Joseph Bologna Movies
Joseph Bologna attended Brown University, where he majored in art history. After a hitch with the marines, Bologna was hired to produce and direct Manhattan-based TV commercials. In 1965, he married actress/writer Renee Taylor, who would collaborate with Bologna on such stage, screen, and TV projects as Lovers and Other Strangers, Made for Each Other, Woman of the Year, and the Emmy-winning Acts of Love and Other Comedies. Bologna and Taylor also created the 1973 TV series Calucci's Department, and co-directed the 1989 feature film Made for Each Other. On his own, Bologna has been a much-in-demand film actor since 1970. His most rewarding screen assignments have included the starring role of Dan Torrance in the 1976 disaster-flick spoof The Big Bus and Sid Caesar-like TV comic King Kaiser in the nostalgic My Favorite Year (1982). On television, Joseph Bologna played a cameo as Walter Winchell in the made-for-cable biopic Citizen Cohn (1992), and starred as Nick Foley on the 1987 TV "dramedy" Rags to Riches, which gave him a rare opportunity to sing from time to time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 2005
Jane Doe:'Til Death Do Us Part is one of several Hallmark Channel TV-movies starring Lea Thompson as suburban housewife and mom Kathy Davis (Lea Thompson), who unbeknownst to her family occasionally moonlights as an undercover special agent and "problem solver" for the NSA. This time around, Armand Nostrum (Tom Castranova), a notorious illegal arms dealer serving a life term in prison, apparently dies of heart failure just before he was to blow the whistle on the others in his operation. Kathy--code name "Jane Doe"--is brought into the case when Nostrum's body disappears from the prison hospital, despite the tightest of security measures. As she tries to figure out what has happened and why, the possibility arises that the "dead" man was anything but! This is the episode in which Kathy is finally permitted to tell her husband Jack (William R. Moses) of her covert activities--and in the bargain, our heroine honors us with a lengthy and very broad imitation of a "typical" Mafia princess! Jane Doe: 'Til Death Do Us Part first aired March 11, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
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In this live-action musical comedy, Baby Huey, the lovable seven foot tall duckling, is taken in by a caring little boy named Nick and his kind but surprised family. A sinister scientist and a mean Las Vegas producer want Baby Huey for themselves, but they don't know what a little boy, a caring community, and a baby bird that's bigger than all of them is capable of. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
If given the chance, would Batman have the hots for Lois Lane? Would Lex Luthor get along well with The Joker? And what, if anything, would be left for Robin to do? All these questions and more are answered in this conflation of two of the most venerable comic book legends, The Batman Superman Movie. Up to his old tricks, The Joker has stolen a priceless statue from the Gotham City museum. When Batman learns that the green figurine is made of Kryptonite, however, he knows this isn't your ordinary evil caper. The Caped Crusader sets off for Metropolis to tell the Man of Steel the news, and along the way, he falls for the beguiling beauty of Lois Lane. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, (more)
- 1994
The silly spirit of Revenge of the Nerds lives on in this made-for-television sequel. Curtis Armstrong returns as Booger, and this time around the nerds are gathering for his wedding to a wealthy upper-class girl. As the nerds plan a wild bachelor party, the girl's father is busy hiring an investigator to look into Booger's past and hopefully stop the wedding. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- 1992
Arriving at Kennedy International Airport, a confused Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is kidnapped by the minions of respected philanthropist Maxwell Hagen (Ken Howard). After being released, Jessica complains to the authorities, who refuse to believe her story, or at least act as if they don't believe her. It turns out that Jessica was mistaken for another woman, a government "mole" who was fleeing for her life--and when that woman turns up murdered, Jessica is determined to bring the culprit to justice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1992
In this drama, based on a true story, a New York educator has an affair with a manipulative peer and subsequently finds himself implicated in his wife's murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joe Penny, Jenny Robertson, (more)
- 1991
Dominick Dunne's best-seller An Inconvenient Woman had enough plots, subplots and peripheral characters to fill 10 TV movies; this adaptation manages to pack all the essentials into a mere four hours. Dunne's beloved American Aristocracy is put under the microscope in this rambling tale of scandal, murder and revenge. Part One introduces Los Angeles business mogul and political bigwig Jason Robards. After 23 years of marriage to haughty socialite Jill Eikenberry, Robards stumbles into an affair with low-born waitress Rebecca De Mornay. Stay tuned for Part Two, originally telecast one day after Part One in May of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
In Part One of the TV-movie adaptation of Dominick Dunne's An Inconvenient Woman, we saw how billionaire businessman Jason Robards compromised his marriage and reputation by falling for poverty-stricken waitress Rebecca DeMornay. In Part Two, Ms. DeMornay is confronted by Robards' outwardly understanding wife Jill Eikenberry. Distressed that her handpicked husband would choose so common a bedmate, Ms. Eikenberry quietly plots revenge. What follows is murder on the part of Robards, and blackmail on the part of one of the ladies. After its initial two-part network debut, An Inconvenient Woman was boiled down to one single 126-minute movie for syndication and videocassette. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Al (Ed O'Neill) nearly goes out of his mind when he is unable to identify a song that he heard on the radio and has been humming ever since. In the midst of his strenuous efforts to pinpoint the song's title, Al manages to find time to berate his daughter Kelly's latest boyfriend, Vinnie Verducci (played by a decidedly pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc. We're not about to give away the name of the song, but here's a hint: it was a big hit back in 1962 for r-and-b singer Arthur Alexander--and the title is NOT what everyone thinks it is! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy) is the only Married. . .With Children regular to appear in the series' 100th episode, which serves as the pilot for the spinoff series Top of the Heap. The focus is on Al Bundy's lifelong buddy Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna), Charlie's dimwitted son Vinnie (a pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc) and hot-to-trot Kathleen Morgan (Diana Bellamy). Plot complications include Charlie's efforts to land a wealthy bride for his son at a fundraiser, Vinnie's attempt to be champion boxer, and Al's revenge after losing his TV in a bet. Watch for future film favorite Renee Zellwegger in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
An Inconvenient Woman, an excellent television mini-series based on the novel by Dominick Dunne, which is loosely based on the Alfred Bloomingdale scandal, tells the story of the mistress of a famous man who he has murdered when she threatens his security. Jules Mendelson (Jason Robards) and his socialite wife Pauline (Jill Eikenberry) have a marriage of convenience that is threatened by the existence of Jules cast-off mistress Flo (Rebecca De Mornay) who knows too much and can cause them all too much trouble. So, Jules plans to have her eliminated. The fine cast all give good performances in their roles, and the subject matter, while potentially lurid and tasteless, is treated with sophistication and tact in this excellent adaptation of the best-selling novel. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- 1990
Not so much a sequel to the John Sayles-scripted Alligator as a shoddy remake, this sophomoric low-budget effort plays like a bad TV movie about a swamp-dwelling alligator mutated to monstrous size by toxic waste, munching on the screaming residents of a lakefront community. The naughty polluter who caused this mutation is the property developer himself (Steve Railsback, playing such a cookie-cutter villain that he might as well have a "BAD GUY" sign around his neck). An embarrassed Joseph Bologna plays the cop investigating the mutilation murders; an equally-ashamed Dee Wallace Stone plays the scientist assisting him, who is conveniently married to him as well. In an attempt to remedy the situation, a big-game hunter (Richard Lynch) is called in to bag the beast. When his efforts fail, it's left to Bologna to pick up the pieces -- literally -- and take charge of the situation when the big reptile decides to take in the grand opening of the local amusement park. From a nonsensical script to cheesy special effects that make the beast look like a pool toy, this film shows none of the cynical charm and sly wit that made Alligator so enjoyable. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joseph Bologna, Woody Brown, (more)
- 1989
In this black comedy, a wealthy but flaky family tries to deal with their lives after their bizarre father suffers a fatal heart-attack on Thanksgiving and falls face first into the turkey. Now the family must somehow get their act together enough to pay bills and make funeral arrangements. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1989
In this crime drama, a NYPD detective looks into the deaths of several policewomen and discovers that she is to be the killer's next victim. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1989
Actress Theda Blau is well on the wrong side of forty, but she's gamely pretending to be thirty. Though it's hard to believe, she nonetheless manages enough of the ancient siren's song to get a middle-aged producer of TV commercials to come back to her apartment with her. She gets him to stay by "accidentally" spilling water on him - but she's not trying to get him into bed. Her game is to get him to stick around long enough to read the screenplay she's written, and maybe (just maybe) decide that he's good for more than just making commercials. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Renée Taylor, Joseph Bologna, (more)
- 1987
In this TV pilot, millionaire Nick Foley adopts six little orphan girls who prove to be much more of a challenge than he bargained for. This stars Joseph Bologna as Foley. ~ Rovi
- 1987
A malevolent toy tycoon threatens the happiness of a teen android and his inventor. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- 1986
This drama is based on the true story of a housewife who becomes a helicopter pilot for the US Army after her husband suffers a massive coronary. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1985
This campy drama, set in the 1940s, was inspired by a hit song by Barry Manilow. It tells the tale of an aspiring songwriter, Lola, a showgirl, and the sleazy owner of the Copa. Tragedy ensues as the two men duel over Lola's love. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1984
This HBO TV special presents a live performance of the popular improvisational comedian who does some of his most popular improves from Saturday Night Live. He also does impressions of Frank Sinatra singing in a heavy-metal band, and a parody of Michael Jackson's Thriller in which the undead arising from the graves are all clones of Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1983
In this lightweight made-for-television domestic comedy, a beautiful divorcee, who got the house and the kids, finds herself allowing her husband and his ditzy young fiancee to stay with them after he gets into financial dire straits. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1980
Jill Robinson's Bed-Time-Story, inspired by actual events, was the source for the made-for-TV A Cry for Love. Divorcee Susan Blakely, with no alimony and two kids to support, begins turning to amphetamines. While at her lowest ebb, she meets Powers Boothe, an alcoholic and three-time loser in marriage--who, incredibly, turns out to be the ideal man for her! Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor were the guiding hands behind the Cry For Love teleplay. The film debuted on October 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Lee Remick is Torn Between Two Lovers in this made-for-TV romantic drama. Happily married to Joseph Bologna, Remick becomes involved with handsome architect George Peppard after a chance meeting in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Halfway down the cast list is Second City TV regular Andrea Martin in the role of Remick's buttinsky sister-in-law. The film's title was inspired by Peter Yarrow and Philip Jarrell's syrupy 1970s song hit of the same name. Representing the third TV-movie collaboration between actress Lee Remick and director Delbert Mann, Torn Between Two Lovers debuted May 2, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna cowrote as well as starred in this 1976 TV remake of the 1941 Tracy-Hepburn vehicle Woman of the Year. Except for a handful of updated details, the storyline is substantially the same in both versions: A down-to-earth male sportswriter (Bologna, in the Spencer Tracy part) marries a high-profile female international news commentator (Taylor, in the Katharine Hepburn part). In fine "golden age" tradition, the stars are complemented with an excellent supporting cast, including Richard Bakalyan as a punch-drunk bartender, Leon Belasco as a refugee Russian musician and John Fiedler as a justice of the peace. Only Anthony Holland's swishy male secretary strikes a discordant note. The remake's "reconciliation" finale wisely avoids the ponderous, sexist slapstick setpiece at the end of the original film, wherein Katharine Hepburn nearly destroys her kitchen by cooking her first breakfast. A surefire audience pleaser, Woman of the Year was curiously premiered in July of 1976, a time when most potential viewers were out of the house. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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