Burt Brinckerhoff Movies
- 1998
Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) find young Lydia (Alanna Ubach), a talented artist from a wealthy family, living in squalor and addicted to crack cocaine. Despite the best efforts by Lydia's father Bill (Dan Lauria) and new stepmother Margaret (Mary-Joan Negro), the girl makes no effort to clean up her act, and in fact becomes more drug-dependent the harder her parents try. Finally, Tess, posing as a drug counselor, tersely advises Bill and Margaret to start practicing "tough love"--in other words, to be cruel in order to be kind. But when Lydia surpasses her previous misdeeds by kidnapping a newborn baby, it looks like even Tess has failed! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Following orders from Above, Tess (Della Reese) takes her driver's-license examination, only to end up as accessory to a crime! Tess' driving instructor Doris (Lainie Kazan) interrupts the lesson long enough to stop at the funeral of her married lover--and to steal the man's ashes. Commanding Tess to drive off at breakneck speed in the direction of Pismo Beach, Doris is hotly pursued by the dead man's outraged widow Stella (Polly Bergen), who shares a ride with a patrol-car driver who looks a lot like Tess' fellow angel Andrew (John Dye). It is up to Tess, Andrew and Monica (Roma Downey)--posing as the proprietor of a beachside hamburger stand--to persuade Doris to let go of her obsession with her philandering sweetheart, and to help Stella to find forgiveness in her heart. Guest star Lainie Kazan sings "We Live On Borrowed Time". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) guest stars as pregnant teenager Cassie Peters. At first willing to give up her baby daughter for adoption, Cassie abruptly changes her mind and runs away with the child, breaking the hearts of adoptive couple Lydia and Ben Feldman (Murphy Cross, Michael Flynn). Assigned to watch over Cassie and her daughter, Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) are told by Angel of Death Adam (Charles Rocket) that the baby is seriously ill--and that Cassie must decide for herself what is best for the child, without heavenly intervention. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Fed up with being at the mercy of school bully Razor (David Kriegel), Ben (Jeremy Miller) signs up for karate lessons. Alas, his self-confidence is dealt a fatal blow when he is bested in an impromptu karate session--by his own mother Maggie (Joanna Kerns). Tracey Gold (Carol) does not appear in this episode, which is highlighted by a looney "chop-socky" movie parody. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
On the occasion of his birthday party, Luke (Leonardo DiCaprio) is allow to invite his homeless pal Barney (Jim Bentley), the self-described "only honest three-card monte player" in the world. Unfortunately, Barney's honesty fails him when he steals a valuable Seaver family memento. This is the first of several episodes in which series regular Tracey Gold does not appear, due to her well-publicized medical problems (it is explained that Gold's character, Carol Seaver, is in London studying at the British Museum). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke) find it impossible to force Luke to honor his curfew, especially after the boy takes a job at a restaurant owned by a party-animal biker. Thus, the Seavers place Mike (Kirk Cameron) in charge of Luke, holding him totally responsible for the kid's behavior. Though he makes a valiant effort to honor his "parental" responsibilites, Mike finds himself in hot water when Luke breaks curfew once again--when he's supposed to be grounded! Elsewhere, Ben tries to find out if Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) truly has psychic powers. Tracey Gold (Carol) does not appear in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
The made-for-TV Jailbirds is a distaff comedy variation on The Defiant Ones. Phylicia Rashad plays an important LA business executive, while Dyan Cannon portrays a trailer-trash babe from Louisiana. Both Rashad and Cannon are thrown into a dank Southern jail for crimes they didn't commit. While manacled together, the ladies escape, driving each other cuckoo as they elude their captors. Apparently, CBS had so little faith in Jailbirds that the network hardly bothered to advertise the film went it premiered May 16, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Gordon Jump makes a return appearance as Maggie Seavers' father Ed Malone--or rather, as the late Ed's ghost. This spectral visitation occurs when Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and the rest of the Seavers pay a visit to her childhood home, which her widowed mother Kate (Betty McGuire) plans to sell. Naturally, each bit of furniture and bric-a-brac arouses a memory for Maggie...and also makes her acutely aware that a benevolent spirit is watching over her every move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Adapted from Gene Stratton-Porter's novel, the story of an Indiana farmgirl growing up with her widowed mother. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Cassidy, Heather Fairfield, (more)
- 1989
Willie (Max Wright) brings his new coworker Jim (Todd Susman) home for dinner, whereupon Jim makes a nuisance of himself. The visitor then tops off the evening by letting slip that he is in the Witness Protection Program. This sends ALF into a frenzy of terror, convinced that mobsters will soon be descending upon the Tanner household! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The made-for-TV It Nearly Wasn't Christmas stars Charles Durning as the one and only Santa Claus--a role for which Durning evidently required no padding. The plot would have us believe that Santa is on the verge of cancelling Christmas (didn't know he could do that). The reasons are the usual: the holiday has become too commercialized, and people have become too self-centered. Santa's faith in humanity is renewed by a little girl (Risa Schiffman), who hopes that the Holiday spirit will be instrumental in reuniting her estranged parents. It Nearly Wasn't Christmas was syndicated to local TV outlets during the week of December 16, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
While perusing the latest issue of "National Inquisitor", ALF comes across an article about a couple named Susla, living in Barstow. The couple claims to be living with a small, furry alien who likes to eat cats. ALF is beside himself with delight and eager anticipation: If what the article says is true, he has finally located his long-lost Melmaccian cousin Blinky! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
After watching home movies of Willie (Max Wright) and Kate (Anne Scheeden) at Woodstock, ALF accuses Willie of "selling out" to the Establishment. This sets up a dream (or is it nightmare?) sequence in which Willie goes back to his days as a long-haired radical college student--with ALF as his party-animal roommate. As icing on the cake, Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek (John LaMotta, Liz Sheridan), show up as their younger selves, "Mr. and Mrs. Big Daddy." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
ALF purchase a mail-order ventriloquist's dummy, which he christens "Paul" (as in Paul Fusco?) Of course, ALF hopes to become a expert voice-thrower--but as it turns out, "Paul" exerts a demonic power upon ALF and completely takes over his personality! In hopes of reversing this Twilight Zone-ish situation, Willie (Max Wright) solicits the aid of Larry the psychologist (Bill Daily. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Having long subscribed to a philosophy of pacifism, Willie Tanner (Max Wright) tries to reason with Mr. Duncan (Martin Doyle), the father of the schoolyard bully who has been picking on Brian (Benji Gregory). But when Duncan proves to be an even bigger bully than his kid, Willie is spoiling for a fight. Obligingly, self-appointed trainer ALF offers his services to whip "Boom Boom" Tanner into shape for the inevitable fistic showdown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In ALF's most offbeat episode, the obstreperous little alien subs for Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. It doesn't take long for ALF to alienate Johnny's announcer Ed McMahon and Tommy Newsom, but the "fun" really begins when he matches wits with guests Joan Embery, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Rich Little. All these shenanigans serve as clever method to present a "clip" show comprised of highlights from past ALF episodes. Originally telecast as a one-hour special, "Tonight, Tonight" has since been edited into two half-hours for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Josh Blake joins the cast as Jake, the troubled 15-year-old nephew of Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek (John LaMotta, Liz Sheridan). The son of a jailbird and a klepto, Jake upholds family tradition when he breaks into the Tanners' garage. Here he meets and befriends ALF, who has at last found a kindred spirit: Another misunderstood misfit, far from home. And besides, Jake proves most handy in repairing everything ALF breaks--and that's plenty! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
When Willie (Max Wright) is obliged to go on strike, Kate (Anne Scheeden) goes back to work to keep food on the Tanners' table. ALF is upset by Willie's ineptitude as a "Mr. Mom" and does everything he can to persuade Kate to return. But as it turns out, Kate is slated to lose her job anyway, and for the same reason she was forced to stop work earlier in her life: she's going to have a baby! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
ALF finally steps over the line when, after promising Lynn (Andrea Elson) that he wouldn't tell anyone about her new boyfriend, he lets slip the secret within earshot of Lynn's parents. Now the girl refuses to talk to him--forcing ALF to summon up his alien "skills" (whatever they are) to get back into her good graces. Michael Des Barres, best known to MacGyver fans for his recurring role as the villainous Murdoc, appears in this episode as Eddie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Legendary tough-guy actor Elisha Cook Jr. appears as Uncle Albert, Willie's least favorite relative. Paying a visit to the Tanners, the irascible Albert insists that he's undergone a character transformation and is now a sweetheart. But no one will ever know if this is true: After taking one look at ALF, Albert drops dead of a heart attack! All of this has a remarkable effect on ALF, who, though he's perpetrated a lot of mischief in the past, has up until now never actually killed anyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
It shouldn't be surprising that ALF's version of It's a Wonderful Life would take a few delightfully perverse twists along the way. Rendered unconscious by a bump on the head, ALF is visited by his fairy godfather Bob (Joseph Maher) shows him what life would have been like for the Tanners had the hairy little alien never crash-landed in their backyard. But ALF is no George Bailey, and Bob is no Clarence: It turns out that everyone would have been better off if ALF had landed somewhere else! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
This episode was clearly inspired by the movie megahit Raiders of the Lost Ark--and as such constitutes an elaborate inside joke, referencing the fact that series star Tom Selleck had been forced to relinquish the role of Indiana Jones to Harrison Ford. The plot begins to snowball when Higgins (John Hillerman) dispatches Magnum (Selleck) to locate the "Lost Art of the Ancients" before the scroll's secrets can be put to bad use. Along the way, our hero has a few close (and strangely familiar) encounters with a feisty former girlfirend (Margaret Colin, who later costarred with Selleck in Three Men and a Baby), a sinister foreigner, and a longtime enemy (what, no Sherpa warrior?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the concluding half of Magnum, P.I.'s final episode, Magnum (Tom Selleck) wrestles with the prospect of returning to active Naval service even as he lays a trap for the man who assaulted his former girlfriend Linda (Patrice Martinez). He also receives word that his daughter Lily, presumed murdered in an earlier episode, is still alive. Elsewhere, the impending marriage of Rick (Larry Manetti) and Cleo (Phyllis Davis) hits a few prenuptual snags, while T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is unexpectedly reunited with his ex-wife Tina (Fay Hauser). And last but not least, the mystery of Robin Masters' true identity is finally solved...maybe. One of the highest-rated "finales" in network TV history, this episode leaves enough dangling plot strands to suggest that the producers had an elaborate "reunion" movie in mind. We're still waiting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Magnum, P.I. wraps up its eight-year run with a two-part final episode (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot). In Part One, Magnum returns to his home town for a family reunion, where his paternal grandfather (Howard Duff) offers to reinstate him as a Naval officer. But before Magnum can say "yes" or "no", he is summoned back to Hawaii by former girlfriend Linda Lee Ellison (Patrice Martinez), who insists that someone is stalking her. Upon his return, Magnum receives some startling information about his daughter Lily, whom he had presumed to be dead. Meanwhile, Rick (Larry Manetti) nervously prepares to marry the estimable Cleo Mitchell (Phyllis Davis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
