Earl Billings Movies
A frequent presence in both film and television from the 1970s onward, African-American character player Earl Billings moved from landing one- and two-shot bit roles in prime-time series programs and low-profile movies to signing for supporting roles in some of Hollywood's most acclaimed comedies and dramas. This stocky, heavyset player demonstrated a knack for playing black everymen -- often essaying the parts of police officers, detectives, and security guards. Billings first began receiving onscreen credit around 1976, with a single-episode contribution to Norman Lear's sitcom Good Times. Soon after that, the actor appeared in the recurring role of Rob on What's Happening!! Following a turn in the little-seen Sounder, Part Two (1976) and credit as a parole office worker in the gentle yet profane Richard Pryor comedy Bustin' Loose (1981), Billings acted in several telemovies.After a cinematic lapse of several years, Billings rebounded with an appearance in the blockbuster 1987 John Badham crime comedy Stakeout. A consistent string of supporting turns in A-list productions followed, including (but not limited to) Jimmy Hollywood (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), American Splendor (2003), Thank You for Smoking (2005), and Something New (2006). Billings augmented this success with occasional work on such prime-time series as Ally McBeal and ER. In 2008, he took on his first regular TV role, playing Principal Huffy on the sitcom Miss Guided, starring Judy Greer as an earnest high-school guidance councilor, but the series was unfortunately very short-lived. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2008
To some people, the true definition of Hell might be: "To remain in the same high school with the same irritating people for the rest of your life." Even so, this was more or less the premise of the ABC sitcom Miss Guided. Judy Greer headed the cast as Becky Freeley, formerly the gawky, underachieving class nerd of Glen Ellen High School (she'd been president and half the membership of the school's Milli Vanilli Fan club, among other things). Now attractively grown up, Becky returned to Glen Ellen as the school's guidance counselor, determined to make a difference in the lives of other disenfranchised youngsters. Making life difficult for Becky all over again was the fact that her onetime "bete noire" Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns), the most popular girl in our heroine's graduating class, was also at Glen Ellen as the new English teacher--and worse, as Becky's rival for the affections of handsome Spanish instructor Tim O'Malley (Kristoffer Polaha). Also seen were Earl Billings as Phil Huffy, eternal principal of Glen Ellen; and onetime Saturday Night Live regular Chris Parnell as vice principal Bruce Terry, who had foresworn to get even for being relentlessly picked on during his days as a high school nerd by mercilessly persecuting the current crop of students (especially the good-looking ones). Created by Caroline Williams (The Office, High School Musical), and co-executive produced by actor Ashton Kutcher, Miss Guided debuted on March 18, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Greer, Brooke Burns, (more)
An angel from above arrives on a mission to transform a spoiled college girl into a caring young woman in this contemporary variation on the Christmas Carol story starring Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tom Bosley, and Pooch Hall. To wealthy college girl Layla Turner (Knight-Pulliam), Christmas is all about overstuffed gift bags from Bloomingdale's and the best jewelry that money can buy - but this holiday season promises to be a real eye-opener. When an angel in disguise walks into Layla's life and shows her the true meaning of the holiday season, the girl who once scoffed at off-brand names gradually begins to realize that there's more to Christmas than designer labels. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keshia Knight Pulliam, Pooch Hall, (more)
- 2003
This 200th episode of ER (actually the 201st in the syndicated package) occurs during a solar eclipse, with the action alternating between the day and night shifts at County General. Holding down the day shift is a bone-weary Carter (Noah Wyle), who must contend with the victims of a cult mass suicide, among many other trying cases. And during the night shift, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), ostensibly making his final round as a resident, is "redeemed" as he treats a woman whose unborn child was viciously cut from her womb. In other developments, Corday (Alex Kingston) tries to ease the mind of Romano (Paul McCrane) as he prepares to have his injured hand and forearm amputated; and the ER receives an urgent phone call from Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in Africa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
After several unworthy candidates, new parents Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) believe they've found the perfect babysitter in the form of a lass named Arley (Lili Taylor). Now the Buchmans are secure enough to take their first evening out in months. Unfortunately, fate intervenes in the form of a pair of pants and an errant scoop of ice cream. Friends regular Lisa Kudrow briefly reprises her Mad About You role as Ursula Buffay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Rookie cop Monica (Roma Downey) is partnered with veteran officer Zack Bennett (Joe Penny) on his first day back after recovering from a shooting. Zack's former partner Ben (Paul Rodriguez) is angry over the fact that Zack has demanded to be paired up with something else. What Ben doesn't know is that Zack is harboring a terrible secret: he has become dangerously addicted to prescription drugs. Monica's Heavenly assignment is to straighten Zack out, but this may prove impossible after he steals the stash of an arrested drug dealer (John Hawkes)--who as a result is set free to commit even more heinous crimes! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
We'd rather not rehash the sordied Menendez murder case in this space; besides, it isn't necessary, inasmuch as no fewer than two TV movies were produced on the subject in 1994. The first was Fox's Honor Thy Father and Mother; the second, telecast less than a month later, was Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Two hours longer than the first film, Menendez spends half of its running time recounting the events leading up to the Menendez brothers' murder of the parents, while the second half devotes itself to their overpublicized trial. Lyle and Eric Menendez are played, respectively, by Damian Chapa and Travis Fine. Edward James Olmos and Beverly D'Angelo costar as the ill-fated parents, while Margaret Whitton is cast as attorney Leslie Abramson. Once past the most lurid aspects of the case-notably the Menendez boys' insistence that their crime was motivated by extreme parental abuse-this 4-hour wallow gets pretty tiresome. Menendez was originally telecast in two parts, on May 22 and 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1992
Maniacal Dennis Hopper plays a high-strung L.A. homicide detective who embarks upon a vengeful hunt for the drug pushers who brutally murdered his partners. His investigation soon reveals that the dealers' influence extends to the highest echelons of city government. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason takes the case for a TV reporter falsely accused of killing the station's ego-maniacal anchorman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the Bundys and the D'Arcys continue prospecting for gold in the desert--and wonder of wonders, everyone strikes it rich except for Kelly (Christina Applegate). Before long, the five "millionaires" are fantasizing over how they will spend their riches--especially Al (Ed. O'Neill), who has conjured up an image of being surrounded by former Playboy bunnies (including Pam Anderson, Ava Fabian and Renee Tenison), with Peg (Katey Sagal) nowhere in sight. Little do the novice prospectors realize that they've been snookered by the owners of a desert tourist trap! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
The McCarthy era lives again when a Klingon spy is discovered on board the Enterprise. Suspecting that a sinister conspiracy is afoot, visiting Federation Admiral Norah Satie (Jean Simmons) embarks upon a witch hunt, turning everyone against each other. Things reach the hysteria stage when Satie accuses Captain Picard of being a traitor. First telecast May 4, 1991, The Drumhead was directed by Next Generation co-star Jonathan Frakes and written by Jeri Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Whenever there's a TV movie about a "lone holdout" juror, you can bet that reality will be left behind at the front door. Killer Among Us is no exception. A Different World's Jasmine Guy plays a doubting jury member on a homicide case. She not only believes the defendant innocent, but suspects that the foreman of the jury, played by Dwight Schultz, is the guilty party. To make a long story short, which the scriptwriter didn't, Guy ends up being stalked by the real murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV drama was based on the true story of George McKenna (played by Denzel Washington in one of his first leading roles), an educator in Los Angeles who faced the greatest challenge of his career when he was named Principal of George Washington Memorial High School. Located in a run-down inner-city neighborhood, Washington High was being torn apart by gang violence and drug dealing, and much of the student body seemed more interested in surviving the day than in learning. McKenna was determined to make Washington High a safe place where students could get a quality education which would allow them to go to college if they so desired, but he soon realized he was facing an uphill battle, having to deal not only with gangs and delinquent students, but apathetic teachers and parents too busy or unconcerned to help in the education of their kids. The George McKenna Story also stars Lynn Whitfield, Debra Artis, and Richard Masur; after Denzel Washington's later rise to superstar status, the film was rereleased on home video under the title Hard Lessons. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington
- 1983
In this drama, a crack corps of female prison guards are assigned to watch over the men in the most dangerous cell-block. Mayhem ensues as the physical and emotional pressures the women face begin to take their toll. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1981
George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) has had just about enough of his contentious store manager, Wendell Thomas (Earl Billings) -- a sentiment shared by the rest of George's employees. Alas, just as George is firing Wendell, the much-despised manager drops dead. Can things get any worse? You bet: George is called upon to deliver the eulogy at Wendell's funeral. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1977
Shifty landlord Nathan Bookman (Johnny Brown) sells a dilapidated used car to J.J. (Jimmie Walker) and his friends. This joint-ownership setup results in a great deal of ill will when the buddies argue over who can drive the car, and when it can be driven. As the story rolls merrily along, it's a toss-up as to which will fall apart first: the partnership, or the car. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Part 2, Sounder was the sequel to the 1973 filmization of William H. Armstrong's novel Sounder, with the same scenarist (Lonnie Elder III) but with a different director (Graham) and releasing company (Gamma III). Still set amongst Depression-era black sharecroppers in Louisiana, Part 2 features Harold Sylvester and Ebony Wright stepping into the roles originated in first film by Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson. They're still struggling against poverty and prejudice, but have now been given a ray of hope by activist teacher Anzanette Chase (taking over from first film's Janet McLachlan). Her school is closed down by the white landowners, who don't want the "coloreds" to get too "uppity." The sharecroppers band together to build their own school, so that their children can learn to create a better world. Musician Taj Mahal is back from the first film, doubling in a supporting role and providing the musical score. Originally designed as a made-for-TV movie, Part 2: Sounder was redirected to theatres instead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harold Sylvester, Ebony Wright, (more)
- 1976
The Evanses' neighborhood is being terrorized by the Warlords, a rampaging street gang. Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) joins a citizens' group to form a united front against the gang -- little suspecting that her own son Michael (Ralph Carter) has become a Warlord himself. Desperately hiding his association with the gang, Michael tries to quit the Warlords cold -- which is just the way he may end up, if the street punks have anything to say about it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The directorial debut from Jason Reitman, the media satire Thank You for Smoking stars Aaron Eckhart as Nick, a man who has turned spinning news and information into a successful career for the tobacco lobby. He plots strategies with his colleagues (Maria Bello and David Koechner) on how to make other dangerous products more appealing to the American public. Nick ends up going to Hollywood with his young son (Cameron Bright) in order to get a movie producer to include characters smoking in his newest film. Nick is kidnapped by a vigilante group concerned about the harmful nature of his product. The cast includes William H. Macy as a Senator who runs on a strong anti-tobacco position, Rob Lowe as the Hollywood bigwig, and Robert Duvall as the king of the tobacco industry. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, (more)
The documentary directing team of Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman makes their narrative feature debut with the biographical comedy drama American Splendor. Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) is a comic book writer inspired by the work of his friend Robert Crumb (James Urbaniak). Pekar writes his comics about the sad monotony of everyday life, based on his own life in Cleveland, OH, working as a file clerk at a veteran's hospital and spending his time reading books and listening to jazz. He meets up with Joyce Brabner (Hope Davis) and they enjoy a depressive relationship together. The filmmakers employ a combination of live-action film, video, and animation, including narration and commentary from the real-life Harvey Pekar. The screenplay was based on Pekar's comic book series American Splendor, which he has been writing since 1976 on Dark Horse Comics, and the 1994 book-length comic Our Cancer Year, written by Pekar and Brabner. American Splendor won the Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic Competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis, (more)
Two leaders with different philosophies about battle and leadership wage war with each other in this tense military thriller. Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is the commanding officer of a nuclear submarine, the U.S.S. Alabama. Ramsey is a distinguished veteran near the end of his career, and he leads his men with an iron hand; as he puts it, "We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it." Ramsey is assigned a new second-in-command, Lt. Cmmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington); Hunter is much younger than Ramsey, Harvard educated, and believes the goal of the military in the nuclear age is to prevent war, not fight it. While at sea, word reaches the Alabama that a splinter group of Russian forces have seized missile silos, and the ship is put on red alert. The Alabama has orders to fire, but as it is receiving a new incoming order the radio malfunctions. It's Ramsey's contention that an order is an order and they are to move forward with the attack, while Hunter feels if there is any question at all about their mission, they should wait until they can receive further instruction, with Hunter going so far as to threaten mutiny against Ramsey if the missile strike is carried out. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Towne both contributed to the screenplay without credit. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, (more)
Clad in a blonde wig, Joe Pesci stars as the title character, a luckless actor. Unable to make it in the real showbiz world, Jimmy starts fantasizing about fame and fortune. His delusions eventually turn into reality when, through a fluke, Jimmy becomes known to one and all as "Jericho," a Robin Hood-like vigilante. Victoria Abril appears in a supporting role and the film's climax features a number of cameo performances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Pesci, Christian Slater, (more)
Carl Franklin made his directorial bow with the story of three LA drug dealers who, after committing a rather messy murder, hide out in a rural Arkansas town. Assuming that the local "rubes" will offer them little interference, the criminals have not reckoned with sheriff "Hurricane" Dixon (Bill Paxton). Despite the arrogance of the LAPD agents sent to Arkansas to collar the crooks, it is down-home Dixon who puts the final bloody showdown into motion (the fact that the thieves have been falling out throughout the film doesn't hurt things either). Carl Franklin knows where he's going in every frenetic frame of One False Move, and his movie was one of the most acclaimed independent releases of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Paxton, Cynda Williams, (more)
- 1989
- R
This film, loosely-based on the book by Bob Woodward, follows the career of comedian John Belushi (Michael Chiklis) as his spirit is guided through the past by the Angel Velasquez (Ray Sharkey). ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Chiklis, Ray Sharkey, (more)
