David Grossman Movies

Attending his 25th class reunion at UC-Berkeley, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is haunted by memories of his late wife Trudy (played in flashback by Lindy Newton). It is especially painful when Monk is reacquainted with Trudy's old school chum Dianne Brooks (Cynthia Stevenson), who it so happens has been targeted for murder. The very odd and extremely manipulative behavior of another fellow grad, coupled with a suicide note written a quarter-century ago, further persuades Monk that he might have been better off skipping the reunion and staying home. This is the episode in which we discover that the student Adrian Monk was known as "Captain Cool"--but not for the reasons one might think. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

There's intrigue aplenty as Desperate Housewives approaches the end of its first season. Still unaware that George (Roger Bart) is more than a passive observer vis-à-vis her husband's illness, Bree (Marcia Cross) falls for George's lie that Rex (Steven Culp) has been bragging about their kinky bedroom escapades; the confrontation that results between her and Rex leads to a drastic downturn in his health. Edie goes into "hell hath no fury" mode when Susan (Teri Hatcher) and Mike (James Denton) move in together. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) unintentionally causes Tom (Doug Savant) to lose his job in her efforts to foil her would-be romantic rival Annabel (Melinda McGraw). And when Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) learns how her birth-control prescription has been tampered with, she angrily tells Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) that he may not be the father, and he reacts in a manner that gets seven more years tacked on to his jail sentence. Alfre Woodard and Mehcad Brooks make their first series appearances as Betty and Josh Applewhite. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of ABC's most popular series of the 2004-2005 season, the weekly, hour-long Desperate Housewives took place on Wisteria Lane in an upscale suburban neighborhood. That Wisteria Lane was not as quiet and respectable as it appeared at first glance was brought home forcibly in the opening episode, when housewife Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) committed suicide right in the middle of her comfortable living room. From her vantage point in the great beyond, Mary Alice served as the series' wry, all-knowing narrator, filling the viewer on the various sordid details in the lives of her four best friends. There was divorcée Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), ever-looking for love in all the wrong places and agonizing over the behavior of her daughter, Julie (Andrea Bowen). There was Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), who every day of her life kicked herself over her decision to give up her business career to care for her highly competitive husband, Tom (Doug Savant), and her irritating children. There was Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), the all-too-perfect, control-freak homemaker who eventually drove her husband, Rex (Steven Culp), to divorce court and her son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom), into malevolent misanthropy. And there was ex-model Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), who despite having married into money and luxury couldn't stop herself from fooling around with teenaged gardener John (Jesse Metcalfe). Though her controlling husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), was not privy to her infidelity, he had his suspicions that she was less than faithful. Prone to extreme displays of machismo, he took many measures to maintain the marriage. Weaving in and out of the proceedings was the oft-divorced Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), with whom Susan competed over the affections of supposedly widowed plumber Mike Delfino (James Denton). The sexual intrigues of Wisteria Lane were augmented (during the first season at least) by the mysterious activities of Mary Alice's husband, Paul (Mark Moses) -- including digging up the backyard swimming pool in the dead of night -- and the strange emotional outbursts of their tormented, unstable son, Zach (Cody Kasch). Created by Marc Cherry, Desperate Housewives debuted October 3, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Longtime television director David Grossman makes his feature debut with this direct-to-video sequel to the 1997 hit family comedy George of the Jungle. Filling the loincloth originally worn by Brendan Fraser, Chris Showerman plays George this time around. Since the events of the first film, George and Ursula (Julie Benz stepping in for Leslie Mann) have had a son and made a home for themselves in George's jungle kingdom. But George is suddenly called away by his brother Ape who has run up a substantial gambling debt in Las Vegas. Once back in America to help Ape, Ursula encounters Lyle Van de Groot (Thomas Haden Church, reprising his role from the first film) who is in cahoots with Ursula's disapproving mother. When Van de Groot puts her under a hypnotic spell, Ursula no longer recognizes George, just as her mother wants. If that weren't bad enough, while George is busy trying to help Ape and rescue Ursula, a lion is attempting to stage a coup back in the jungle. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) each step out for the evening with someone new, but both dates are full of surprise revelations. Xander's rendezvous is with Lissa (pop singer Ashanti), a lovely young lady he meets on his construction job. Buffy's, meanwhile, is with Principal Robin Wood (D.B. Woodside), her boss at Sunnydale High School. Things begin normally enough for Buffy and Robin, but a vamp attack soon nips the fun in the bud. Much to Buffy's astonishment, though, the principal more than holds his own against the attackers. Over dinner, he reveals that he's the son of a slayer and was raised by his mother's watcher after her death. Now a part-time demon-fighter, he was fully aware of Buffy's identity when he hired her as school counselor. Once again the evening is interrupted, this time by a frantic phone call that Xander needs help. With Spike (James Marsters) and Robin in tow, Buffy heads to the school just in time to save her friend from being murdered by Lissa. It turns out Xander has once again romanced a demon, this time one who wants to get in good with The First by bring another Turok-Han to earth. As Xander's rescuers defeat his duplicitous date, Spike puts on his ugly face, revealing to the disgusted Robin that Buffy is in league with a vampire. Later, the specter of Robin's mother -- actually The First in disguise -- appears to him and reveals the identity of her killer. It turns out she's actually the slayer Spike murdered on a New York City subway in the 1970s (see "Fool for Love"). Originally broadcast Feb. 11, 2003, on UPN, "First Date" marked episode 136 of the cult-favorite series. K.D. Aubert here replaces April Weeden-Washington as Robin's mother, the subway Slayer. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz) return from vacation and learn about the kidnapping of Angel's son. Cordy does her best to console Angel (David Boreanaz). But it's a scuffle involving Gunn (J. August Richards) that takes everyone's mind off of Connor. It seems that during his days as a young inner-city vampire hunter, Gunn sold his soul to a demon in exchange for something he desperately wanted. Now that he wants to give his heart to Fred (Amy Acker), the demon has come to prevent him from giving away something that no longer belongs to him. Angel, Fred, and the gang must come to Gunn's aid to save him from an entire cadre of glitzy, Vegas-style demons. In the end, Gunn reveals that he sold his soul for a surprising commodity. Meanwhile, an isolated Wesley (Alexis Denisof) comes to terms with the lonely fallout from his unwitting assistance to Connor's abductors. Originally broadcast April 22, 2002, on the WB network, "Double or Nothing" marked season three, episode 18 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

As he gives her lessons in swordplay so she can better defend herself in future battles, Angel (David Boreanaz) is surprised to learn that Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is a quick study; she credits her years as a Sunnydale cheerleader. It's Fred (Amy Acker), however, who really needs to defend herself when a half-demon with the power to turn men into misogynist murderers turns Wesley (Alexis Denisof) into a clone of Jack Nicholson's character from The Shining. William "Billy" Blim (Justin Shilton) is the privileged nephew of a congressman. He's also the fiend Angel was forced to free from a hell dimension by Wolfram & Hart (see "That Vision Thing"). His very touch brings out the hidden woman-hater in every man, and Angel proves incapable of stopping the spread of his infectious magic. As a transformed Wesley stalks the resourceful Fred through the Hyperion Hotel, Cordy attempts to kill Billy. Angel stops her and Billy touches Angel, but the vampire hero proves impervious to the half-demon's magic. Combat erupts, but it's Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov) -- who suffered a savage beating at the hands of the Billy-infected Gavin Park (Daniel Dae Kim) -- who ultimately defeats her own client. Later, Wesley grapples with the terror he inflicted on Fred and begs her forgiveness. Originally broadcast October 29, 2001, on the WB network, Angel: Billy marked season three, episode six of the supernatural comedy drama. The secret crush on Fred that Wesley nurses in this episode will have major plot repercussions throughout the second half of season three. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The fallout from the musical episode (see "Once More, With Feeling") brings two characters together but tears most of the others apart. Spike (James Marsters) tries talking to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) about the kiss they shared but she refuses to discuss it. Meanwhile, the Scoobies express their horror at learning they wrenched Buffy from paradise when they brought her back to life. Tara (Amber Benson) confronts Willow (Alyson Hannigan) about messing with her memories and using magic to solve all of life's problems. Willow agrees to quit magic cold turkey for a week to prove she can live without it. But then she casts a spell to make Buffy and Tara forget all of the suffering they've endured. Just as Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is announcing his departure to England to force Buffy to stand on her own, Willow's enchantment backfires. All of the Scoobies are rendered amnesiacs, and they come to various wrong-headed conclusions about their identities and relationships. Unfortunately, into this comic befuddlement comes a shark-headed demon (Raymond O'Connor) with a grudge against Spike. The fiend and his vampire minions terrorize the gang until Willow's spell is accidentally broken. Tara leaves Willow, Giles leaves for England...and Buffy once again finds herself locking lips with Spike. Originally broadcast November 13, 2001, on UPN, "Tabula Rasa" marked episode 108 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

When his cousin Lester (Dwayne L. Barnes) asks Gunn (J. August Richards) for help extricating himself from a deal to participate in a museum robbery, Gunn agrees. He poses as Lester, while Angel (David Boreanaz) kills and impersonates Jay-Don (Michael Hagy), a flashy Vegas vampire also in on the heist. The dynamic duo then pretend to work with a cabal of demons and criminal humans as they steal the Shroud of Rahmon, a supernatural totem dyed with the blood of seven virgins and capable of inducing madness in those who come into contact with it. Unfortunately, the madness envelops even the heroes; during the chaos, Angel apparently sucks the blood of Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm) when she arrives on the scene for a sting operation. Eventually, it turns out Angel was only pretending to have reverted to evil in order to keep from blowing his cover. By making the others think Kate was already dead, he saved her life. This comes in handy for Wesley (Alexis Denisof), who was apprehended by the authorities after being found standing over Kate's inert body. The criminals are finally defeated and the shroud destroyed, while Kate and Angel separately reminisce about his biting her. Meanwhile, everyone else adjusts to the short, choppy new hairdo Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is sporting. Originally broadcast November 21, 2000, on the WB network, "The Shroud of Rahmon" marked season two, episode eight of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The mystery of the Slayer's newfound sibling deepens as narrator Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) confides to her diary that she's sick of big sis Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) hogging all the attention. Buffy vents her own frustrations about having to balance her duties as the Slayer with her sisterly responsibilities -- a juggling act thrown into sharp relief when Dawn accidentally invites bimbo vampire Harmony (Mercedes McNab) into the house and gets kidnapped, necessitating a dramatic rescue. As for viewers, they may well be frustrated by the sudden and inexplicable appearance of Dawn in the surprise ending of the previous episode (see "Buffy vs. Dracula"); Buffy was an only child for the first 78 episodes of the series, but now she and her friends are acting as if Dawn has been around all along. Perhaps the truth has something to do with the mad vagrant who accosts Dawn and tells her she doesn't belong here; nonetheless, it will be three more episodes before the truth about the girl's origin is revealed (see "No Place Like Home"). In the meantime, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) decides to take over Sunnydale's magic shop after yet another of its proprietors ends up dead. Originally broadcast October 3, 2000, on the WB network, "Real Me" marked episode 80 of the cult-favorite series. As of this episode, Michelle Trachtenberg joins the regular cast. Tom Lenk, who portrays vampire Cyrus here, would return in the prominent role of geeky would-be villain Andrew throughout the sixth and seventh seasons. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Jonathan (Danny Strong) is the man. Although only 18 years old and formerly a nebbish high school student that Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) stopped from committing suicide (see "Earshot"), he is now stronger than the slayer, inventor of the Internet, and star of the hit film The Matrix. Not only that, but the Initiative has employed him as the chief tactical consultant in their mission to recover Adam (George Hertzberg). Meanwhile, Karen (Erica Luttrell), a Jonathan fanatic, is attacked by a ferocious beast bearing a symbol on its forhead. Soon after, Jonathan takes the stage at the Bronze to perform a swinging vocal number and virtuoso trumpet solo -- this after giving Riley (Marc Blucas) advice on how to get back together with Buffy (see "Who Are You?"). Suddenly, Karen, bloodied and scared, bursts into the Bronze claiming she was attacked on Jonathan's estate. As she draws the symbol the beast had on its forehead, Buffy notices Jonathan give a look of recognition which he quickly dismisses. This gets Buffy's slayer sense tingling and she challenges the ever so Machiavellian Jonathan to hunt down the beast with her. ~ All Movie Guide

Her powers as Goddess of Love bollixed up by her own romantic misadventures, Aphrodite (Alexandra Tydings) accidentally places a group of Amazons under a spell, rendering them subservient to men (they even lower themselves to dancing and waiting on tables at a cheap tavern). Deimos (Joel Tobeck), the god of terror, takes advantage of this situation as part of his plan to reassemble the powerful Chronus Stone. As an added flip, Deimos also intends to use the enslaved Amazons to destroy his perennial enemies, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and Iolaus (Michael Hurst). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide