers unearth some unpleasant secrets in the past of one of the suspects. But do these secrets have any bearing on the killing -- and even if they do, will they ever be heard by a jury? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Jerri attempts to balance her desire to be on the debate team with her growing eating disorder in this installment of the irreverent Comedy Central series. Confessing her desire to join the debate team to Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert), the hungry teacher reveals that Jerri must lose some weight before she signs on to the team, as appearance is a major factor in winning debates. At first taking Mr. Noblot's advise to heart, his words are soon forgotten as Jerri and Toby (Devin Palmer) race to see who can be the first to the cafeteria for empanadas. Subsequently self-conscious about her weight, Jerri decides to embark on a strict diet despite the fact that the Blanks have invited over family meat man Stew (David Pasquesi) for dinner that night. Noticing that Jerri has become deathly thin the following day at school, Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) warns Jerri of the dangers of purging despite the fact that he frequently does so regularly. Having never even considered this option, Jerri decides that this would be a great way to lose weight, and Mr. Jellineck's warning actually encourages her to take up the practice. Jerri's debating skills are noticeably sharpened by her new appearance, but Mr. Jellineck nevertheless decides to take his concerns to Jerri's stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush). Shocked that Jerri has been stealing her appetite suppressants, diuretics, and suppositories, Sara decides to send Jerri to bed without dinner as punishment. Passing out from malnutrition-induced exhaustion during a debate with Lizzie (Ellen Pompeo) the following day, Mr. Jellineck organizes an intervention with Jerri's family and Stew to take place later that evening. Though Jerri has clearly relished being the center of attention through the crisis, Mr. Jellineck appears with a special dinner to celebrate her newfound appetite. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
- 1999
Jerri (Amy Sedaris) discovers she has a previously unknown talent in this episode of the off-color Comedy Central series. Kicked out of the Flatpoint High orchestra by Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) for pounding on the timpani and refusing to follow directions, a distressed Jerri remains behind after class and begins experimenting with the various instruments. Eavesdropping on the horrible sounds coming from the orchestra room, Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert) is stunned when Jerri picks up the violin and starts playing beautifully. Soon taking her under his wing and forcing her to practice tirelessly, Mr. Noblot isolates Jerri from her friends and peers in order to vicariously experience the success that eluded him as a child. Distressed by the scratches on Jerri's hands from attempting to groom the family cat, Mr. Noblot brings Jerri to live with him so that she may focus entirely on her practicing. With Mr. Noblot's newfound obsession driving a wedge between him and Mr. Jellineck, and the disapproval of Jerri's father adding to the negative impact that practicing has had on her social life, Jerri decides to give up the "stringy paddle" (her name for the violin) the very night of the Tri-County Music Championship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
- 1999
Jerri's (Amy Sedaris) desperate bid to become homecoming queen yields predictably disastrous results in this episode of Comedy Central's Strangers With Candy. Encouraged by Orlando (Orlando Pabotoy) to nominate herself as homecoming queen, Jerri's hopes are quickly dashed when Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert) intercepts the note detailing her intentions and relays to Jerri that "You're only as ugly as we think you are." After dumping the current ballots in the trash, Jerri's realization that she must run against somebody is satisfied when she chooses unattractive do-gooder Becky Ann Bedecker (Rebecca Rich) as her opponent. Following a lecture by Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) on the importance on the "inner beauty" category, Jerri rushes home to discover that even her own brother Derrick is planning on voting for Becky, despite her homeliness. Attempting to win over the hearts of her classmates by volunteering to entertain a handicapped young boy with a chicken and a weasel, the pantomime act quickly turns into a horrific, blood-soaked nightmare, leaving Becky to come to the boy's rescue. Recalling Coach Wolf's (Sarah Thyre) advice to "help others by talking about yourself," Jerri's speech at the homecoming assembly vividly recalls her life as a runaway and elicits a standing ovation from the sympathetic crowd. Despite her moving speech, Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) decides to give the homecoming queen crown to Derrick's girlfriend Yasmine (Sabine Singh) anyway, despite the fact that she never even entered the competition. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
- 1999
The temptations of the past resurface to haunt Jerri (Amy Sedaris) in the season one closer of Comedy Central's Strangers With Candy. When comely stoner Trish (Stephanie Sanditz) offers to share a joint with Jerri in the bathroom after gym class, the lustful Jerri quickly caves to temptation and begins her decent down the same slippery slope that found her homeless over 30 years ago. Subsequently baking brother Derrick's (Larc Spies) basketball and attempting to throw the turkey intended for dinner through the basketball hoop, Jerri faces real trouble when she shows up at Sara's (Deborah Rush) MMAD (Mad Mothers Against Drugs) meeting noticeably high and then fails Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) final exam the following day. As the final class of the semester draws to a close, undercover cop Savillon (Mitch Rouse) arrives in class under the guise of being a transfer student and promptly maces Mr. Noblot after noticing the word "opium" written on the chalkboard (Mr. Noblot had been teaching his class about China's Opium War). Mr. Noblot offers Jerri a make-up lest he have to put up with her for another semester, and despite Orlando's (Orlando Pabotoy) best efforts to sway Jerri toward her studies that night, a party invite from Trish proves too much to resist for Jerri. Though Jerri promises Orlando that she won't get high at the party, she promptly breaks her word and ends up failing Mr. Noblot's exam when she arrives in the classroom five hours late. Attempting to prove to Orlando that she wasn't high, Jerri puts him in the hospital by nearly slashing him to death, and when she visits him, Orlando can't remember how he got there, so Jerri makes up a lie but eventually admits that it was her fault. Officer Sullivan then arrests Jerri after overhearing her confession, and as the season closes, Jerri is doomed to once again repeat her freshman year of high school. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
- 1999
Jerri Blank's (Amy Sedaris) first semester back at Flatpoint High finds the 46-year-old ex-con, ex-prostitute, and ex-drug addict high school freshman attempting to pull her life together. From her initial bid for popularity to her total relapse into drug addition, the first season of Strangers With Candy offered some of the most absurd and irreverent humor on television. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
- 1999
The premier episode of Comedy Central's warped take on the after-school special introduces viewers to series protagonist Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) as she attends a high school anti-drug rally. Recently released from jail and having lived the life of a teenage runaway for 32 years, 46-year-old Jerri has decided to clean up her act, move back home and re-enroll as a freshman at Flatpoint High. Announcing her upcoming party during Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) history class in a bid to win over the popular crowd, it seems that no one is interested and, to make matters worse, Mr. Noblot informs Jerri that, although it's only three days into the term, Jerri is in danger of failing his class. After Jerri is once again shot down in her bid to befriend popular Poppy Downs, her lone ally Orlando (Orlando Pabotoy) confides to her that her classmates are saying terrible things about her behind her back. Undaunted, Jerri seeks the advice of art teacher Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello), who insists that Jerri should, "go with what you know." Imbued with a newfound sense of confidence, Jerri runs into Poppy in the Girls' Room and offers to whip her up a primo batch of homemade Glint (a homemade narcotic made by mixing household chemicals and subsequently spreading the mixture on your lips). When Poppy takes a bit too much of Jerri's concoction the following day, her speed on the track impresses Coach Wolf (Sarah Thyre), though things take a bad turn when Poppy, believing herself to be a bumble-bee who must return to the hive, induces a coma while attempting to fly though a keyhole. Sneaking into the hospital that night to pull the plug on Poppy's life supports system lest she finger Jerri as her supplier, Jerri is relieved to learn that Poppy died earlier in the evening. As Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) rallies the students to discuss the tragedy and dedicate a time capsule to the fallen student, Jerri takes advantage of the situation by announcing a "Poppy Downs Memorial" party, to which the students eagerly respond. Kicking off the party by attempting to make out with Poppy's ex-boyfriend Brad, things soon go from bad to worse as Jerri realizes that she accidentally mixed the hot fruit in the same bowl she had used for the Glint. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
