Danielle Spencer Movies

This Australian sitcom chronicled the misadventures of four twentysomethings, "on their own" for the first time in their lives. To save money and provide mutual moral support, the quartet -- Sophie (Maxine Klibingaitis), Lisa Danielle Spencer, Richard (Adam Willits), and Trevor (Rod Zuanic) -- shared the same apartment. It may sound a bit like Friends, except for the fact that the Australian series predated the American one by three years. Syndicated "down under" by Gary Reilly Productions, the 13 episodes of Hampton Court were seen in 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robin Williams learns that keeping in touch with his children can be a drag in this hit comedy. Daniel Hillard (Williams) is an eccentric actor who specializes in dubbing voices for cartoon characters. Daniel is a kind man and a loving father, but he's a poor disciplinarian and a shaky role model. After throwing an elaborate and disastrous birthday party for his son, Daniel's wife Miranda (Sally Field) reaches the end of her patience and files for divorce. Daniel is heartbroken when Miranda is given custody of the children, and he's only allowed to visit them once a week. Determined to stay in contact with his kids, Daniel learns that Miranda is looking for a housekeeper, and with help from his brother Frank (Harvey Fierstein), a makeup artist, Daniel gets the job disguised as Mrs. Iphegenia Doubtfire, a stern but caring Scottish nanny. Daniel pulls off the ruse so well that neither his ex-wife nor his children recognize him, and in the process, he learns how to be the good parent he should have been all along. However, Daniel also has to deal with the little matter of Miranda's new boyfriend, Stu (Pierce Brosnan). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A man sets out on a dangerous journey in order to save the life of the woman he loves in this politically charged drama from South Korea. Yeong-su (Cha In-pyo) was once a noted professional soccer player, but since his career came to an unexpected halt, he's struggled to support his wife and family, which has become all the more difficult since his wife developed a serious illness. Yeong-su learns of a drug that could help his wife, but while it's available in South Korea, he's living in North Korea. Throwing caution to the wind, Yeong-su pays a smuggler to sneak him into South Korea with hopes of finding the needed medicine, but his plan takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. As Yeong-su struggles to make his way home, his son Jun (Shin Myeong-cheol) is locked up in a prison camp for juveniles, and when a handful of other kids try to make a break for freedom, Jun joins them. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The urban sitcom What's Happening!! was introduced in August of 1976, with a four-episode trial run. In the opener "The Runaway," Raj Thomas (Ernest Thomas) hires a babysitter for his kid sister Dee (Danielle Spencer) so he can attend a party with his pals Rerun (Fred Berry) and Dwayne (Haywood Nelson) -- only to risk the wrath of his Mama (Mabel King) when Dee disappears. Next up is "The Birthday Present," wherein Raj is falsely accused of shoplifting; this is followed by "When Daddy Comes Marching Home," marking the first series appearance of Raj's deadbeat dad Bill (Thalmus Rasulala); and "My Three Tons," in which Rerun is hired to join a dance group consisting of fat kids. The series' first season officially begins with the next episode, "Saturday's Hero," and ends 17 episodes later with "Puppy Love." In between, Shirley Hemphill is provided a showcase in her supporting role as waitress Shirley Wilson in the episode "Shirley's Date"; Mel Stewart appears as an embittered veteran of the Negro Baseball League in "The Hospital Story"; veteran character actress Alice Ghostley shows up as the employer of Raj's mother in "The Maid Did It"; and another familiar TV face, Dick Van Patten, plays a TV producer who hires Dee and Shirley for a TV commercial in "The Burger Queen." Footnote: most of the first-season episodes of What's Happening!! were directed by Mark Warren, formerly the chief helmsman of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and the only African-American director ever to win an Emmy award. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third and final season of What's Happening!! finds former high schoolers Raj (Ernest Thomas) and Rerun (Fred Berry) sharing an apartment, with chubby Rerun hilariously pursuing a variety of odd jobs and get-rich-quick schemes while Raj and his longtime buddy Dwayne both attend college. Also still on hand are Raj's wisecracking little sister Dee (Danielle Spencer) and sassy waitress Shirley Wilson (Shirley Hemphill). Conspicuous by her absence this season is Raj's "Mama," Mabel Thomas. It seems that actress Mabel King had wanted Raj to have both a mother and a father, and had lobbied for the writers to bring her character of Mrs. Thomas back together with her ex-husband Bill. However, the powers-that-be elected to write Bill out of the series early in season two. Thus, in protest, Mabel King also ankled the project at the end of the same season. Newcomers to What's Happening!! during its terminal network season include Leland Smith as Raj's college chum "The Snake," a basketball champ; John Welsh as Raj and Rerun's neighbor, a police detective named Big Earl (whose last name changes from episode to episode, from Babcock to Barnett to Barrett); and Big Earl's son Little Earl (David Hollander), who develops a crush on Dee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide