Lila Garrett Movies

Four women, all high school best friends, are reunited in Minnesota at the wedding of a fifth friend. On the eve of the nuptials, the foursome discuss their lives, their loves and their innermost secrets. Adultery and a surprise pregnancy are choice ingredients added to this TV-movie brew. For the record, the four female chums are played by Shelley Hack, Sela Ward, Stephanie Faracy and Brooke Adams. Bridesmaids was originally telecast February 21, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Directed by seasoned comedy man Melville Shavelson, The Other Woman is a "menage a trois" TV movie with a twist. The stars are middle-aged Anne Meara and Hal Linden, and youngish Madolyn Smith. The twist? Linden, a book publisher, is married to half-his-age Smith, a fashion designer. It is Anne Meara, a fiftyish divorcee and aspiring romance novelist, who turns out to be the "other woman!" Ms. Meara cowrote the teleplay for this engaging contrivance, in which everyone is so essentially likeable that we genuinely care how things turn out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Archie tries to help out his unemployed friend, Joe Tucker (Vic Tayback), who used to hold Archie's job at the loading dock. Things get dicey when it looks as though Joe is going to get his old job back -- and where does that leave Archie? A pre-Charlie's Angels David Doyle rounds out the supporting cast as Jim Sanders. Written by All in the Family story editors Bernie West and Michael Ross, "Et Tu, Archie" was first telecast on January 26, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At last the secret has been revealed! Prime-time network programming is determined by a chimpanzee! That's the premise of Disney's The Barefoot Executive, a highly amusing spoof of the TV bizz. Kurt Russell plays a page boy at a bottom-rated TV network. Stuck with his girl friend's (Heather North) pet chimp, Russell discovers that his hairy friend has a genuine gift for picking hit TV series. Appointed head of programming, Russell keeps the fact that the chimp is doing all the work hidden from the public. But when his former boss Joe Flynn and his rival John Ritter find out, all heck breaks loose (we'd say "all hell", but this is a Disney flick). A strong supporting cast of comic "regulars"-Wally Cox, Harry Morgan, Alan Hewitt, Hayden Rorke et al.--keeps The Barefoot Executive moving at a fast clip ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Evidently, this episode of Bewitched was scripted by Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn before the "birth" of Samantha's son Adam, but not filmed until afterward; as a result, the action is framed in the form of a flashback. Darrin recalls how he was cloned by Endora so that he could spend time with his pregnant wife Samantha while simultaneously attending a business conference in Japan. Richard Loo, the "heavy" in many a World War II propaganda film, is here cast as Mr. Tanaka. "Samantha's Better Halves" first aired on January 1, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Believing that she has flipped her lid, Darrin's mother, Phyllis (Mabel Albertson), checks herself into a sanitarium after witnessing Samantha's magical redecorating technique. Unwilling to let Phyllis languish in an institution, Sam decides to reveal the truth about her witchcraft. Trouble is, the Witches' Council has temporarily removed Sam's powers. Ineluctable Bewitched supporting player Bernie Kopell is here cast as Dr. Rhinehouse. Written by Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn, "Samantha's Secret is Discovered" first aired on January 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Samantha transforms a stray chimpanzee into a human named Harry (Lou Antonio). The trouble really begins when Harry refuses to be returned to ape-hood. And as if that wasn't enough of a dilemma, Harry is hired as a "perfect" model by Darrin's latest client, cologne manufacturer Evelyn Tucker (Gail Kobe). Scripted by the prolific Bewitched writing team of Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn, "Going Ape" initially aired on February 27, 1969. This marked one of the few episodes in which Darrin Stephens does not appear at all;
he's said to be away on business for two days. Samantha speaks with him on the telephone at one point, but he is neither seen nor heard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mercedes McCambridge guest stars as ancient witch Carlotta, an old "friend" of Samantha's mother, Endora. Years earlier, Endora had promised that Sam would marry Carlotta's namby-pamby warlock son, Juke (Steve Franken). Now, Carlotta threatens to utterly destroy Darrin if the promise is not honored. Written by Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn, "Darrin Gone! And Forgotten?" first aired on October 17, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's been a few weeks since Darrin demanded that Samantha stop using witchcraft, so now is as good a time as any for him to renew that demand. Petulantly, Sam agrees, just when everything goes wrong as Darrin tries to impress his new client, Dwight Sharpe (Arthur Julian). Watch for the great shot of Endora sitting on a cloud as she takes care of Tabitha. Written by Lila Garrett and Bernie Kahn, "To Twitch or Not to Twitch" originally aired on March 14, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's time for the annual Hooterville County Fair, and everyone in the Bradley family has entered one or more of the fair's contests. Unfortunately, the Bradley girls may well lose their chance at blue ribbons, thanks to the well-intentioned but woefully inept "assistance" of good old Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan). Pat Buttram makes a crossover appearance in his familiar Green Acres role as the crafty Mr. Haney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Receiving the urgent message "Contact Shorty Smith!" from his home planet, Martin (Ray Walston) mistakes a hobo named Shorty Smith (Guy Marks) for his contact man. Before long, Shorty is installed in the home of Martin and Tim--and becomes so accustomed to the luxuries and privileges therein that he absolutely refuses to leave. Martin figures that the only thing that will get rid of Shorty is the proverbial Love of A Good Woman...and that's where middle-aged Jenny Holbrook (Amzie Strickland) comes in. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide