Larry Brandenburg

Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is reunited with his former father-in-law Dwight Ellison (Bob Gunton), the producer of the popular TV game show "Treasure Chest." Convinced that the game's current champion Val Birch (Larry Brandenberg) is cheating, Ellison asks Monk to investigate. The solution to the mystery rests in the fact that "Treasure Chest" host Roddy Lankman (John Michael Higgins) has recently murdered his personal assistant--but Monk will only be able to crack the case if he becomes a contestant himself. This episode introduces Jarrad Paul as Monk's obnoxious upstairs neighbor Kevin Dorfman, and, in a flashback sequence, Melora Hardin as Monk's late wife Trudy (a role previously essayed by Stella Rusich). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Angel of Death Andrew (John Dye) is unhappy about his latest assignment, which requires him to "collect" young Ben Mason, the last member of a venerable Virginia family, on Ben's wedding day. As his Heavenly predecessor Adam (former series regular Charles Rocket) listens sympathetically, Andrew relates Ben's family history, which is intewoven with an old inn called "Sign of the Dove", once a major link of the Civil War-era Underground Railroad. Meanwhile, Andrew's fellow angel Monica (Roma Downey) tries to talk Nicholas Freeman (Richard Lawson) out of committing suicide--an assignment that turns out to be connected with the foredoomed Ben Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Recovering alcoholic Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) takes a personal interest in the case of hard-drinking Detective Mike Walsh (Larry Brandenberg), who is mixed up in a shooting at a bar. Walsh also becomes the center of a turf battle between Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) and the skipper of the 27th precinct. And while assisting in an investigation, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) exhibits more symptoms of an illness more serious than a mere respiratory ailment. Visiting the doctor, Bobby is hit with a bombshell when he is diagnosed with an enlarged heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Drew (Drew Carey) plans to make his proposal to Nicki official when he meets her parents (Barry Corbin, Anne Francis); unfortunately, Nicki is unable to show up. A bad situation proceeds to get worse when the parents blame Drew for Nicki's enormous weight gain--then begin sniping at each other for the failures in their own marriage! Meanwhile, a neurotic Lewis (Ryan Stiles) creates a roadblock in the romance between Kate (Christa Miller) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmmaking siblings Joel Coen and Ethan Coen both embraced and poked satirical fun at their rural Minnesota roots with this comedy-drama-thriller that earned seven Oscar nominations, winning for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. Frances McDormand stars as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief whose affable, folksy demeanor masks a whip-smart mind. When a pair of motorists are found slain not far from the corpse of a state trooper, Marge begins piecing together a case involving a pair of dopey would-be kidnappers, Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Bergman stock player Peter Stormare). They've been hired by Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman under the thumb of his wealthy, overbearing boss and father-in-law, Wade (Harve Presnell). Jerry's raised some money illegally through a petty scam he's run on General Motors and he's about to get caught. When Wade sours a business deal that could save his son-in-law's hide, the desperate Jerry hires Carl and Gaear to kidnap his wife and hold her for ransom. Things go predictably wrong and a series of murders occur, with Marge, waddling along behind her enormous belly and ever-hungering for an all-you-can-eat buffet, hot on the trail of the killers. Although the credits for Fargo state that the film is loosely based on real events, the story is entirely fictional, the claim being just an ironic jibe on the part of the Coens. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double murder, even though he stubbornly proclaims his innocence. He's sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison in Maine, where another lifer, Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), picks him as the new recruit most likely to crack under the pressure. The ugly realities of prison life are quickly introduced to Andy: a corrupt warden (Bob Gunton), sadistic guards led by Capt. Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown), and inmates who are little better than animals, willing to use rape or beatings to insure their dominance. But Andy does not crack: he has the hope of the truly innocent, which (together with his smarts) allow him to prevail behind bars. He uses his banking skills to win favor with the warden and the guards, doing the books for Norton's illegal business schemes and keeping an eye on the investments of most of the prison staff. In exchange, he is able to improve the prison library and bring some dignity and respect back to many of the inmates, including Red. Based on a story by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption was the directorial debut of screenwriter Frank Darabont. ~ Mark Deming, 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

Small-time crook Johnny Stewart (Damon Wayans) decides to go straight to win a beautiful girl (Stacey Dash), and to prove it, he joins the mailroom of the credit-card firm for which she works. Needing money to impress her, Johnny steals a credit card, goes on a shopping spree and wins the girl. The story isn't over though, because a security guard who caught his theft on videotape is blackmailing Stewart to join his own credit-card ring. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

William Petersen's High Horse Films produced this romantic comedy that endeavors to recall the glory days of Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Petersen stars as Joey Coalter, a roving adventurer who has been married to his wife Chris (Sissy Spacek) for almost thirteen years but has rarely been home. During that time Chris has become fed up with Joey's cavalier ways. But it comes as a complete shock to Joey when, while talking to a group of cowpokes about Tahitian women somewhere on the prairie, he receives a wedding invitation sent by his daughter Beth (Olivia Burnette) that announces the wedding of Chris to dull business man Walter Humphrey (Brian Kerwin). Beth hopes the surprise wedding invitation will prod Joey to try to get back together with Chris. Chris hopes so too, as Joey drops what he is doing and takes off to stop Chris's pending nuptials. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Based on a true events, this is the story of Charles Stuart, who claimed that a robber had shot him and killed his pregnant wife. Needless to say, the investigation started turning up some pieces that just didn't fit into this puzzle. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

When a washed-up boxer (Roger Daltrey) invites a British priest (Dennis Waterman) to minister in his South Chicago neighborhood, he never suspects that the priest is not who he says he is. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide