Tom Anderson Movies

It is bad enough when the insufferable Miller Stanfield (Christopher Rich) wins the Humboldt Award for a story which the "FYI" staff had labored on to save Miller's behind. It's even worse when the clueless Miller displays a mile-long streak of ingratitude, acting as though he and he alone was responsible for his success. Curiously, Murphy (Candice Bergen) makes no move to exact vengeance upon Miller--at least not right away! Edwin Newman makes a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although Cheers had dropped from first to eighth place in the ratings from 1990 to 1992, its 11th and final season still enjoyed a very healthy viewership; in fact, its closing episode ranks as the fourth highest-rated series finale in TV history. Highlighting the show's climactic season was the new design for Cheers (necessitated by a fire precipitated by a chain-smoking Rebecca [Kirstie Alley]); the breakup of the marriage of Frasier and Lilith Crane (Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth); the election of newly-married Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) to Boston's city council; and the very last scene of the very last show, in which the garrulous Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) finally revealed the meaning of life: "Shoes." The biggest event of season eleven was, of course, the long-awaited return of former series regular Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, which occurred during the aforementioned two-hour finale (actually 90 minutes if one discounts the series retrospective that ran just before the episode, itself). Now a successful TV writer, Diane was invited back to Boston by Sam Ted Danson, whereupon they both spun tall tales about their nonexistent happy marriages before coming to the realization that they were still very much in love. Once again, Sam proposed; once again, Diane accepted; and once again, the marriage never came off, prompting Sam to close Cheers permanently. While the bar's customers and crew pondered over their futures, the audience was assured that least one of the regulars, Frasier, would be headlining his own sitcom come September. Going out in a blaze of glory, Cheers won the last of its multitude of Emmy awards. On this occasion, the statuettes went to Danson (for the second time) and film editor Robert Bramwell, who had assembled the valedictory episode "One for the Road." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) catches Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) in the act of planting a passionate kiss upon her favorite male psychologist. Unfortunately, the man isn't Lilith's husband Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), but instead her esteemed colleague Dr. Louis Pascal. Meanwhile, a rowdy group of customers prompts Sam (Ted Danson) to hire a bouncer named Tiny (Don Gibb). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season ten of Cheers picks up where season nine left off, with Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) agreeing to be the mother of the baby dearly coveted by Sam (Ted Danson). First, however, the couple has to conceive the child, and for this they turn to the Drs. Crane -- Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) -- for advice. Not surprisingly, both Sam and Rebecca are given separate and radically different carnal guidelines. Back at Cheers, Woody (Woody Harrelson) takes on a group of particularly offensive tobacco addicts. With this episode, former recurring actor Bebe Neuwirth becomes a regular in the role of Lilith Sternin-Crane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Georgia Brown returns as Carla's spiritual mentor, flamboyant parapsychic Madame Lazora. The bad news is that Lazora wants to retire from the business; the worse news is that she wants Carla (Rhea Perlman) to be her successor. Meanwhile, Woody (Woody Harrelson) is crushed by a bad review for his latest theatrical endeavor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Picking up where season nine left off, the tenth season of Cheers began with Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) reluctantly agreeing to be the mother of Sam Malone's (Ted Danson) child. Romance did not enter into the picture: Both Rebecca and Sam were responding to the incessant ticking of their respective biological clocks. Ultimately, the consummation never came off, and the two agreed to stay friends, and friends only. Having spent several seasons as a recurring character, Lilith Sternin-Crane (played by Emmy-winner Bebe Neuwirth) was elevated to "also starring" status, although she still did not appear in every episode. Meanwhile, Lilith's husband, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), finally grew the beard that would remain his trademark until the series finally breathed its last. Season ten concluded with the series' first hour-long episode, in which Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson) were married. The event was deemed worthy of a TV Guide cover -- and it certainly did not disappoint, filled as it was with such last-minute complications as a dead minister and a gun-wielding jealous husband. Having attained the number one slot during its previous season, Cheers dropped back to fourth place, tied with ABC's Home Improvement. For the first time since the series debuted in 1982, Cheers was not honored with an Emmy, although it earned eight nominations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season nine of Cheers picked up where the eighth had left off, with Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) poised to consummate their newfound romance on the couch in Sam's office. "Interruptus" came in the form of Rebecca's billionaire boyfriend Robin Colcord (Roger Rees), now on the lam from the law for illegal stock trading. Gradually, Sam came to realize that his relationship with Rebecca was not to be -- although upon agreeing to marry the newly-released Robin, Rebecca developed an acute case of cold feet at the very last minute, leaving her technically free for a unique "business arrangement" dreamed up by Sam. Elsewhere, Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) continued juggling careers as a bartender and actor, and also persisted in his romantic relationship with wealthy Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson), despite the interference of Kelly's amorous French acquaintance Henri (Anthony Cistaro). Sam Malone likewise had a new nemesis in the form of the imperious John Hill (Keene Curtis), landlord of the building housing Cheers and the owner of the posh restaurant Melville's, which occupied the building's second floor. After babysitting for new parents Frasier and Lilith Crane (Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth), a profoundly affected Sam decided that he, too, would like to be a father. It so happened that he had also selected the perfect mother for his child: Rebecca. And on this discordant note, season nine came to a close. This was the year that Cheers finally graduated to number one in the ratings, enjoying a 21.3 share. It also earned four more Emmys -- Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Direction (James Burrows), Outstanding Lead Actress (Kirstie Alley), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (the second such honor for Bebe Neuwirth) -- not to mention nominations in nine other categories. And finally, this was the year that former series regular Shelley Long returned -- albeit briefly, and at a considerable distance from her former co-stars -- during an NBC special celebrating Cheers' 200th episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cliff (John Ratzenberger) is none too thrilled when his mother (Frances Sternhagen) pays an extended visit. Making matters worse, Mom takes a shine to Woody (Woody Harrelson), virtually adopting the affable bartender as "the son I never had." Back at Cheers, the gang tangles with some construction workers, and Norm (George Wendt) gets stuck in a barred window. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of Cheers' two-part season-eight finale, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is crushed to learn that her megamillionaire boyfriend Robin (Roger Rees) has been using her to get insider-trading information. Hoping to get Rebecca on the rebound, Sam (Ted Danson) advises her to turn Robin into the authorities. But Robin throws another spanner in the works by proposing to Rebecca. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Aspiring actor Woody (Woody Harrelson) lands his first starring role in a stage revival of Our Town. The prospect of making love to the production's Emily Webb (played by a pre-Friends Lisa Kudrow) has Woody nervous -- and his girl friend Kelly (Jackie Swanson) fuming. Meanwhile, the guys at Cheers wager on who can grow the longest beard. Fans of Kelsey Grammer's later series will be amused by a reference to the "late" father of Frasier Crane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This children's movie is set in sunny Key West during a Fourth of July celebration. Three buddies sneak off to their secret fort and to their surprise discover a Russian sailor hiding there. He is Mischa, who with two shipmates was assigned to sneak into the town military base to steal certain computer parts. Unfortunately, a rafting accident left him stranded and alone. The boys eventually decide to help poor Mischa make it back to his home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

While the story behind the 1984 documentary Ossian: American Boy--Tibetan Monk may seem farfetched to Western audiences, it is not that uncommon--save for the nationality of the principal character. When we first meet Ossian, he is all of four years old, but already anointed by his devoutly Buddhist parents as a candidate for monkhood. The film shows Ossian's initiation into the order, counterbalanced with shots of this otherwise very typical American kid. The practice of consigning very young children to a lifetime of service to Buddha has come under fire in recent years, making Ossian all the more timely. Clocking in at 28 minutes, the film has been a frequent visitor to Public TV stations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide