William Asher Movies

In addition to highlighting some of Lucille Ball's funniest TV moments, Lucy's Lost Episodes includes various commercial endorsements and appearances, as well as providing information on her contribution to charities. The actress herself was very much involved with making a difference in the lives of those afflicted with cerebral palsy and debilitating heart conditions. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

The "movers and shakers" in this weak comedy limned by Charles Grodin do not refer to a religious sect, but the big-wigs in Hollywood who determine how the next many millions are to be spent. Two parallel stories occupy center stage. On the one hand, Joe Mulholland (Walter Matthau) has made a promise to a dying producer that he would put together a film on "Love in Sex." The problem is that there is no script to go with that title -- a minor hurdle by Hollywood standards. On the other hand, Herb Derman (Grodin) is hired to make up the story, but he is neck-deep in marriage woes and will have a hard time holding down his personal life long enough to write. Mixed into both of these tales are parodies of behind-the-scenes Hollywood at its worst. These scenarios are helped along by a fine cast of actors and actresses. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Billy (Jimmy McNichol, Kristy's younger brother) knows something is wrong when he comes home and finds that his batty, sexually repressed Aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell in a stellar performance), has ruthlessly murdered the TV repairman -- not because he was inept or overcharged, but because she was overcharged and he managed to resist her advances. A gay-bashing detective (Bo Svenson) ignores the bare facts and single-mindedly plans to pin the murder on Billy for hanging out with a sexually suspect basketball coach. Meanwhile, Aunt Cheryl is doing everything to keep her little Billy at home (she has raised him since his parents were killed in a blazing car accident when he was 14 and does not want him to leave for college), even going to the trouble of lacing his milk with sickening substances so he is not well enough to go out. She also undermines his big game when the basketball scouts will be recruiting for college teams and manages to cause the gory disappearance of most of the cast members before the final scene plays out and an interesting identity is revealed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Sporting narration and a theme song by country legend Waylon Jennings and starring Tom Wopat and John Schneider as Luke Duke and Bo Duke, The Dukes of Hazzard was a hit throughout its six-year run in the late '70s and early '80s. Also featuring Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke, the show showcased the ongoing adventures of the Duke brothers as they attempted to avoid the crooked local law enforcement and the sleazy Boss Hogg. Originally airing on October 19, 1979, Dukes of Hazzard: Road Pirates finds the "good ol' boys" and their pal, Cletus, trying to clear their names after being framed for stealing a truckload of TVs. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Carmine Ciardi appears as Al Sharples, the brother of diner owner Mel and an old flame of waitress Flo (Polly Holliday). Despite the fact that both of them are "three time losers" in the field of matrimony, Al and Flo decide to get married. Not only does this throw the diner into an uproar, but it doesn't do much good for the ego of Flo's current "steady" Bubba (Lou Frizzell). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The inimitable Martha Raye makes her first series appearance as Carrie Sharples, the overbearing mother of diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback). Having figured that he'd escaped his mom's clutches year earlier, Mel learns to his dismay that Carrie intends to spend the entire winter in Phoenix. Will Mel be able to withstand Carrie's verbal slings and arrows--or will he stand up to her at long last? (Trivia note: Alice's boyfriend in this episode, identified as "Greg Lawrence", was known as "Greg Stemple" in most of his appearances). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Mel (Vic Tayback) has come to regreat his decision to sell his diner to the imperious Randolph Briggs (Hans Conried), but unfortuantely Briggs refuses to sell it back. Also in a regretful mood is Alice (Linda Lavin), whose apartment has become the location for Mel's new restaurant. In order to get Mel out of her hair and back behind his own company, Alice must resort to a disguise--and soon shows up at the old diner as a very contrary senior citizen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Forrest Tucker guest stars as Edsel Jarvis Castleberry, the long-absent father of hardbitten waitress Flo (Polly Holliday). Now sorry that he deserted his family thirty years earlier, Edsel hopes to patch things up with his daughter. But Flo wants nothing to do with the old man, obliging Alice (Linda Lavin) to step into the role of peacemaker. This is the final episode of Alice's third season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Desi Arnaz and Janis Paige respectively guest-star as a philandering Cuban photographer and his long-suffering wife. When the photographer makes a play for Alice (Linda Lavin), his wife jumps to the erroneous conclusion that our heroine is the latest "other woman." It falls to Alice to act as counselor between the tempestuous couple. (Factoid: Alice was at this time produced by Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, who had previously spent several lucrative years in the employ of Desi Arnaz as head writers of I Love Lucy). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Someone has been stealing food from the diner--and even worse, someone has also been making expensive long-distance calls to New Jersey on Mel's phone. Suspecting everyone, Mel (Vic Tayback) summons the staff to the storeroom for a showdown. What he gets instead is a close encounter of the worst kind when the door snaps shut and everyone is locked in! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

While Mel (Vic Tayback) takes a snooze in the storeroom, Alice (Linda Lavin) is left alone to man (or woman) the counter on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, this is the same evening that the diner is visited by a nervous young man with a gun in his hand and larceny in his heart. The holdup man is placed by Steve Franken, best remembered as the pompous "Chatsworth Osborne Jr." on Dobie Gillis; and seen in the role of Milo is Jim Varney, several years before he gained national fame as his goonish alter ego "Ernest P. Worrall". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Once again, Alice (Linda Lavin) finds a second job in a show-business vein; this time, she is hired to deliver singing telegrams. And once again, Alice's moonlighting takes a toll on her regular job at Mel's Diner; this time, she shows up for work four hours late. The episode's highlight is Alice's excuse for her tardiness, a tissue of lies that isn't to be sneezed at! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi