Mark L. Taylor Movies
Kenny Ortega's High School Musical 2 reunites the cast from the hit made-for-Disney Channel original to tell another story in the lives of the musically inclined students attending East Side High. The sequel takes place primarily at the Lava Springs Country Club, an exclusive summer resort that hires Wildcat basketball hero Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), his genius girlfriend Gabriella Montez (anessa Hudgens), and their two best friends. The parents of scheming Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) own the resort, and she wields her remarkable power in an attempt to win Troy away from Gabriella. Eventually Troy must decide between a bright future with a scholarship, or true love. High School Musical 2 premiered on the cable outlook on August 17, 2007. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, (more)
- 2005
When Mama Solis succumbs to her injuries, everyone from Wisteria Lane attends the funeral. Andrew Van De Kamp (Shawn Pyfrom) continues to act up, and his parents consider sending him to a juvenile disciplinary camp. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) makes friends with Alisa Stevens (Marlee Martin), whose children attend the same school as Lynette's boys, but friendship can be a fragile thing when lips are loose. And the bond formed between Susan (Teri Hatcher) and Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) in the previous episode is sorely tested when the two ladies again find themselves vying for the attentions of the same man -- in this case, contractor Bill Cunningham (Rick Ravanello). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Lesley Ann Warren makes her first appearance as Sophie Bremmer, who descends upon her daughter, Susan (Teri Hatcher), after calling it quits with her current boyfriend, Morty (Bob Newhart). Elsewhere, Bree (Marcia Cross) enrages Lynette (Felicity Huffman) when she disciplines Lynette's incorrigible son Porter. Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) has another shocking surprise for his parents. And Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) fiddles with his prenuptial contract while wife Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) burns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Fourteen-year-old Eddie Ogden (Taylor Ball) is the best player on his baseball team. He also happens to be a natural-born chef, and it is this peculiar talent that opens him up for ridicule, not only from his fellow players, but also from the team's coach, who happens to be Eddie's father (Mark L. Taylor). After enduring such jibes as "Will he trade his baseball mitt for an oven mitt," poor Eddie is in for even more verbal abuse when he enters a prestigious cooking contest -- on the same day as the championship ballgame. Our hero's story is paralleled with that of a young girl who is being forced by her mother to try out for the cheerleading squad, even though the girl would rather play baseball. Real-life master chef Bobby Flay appears as himself in the New Zealand-filmed Eddie's Million-Dollar Cookoff, which made its Disney Channel debut on July 18, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Taylor Ball, Mark L. Taylor, (more)
- 1999
In this outdoor adventure, two close friends whose lives are moving in different directions decide to take one last vacation together and head out for the slopes for a few thrilling weeks of snowboarding. The Last Ride stars Mark Taylor, Todd Malta, and Anne Lockhart. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Todd Malta, Mark L. Taylor, (more)
- 1996
First telecast August 29, 1996, "Rage's Burning Wheel" served to introduce "apocalyptist" villain Ezekial Rage to The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (voiced by both David Ackroyd and Michael Bell, who took over the role). Hijacking a space capsule, Rage intends to use the vehicle to destroy the earth's ozone layer. Fortunately for mankind, Dr. Quest and Hadji are on board the capsule, and they are able to communicate their plight to Jonny and Jessie back on earth. There's still more danger ahead in the form of Rage's fanatical disciples, who have overrun Questworld's Mission Control. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J.D. Roth, George Segal, (more)
Some teen girls take to the road in this made-for-cable remake of the 1956 original. Set in 1957, three guy-crazy friends take to the road in a stolen car, trying to track down one of their ex-lovers before he goes off into the Navy. The film is part of Showtime's "Rebel Highways" series of remakes. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Julie Bowen, (more)
- 1994
Real-life father and son Lloyd and Beau Bridges star in the tense modern melodrama Secret Sins of the Father. Nebraska farmer Louis Thielman (Lloyd) is charged with murder of his wife. Making the charge is Louis's son Tom (Beau), the town sheriff. Though the evidence points to Louis, there are those who believe that Tom is pursuing a vendetta rather than justice. For starters, Louis has been carrying on an affair with Lisa Carson, Tom's ex-lover. Despite the film's docudrama approach, this one isn't based on a true story. Beau Bridges doubled as director for this made-for-TV drama, which debuted January 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges, (more)
- 1991
After English professor Charles Lattimore (Pierce Brosnan) assigns his class to plot the perfect murder, he finds himself the prime suspect in a police investigation after a student and another faculty member wind up dead. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierce Brosnan, Dey Young, (more)
Referring to the fear of spiders, Arachnophobia features a particularly deadly species of spider that manages to make its way from the Venezuelan rain forest to a small California town, thanks to the many oversights of entomologist Julian Sands. Yuppie doctor Jeff Daniels, fed up with the dangers inherent in big-city living, has resettled in this town on the assumption that nothing untoward could ever happen here to himself and his family. Before long, however, Daniels is trying to make sense of a series of sudden deaths-and to figure out why each of the corpses has been drained of blood. The audience, of course, knows that the culprits are those pesky South American spiders, which grow larger with each kill. To make matters worse, Jeff Daniels suffers from a profound case of arachnophobia. John Goodman supports the cast as a slovenly exterminator, and Frank Marshall, longtime producer of Steven Spielberg's films, makes his directorial debut in Arachnophobia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Daniels, Harley Jane Kozak, (more)
- 1990
No sooner has Al (Ed O'Neill) cancelled the family's car insurance than newly-licensed driver Bud (David Faustino) has an accident in the Bundymobile. Bud's story is that the driver of the Mercedes hit him, and the family intends to back him up by appearing in court with a variety of highly suspicious-looking injuries (sister Kelly arrives with a white cane and seeing eye dog). Ultimately, however, the truth comes out, thanks to unwilling witness Marcy. Psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers) appears as the judge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Two almost-identical bank robberies have resulted in two deaths--and Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) have nary a clue. Gradually, Hunter deduces that there had been an "inside" man at each bank. As it turns out, a beautiful but deadly female criminal (Leslie Bevis), using multiple aliases, has been seducing bank managers into becoming her unwitting accomplices--a fact that comes crashing down upon one of the unfortunate managers, who intends to take the law into his own hands! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Michael Landon produced, directed and wrote the 1990 TV movie Where Pigeons Go to Die. Landon also narrated the story as the adult counterpart of young protagonist Robert Hy Gorman. When Landon returns to his grandfather's house with the intention of selling it, he flashes back 40 years and recalls his warm relationship with his "Da", played by Art Carney. The central bonding activity between grandfather and grandson is the raising and training of homing pigeons--an activity that teaches the boy any number of life lessons about triumph, disappointment and respecting the interests of others. Star Art Carney himself assessed Where Pigeons Go to Die thusly: "Maybe it's corn. But there's nothing wrong with good corn." The film was adapted from a novel by R. Wright Campbell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This final episode of Moonlighting finds Bert (Curtis Armstrong) and Agnes (Allyce Beasley) getting married, just as David (Bruce Willis) is breaking up with Annie (Virginia Madsen), the cousin of his partner and former lover Maddie (Cybill Shepherd). At the same time, the Blue Moon Detective Agency closes its doors, whereupon ABC network executive Walter Whitebread (Mark L. Taylor) solemnly begins dismantling the set. An eleventh-hour effort to save the Agency--and the series--is foiled by the demographic evidence supplied by big-time Hollywood producer Cy (played by Dennis Dugan, billed under his Moonlighting character name of Walter Bishop). Even worse--the Anselmo Case (you remember the Anselmo Case) may never be solved! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Responding from a call from the Sheliak Corporate, the Enterprise crew is confronted by hostile Sheliaks at the Tau Cygna Five earth colony. Citing an old treaty, the Sheliaks demand that the human colonists evacuate the planet within four days or face total annihilation. It is up to Data to persuade the intractable colonists to leave...all 15,000 of them. Originally telecast October 7, 1989, "The Ensigns of Command" was written by Melinda M. Snodgrass. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
While Harry (Harry Anderson) takes a night off, his replacement is the much-older Judge Robert Hirsch (Jeff Corey). This turns out to be a calamitous substitution: though Harry may be eccentric, Judge Hirsch proves to be downright certifiable. Before the night is over, the half-baked Hirsch has jailed public defender Christine (Markie Post) and prosecutor Dan (John Larroquette)--and replaced them with court matron Florence (Florence Halop) and resident derelict Phil (William Utay)! Future Evening Shade regular Michael Jeter shows up in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
After single-handedly capturing Superman's perennial nemesis Lex Luthor, the bionic Cyborg is invited to join the Super Powers Team--but surprisingly turns down the offer. Anxious to have someone his own age as a fellow Team member, the nuclear-powered Firestorm seeks out Cyborg to learn the reason for his reticence. But it will take the intervention of Darkseid and his Parademons, to say nothing of some horrific-looking sea pods, to make Cyborg change his mind. "The Seeds of Doom" was originally telecast as the first episode of DC's Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When the made-for-TV The Rumor Mill first aired on May 12, 1985, it bore the title Malice in Wonderland. This joyously inaccurate biopic concerns itself with Hollywood's two foremost gossipmongers of the 1930s and 1940s: Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. Long involved in the film industry, Parsons used her ironclad relationship with publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst and the "confidential" information gleaned by her physician husband Harry "Docky" Martin to outscoop every other columnist in Tinseltown. Parsons' awesome power remained unchallenged until 1938, when Hedda Hopper, a character actress fallen on hard times, was hired as a gossip reporter by one of Hearst's rivals. Thereafter, it was every woman for herself: the blood feud between Parsons and Hopper raged unabated until the latter's death in 1966. Jane Alexander's on-target portrayal of Hedda Hopper won her an Emmy nomination; no less impressive (though not as accurate in her characterization) is Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons. Other Emmy nominations went to the costume design and sound mixing, while Philip H. Lathrop won the statuette for his '30s-style photography. The "look who that is" supporting cast includes Richard Dysart as Louis B. Mayer, Eric Purcell as Orson Welles, Tim Robbins as Joseph Cotten (who once booted Louella in the derriere), Jason Wingreen as Jack Warner, Gary Wayne as Clark Gable, Denise Crosby as Carole Lombard, and Thomas Byrd as Hedda Hopper's actor-son William. Adapted from George Eels' waspish book Hedda and Louella, Malice in Wonderland is delightful, high-class claptrap. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The unthinkable has happened: Superman is dead, the victim of Kryptonite poisoning. Injured in the mishap which felled Superman, a weakened Firestorm is captured by Darkseid, who wants the Galactic Guardian to reveal the details of the Man of Steel's demise. Meanwhile, several members of the Super Powers Team gather at the Fortress at Solitude, where they come across evidence indicating that Superman is still alive--but if this is true, why has he allowed the other Team members to fall into Darkseid's clutches? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The evil Darkseid's latest project involves the capture and takeover of Space City, a gigantic orbiting earth colony. To this end, he replaces the satellite's kidnapped inventor Mr. Moko with a robot lookalike that even fools Moko's daughter. Meanwhile, Batman, Firestorm and Samurai must steer clear of Darkseid's minions Kalibak and DeSaad and their robot army, long enough to allow Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman to seek out and destroy the control equipment hidden in Darkseid's headquarters! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
While enjoying a day off with Firestorm, Cyborg is captured by the robot minions of supercriminal Brainiac, who intends to use the bionic dogooder for one of his typically evil "mind-blowing" experiments. To save the life of his fellow Galactic Guardian, Firestorm enlists the aid of Batman and rushes to Cyborg's rescue. But it may already be too late: The two superpowered good guys are confronted by a gigantic killer robot...with Cyborg's brain and intellect trapped inside its power source! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
While languishing in prison with the Penguin as his cellmate, evil magician Felix Faust conjures up a spell which enables him to steal the special powers of the Galactic Guardians. No sooner has this happened than the Penguin appropriates these powers for himself, and as result the Super Powers Team now works for him! In order to thwart the Penguin and emerge as the real villain of the piece, Faust absorbs all of Superman's powers--and unless at least one of superheroes can break free from the Penguin's influence, the Man of Steel may never be completely "himself" again! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
There's a new supervillain in town, and his name is The Ace. Gathering together a gang of four hardened delinquents, the Ace decks them out in sinister playing-card costumes, and thus the Royal Flush Gang is born. In their efforts to defeat this scurrilous quintet of no-goods, Robin and Cyborg discover that the Ace is taking his orders directly from their perennial enemy Darkseid--while Robin's sidekick Batman learns to his astonishment that the Ace is not a "new" nemesis at all, but instead a very old one! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Bizarro #1, the weird Superman doppelganger from Bizarroworld, uses his duplicator ray to create Bizarro versions of Wonder Woman, Firestorm and Cyborg. These "opposite clones" are then called upon to protect Bizarroworld from its many enemies. Unfortunately, the prankish Mr. Mxyzptlk plans to harness the powers of the three Bizarro superheroes in order to wreak havoc upon the earth, in an endless series of nasty pranks and practical jokes specially designed to drive everyone as crazy as HE is! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
