Jason Wingreen Movies

A band of gorgeous models has turned crooked, using their sexual wiles--and a powerful "knockout" drug--to rob gullible men of their valuables. When one of the girls' victims turns up dead, Hunter (Fred Dryer) swings into action. Meanwhile, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) goes undercover as a model--only to end up as a hostage thanks to the effusive stupidity of street hustler Sporty James (Garrett Morris. Yes, that's a pre-ER George Clooney in the role of Matthew Adler. ~ 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

Having agreed to submit to a genetic research project headed by Dr. Paul Flynn (Lane Smith), cancer victim Cindy Oliver (Kate Linder) leaves Flynn's hospital--and promptly dies. Soon thereafter, several other people who'd come in contact with Cindy also turn up dead. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) comes to the sobering conclusion that Dr. Flynn's experimental cancer-cure serum has spawned a mutant respiratory virus--which is not only fatal, but may also be unstoppable. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much to Archie's discomfort, Edith insists upon rehearsing day and night for her singing duet with Stephanie at the annual PTA show. The night of the performance, Edith suffers from laryngitis. Reluctantly, and inevitably, Archie agrees to take Edith's place, making a musical debut that is truly one for the books. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "A Night at the PTA" first aired on January 7, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The phenomenal success of the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots all but demanded a sequel to writer Alex Haley's epic story of his African and African-American forebears. Debuting February 18, 1979, Roots: The Next Generations picked up where its predecessor left off, with Haley's slave ancestors winning their freedom in the aftermath of the Civil War. Even so, life for black Americans was wrought with hardship and oppression thanks to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the staunch refusal of the white power structure to pass anti-lynching laws, and the formation of the dreaded Jim Crow laws which legalized racial segregation in the South (and much of the North). Covering the period from 1882 to the mid-1970s, the miniseries first focuses on blacksmith Tom Harvey (Georg Stanford Brown), great-grandson of Kunta Kinte (the protagonist of the original Roots), and his family. Meanwhile, reacting to the marriage of his son to a black woman, anal-retentive Southern colonel Warner (Henry Fonda) begins setting the legal wheels in motion to deny blacks like Tom the right to vote and to hold "white" jobs. A few decades later, Tom's son-in-law encourages his fellow blacks to stand firm against the KKK's reign of terror. His labors on behalf of his race are rewarded when his daughter Bertha (Irene Cara) becomes the first descendant of Kunta Kinte to receive a college education. It is Bertha Palmer who weds the equally ambitious Simon Haley (Dorian Harewood), who goes on to serve in WWI and to organize farmers and sharecroppers during the Depression. Simon's son Alex (played at various ages by Kristoff St. John, Damon Evans, and finally James Earl Jones) is just as determined to succeed in a white man's world as his father, and to that end becomes a professional writer after his own service stint in the Coast Guard during WWII. At the height of his professional success (largely due to his having ghost-written the autobiography of Muslim activist Malcolm X), Alex Haley pays a visit to his boyhood hometown -- where, almost by accident, he receives the first clue to his heritage, a clue that will lead him on an odyssey of self-discovery, arriving full circle at Kunta Kinte's birthplace in Africa. Although the miniseries' "money scene" was Haley's nervous interview with American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell (Marlon Brando in a superb cameo turn), the climactic episode, in which Haley tearfully embraces the living African descendants of Kunta Kinte, is one of the most unforgettable moments in the history of network television. Running 12 episodes and 14 hours, Roots: The Next Generations concluded on February 25, 1979, playing to huge ratings all along the way and ultimately garnering several Emmy nominations (and one win). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Archie is shocked to discover that the new waitress hired by Harry is none other than Denise (Janis Paige), the woman with whom Archie nearly had an extramarital fling back in 1976. Unfortunately, Edith also learns that Denise is back in the neighborhood. Inevitably, the two women in Archie's life have a showdown -- with surprising and surprisingly touching results. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Phil Sharp, "The Return of the Waitress" was first broadcast on November 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Made for television, this little gem was based on a novel by Patrick Anderson. The title character, the sister of a government courier, barely has time to acquaint herself with the audience before she is murdered - leading us to wonder who did it, and if it is, in fact, true that the dead woman was a Soviet spy. Beau Bridges, Karen Grassle, Susan Blanchard, Larry Hagman, Don Porter and Gail Strickland are among those present. The President's Mistress was "World Premiered" on February 10, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Mckenzie guest stars as Archie's long-estranged brother, Alfred Bunker. After 29 years, Alfred pays a visit to Archie, hoping to patch up their differences before Alfred undergoes radical surgery. An already tense situation is made even more so by a mysterious letter from Alfred, which Archie is told not to open until his brother leaves. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, "Archie's Brother" originally aired on February 26, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Estelle Parsons appears as Blanche, the "straying" wife of Archie's pal, Barney Hefner. When Blanche throws Barney over in favor of an electrician, Barney drowns his sorrows at Archie's bar. Realizing that Barney's self-pity is driving away customers, Archie enlists Edith's aid in bringing the Hefners back together. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Phil Sharp, "Reunion on Hauser Street" first aired on October 8, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much to his dismay, Quincy (Jack Klugman) finds himself at odds with his friend and mentor Dr. Herbert Stone (Barry Sullivan) at a coroner's inquest. At stake is a huge insurance settlement, which will be decided only after the identity of a charred corpse is firmly established. Called in as an expert witness, Dr. Stone insists that the dead man is indeed a wealthy businessman, who has apparently died in a fire. But Quincy is unconvinced that the businessman was the victim, or even that he's actually dead--and worse, he suspects that Stone has "sold out" to the dead man's greedy family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

All in the Family launched its eighth season on October 2, 1977 (and moved from Saturday to Sunday evening in the process), with the extra-length "transitional" episode "Archie Gets the Business." Tired of working for wages, Archie yearns to fulfill his longtime dream of purchasing Kelcey's Bar. Of course, there's a little matter of collateral, but Archie is certain that Edith will agree to his plan of signing over their mortgage as a security. Unfortunately, Edith doesn't agree -- and that's why Archie ends up forging her name. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, the 60-minute "Archie Gets the Business" has since been re-edited into two 30-minute episodes for syndication purposes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Archie's dependency upon "pep pills" -- brought about by the pressures of owning a bar -- has gotten completely out of hand. Fortunately, he is able to make a complete withdrawl from amphetatimes; unfortunately, this "cold turkey" approach has left him utterly depressed and defeated. Saving the day is Archie's down-to-earth bartender, Harry. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine in collaboration with medical consultant William C. Rader, M.D., part two of "Archie's Bitter Pill" first aired on November 13, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide