Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
A madman learns how to control the oceans for his own purposes, and two very different scientists band together to stop him in this made for TV disaster movie. The coastline of Southern California is suddenly besieged with a series of tidal waves which threaten to wipe out a number of seashore communities. Investigators suspect that the tsunamis are not of natural origin, and oceanographer Jessica Weaver (Julianne Phillips) and weapons expert John Wahl (Corbin Bernsen) are brought together to look into the matter. Together, they uncover evidence that the waves are the work of a terrorist, but when a billion dollar ransom is demanded to save Los Angeles from a massive tidal wave, some suspect that Wahl is in cahoots with the bad guys. Tidal Wave: No Escape also features Harve Presnell, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Gregg Henry. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
A two-part made for TV effort, this special depicts the dysfunctional Jackson family, which has somehow managed to raise its children in such a way that they have managed to rise above their steel town backgrounds to the tops of the charts in the music field. Though obviously not delving into the more controversial and sensational aspects of their lives, this story is a somewhat rose-colored but still interesting pictorial history of the exceptional musical family. If nothing else, worth watching for the incredible music and choreography. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Angela Bassett, (more)
In this thriller, the owner of a popular health spa is forced to go into hiding because he knows that a prominent (and corrupt) congressman, who is running for a seat in the Senate, is responsible for the death of his friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
College coeds Cynthia Cheston and Kelly Galindo will do anything to join a campus sorority. During pledge week, the girls are ordered to take to the streets and pose as hookers. While so occupied, our heroines witness a murder. And the killer knows who they are! Pretty effective as exploitationers go, the direct-to-video Angels of the City was directed by former Welcome Back Kotter regular Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly Galindo, Cynthia Cheston, (more)
This actioner is the sequel to the film LA Heat and chronicles the further exploits of Chance, a street-wise gumshoe who is now working for the vice squad. He and his captain work together to solve a series of killings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Smith
- 1989
When powerful East L.A. drug lord Chesare (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs) hosts a modern version of the gladiator games in which contemporary street gangs battle one and other to the death, his sworn enemy Aurelo (Tony Bravo) teams with his violent protégé Paulo (Kamar Reyes) to bring the sadistic criminal mastermind down in director Addison Randall's two-fisted action thriller. Chesare is the only man who holds power over L.A.'s most notorious street gangs, and to wield his might he devises a deadly series of games in which rival gang members will fight until only one is left standing. His reign is quickly coming to an end though, and when Aurelo and Paulo propose that the brutal battles be fought not to the death but to first blood instead, Chesare finally summons the courage to step into the ring and do battle with the one foe that could truly bring about is downfall. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Two men attempt to investigate a diamond heist in this suspenseful actioner. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- PG
Uptown (George Newbern) and Mad Mike (Christopher McDonald) are paramedic partners assigned to the tough South Central section of the city by their irate boss Captain Prescott (John P. Ryan). The duo uncovers a fiendish conspiracy that deals in harvesting internal organs from unwilling donors. They encounter street gangs and a female with a killer sex drive. This spoofing parody contains explicate language and brief nudity. Watch for veteran actor Ray Walston as the first patient suffering a heart attack. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Newbern, Christopher McDonald, (more)
Ex-football great Jim Brown co-stars in this blood-filled police actioner with former Welcome Back Kotter "Sweathog"Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs. In the story, Jon Chance (Jacobs) is a police detective with a very active fantasy life, who must be spurred into action by his captain (Brown). The case at hand involves a super-violent drug-dealer who is giving the police the run-around, and Jon's task is to bring him in. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Brown, Kevin Benton, (more)
- 1985
When the local police won't do much to thwart the antics of vicious mob bullies led by a crazed leader (Paul Koslo), a Vietnam vet throws his hat in the ring and pledges to put an end to the rowdy bully-rule. Soon his Vietnam vet friends have joined, too, and together put their jungle combat training to work and do some serious butt kicking. This is a violent film, not for those who dislike face-altering altercations. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Stone, Andy Wood, (more)
- 1980
Veteran comedy specialist Hal Kanter milks every chuckle, chortle and guffaw of Stanley Ralph Ross' teleplay for For the Love of It. The story gets under way when the bad guys surreptitiously plant top-secret documents on a model (Deborah Raffin) and a med student (Jeff Conaway). He's crazy about her, while she can't stand him. Even so, the two protagonists are compelled to join forces when the bad guys start pursuing them. The bulk of the film is a zany, Mack Sennett-style chase, replete with goofy sight gags. In addition, this may be the first made-for-TV movie to tap the comedy potential of Elvis imitators. For the Love of It was originally telecast September 26, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
The fourth and final season of Welcome Back Kotter opens as capricious remedial-class teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan) is promoted to vice principal of Buchanan High School, replacing his long-time nemesis Mr. Woodman (John Sylvester White)--who in turn has moved up the food chain to full principal. Meanwhile, Kotter's students--aka the "sweathogs"--have all gotten off-campus jobs, following the example of self-appointed class leader Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), who has left school to work as a hospital orderly. This move was made primarily to accommodate the ever-increasing motion picture commitments of John Travolta, who makes only a handful of appearances this season. As a potential replacement for the swaggering Vinnie, Stephen Shortridge joins the cast as Southerner Beau De Labarre, a charming prankster with above-average intelligence who has landed in the remedial program because of his propensity for wreaking havoc--which he has done with considerable success in the seven previous schools from which he has been expelled. Another noteworthy cast addition is Irene Arranga, as lonely, insecure student Mary Johnson, who makes her first appearance in "Once Upon a Ledge" as a would-be suicide who is brought back to her sense by--of all people--Mr. Kotter's nerdiest student, Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo). By series' end, Arnold and Mary will have become husband and wife, much to the amazement of Horshack's "cooler" classmates Epstein (Robert Hegyes) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, (more)
- 1978
- R
In this realistic urban drama, a recently returned Vietnam vet moves back to his home in Watts to resume his life as a gang member. He spends much of his time training a younger man to be a gang member. The trouble really begins when one of the gang fatally overdoses on drugs. The gang vows to get revenge upon the local pushers. The film was shot on location in LA. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Bryan O'Dell, (more)
- 1978
Jack Albertson stars as an old-time Borscht Belt comic who owns his own nightclub. Albertson's public has been dwindling for years, and his club is in danger of folding. He decides to renovate his business by changing his establishment into a Comedy Store-like operation, opening his doors to aspiring young comedians, then inviting show-biz biggies (including George Burns, playing himself) to watch the parade of new talent. Coincidentally, this film was originally telecast opposite another TV movie titled Telethon, in which a washed-up comic (Red Buttons) desperately tries to sign celebrities for an all-night fundraiser. Despite its title, this is pure drama in its staging, characterizations and resolution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
As Season Three of Welcome Back, Kotter gets under way, Julie Kotter (Marcia Strassman), the wife of Buchanan High School's funniest teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan), gives birth to twin daughters. Before long, the babies are being hugged and coddled by the four prankish-but-lovable remedial students in Gabe's home room, better known as the "sweathogs": Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta, Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes), Horshack (Ron Palillo) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). This situation leads to one of the season's funnier episodes, in which Gabe peers into the future when his twin daughters are grown up and he and the sweathogs are all doddering oldsters! Joining the cast halfway through the season is Melonie Haller as Angie Globagoski, a defiant underachiever whose goal in life is to be the first "female sweathog." Evidently she doesn't meet that goal, inasmuch as she has been written out the show by season's end. Another recurring character appears in the form of Murray (Bob Harcum), a remedial student from another school who frequently matches wits (such as they are) with Buchanan's sweathogs. By the end of Season Three, both Murray and his pal Carvelli (Charles Fleischer) will have transferred to Buchanan, possibly as means of "cast insurance" should costar John Travolta, whose star was ascending rapidly via such films as Carrie and Saturday Night Fever), decide to break his contract and quit the show (PS: He didn't). Ironically, although it was Travolta's character Vinnie who was expected to exit at any moment, it is Gabe Kotter who considers "dropping out" of Buchanan to pursue a career as a stand-up comic (with material supplied by his students) in the two-part episode "There's No Business Like Show Business". Other third-season episodes worth mentioning are a brace of Welcome Back Kotter "specials", "The Sweathogs Back-to-School Special" and "The Sweathogs Christmas Special", both of which consist primarily of highlights from earlier seasons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, (more)
- 1976
The opening episode of Welcome Back Kotter's second season finds Buchanan High School teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) considering the idea of giving up his "sweathog" class to accept a job with a Japanese inventor, played by Pat Morita. Other noteworthy guest stars appearing this year are John Astin as a ghoulish museum curator who convinces Kotter's students that they're being stalked by a mummy; Valerie Curtin as a student teacher who has her hands full with the sweathogs until Gabe comes to her rescue; veteran western star Scott Brady as an ill-tempered gym teacher who punches remedial student Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta) right in front of a group of his female admirers; Harold J. Stone as Kotter's hyper-judgemental; George Carlin and Fred Grandy (what a combo!) in an episode wherein Kotter's student Epstein (Robert Hegyes) becomes a popular radio DJ; and Ellen Travolta, the sister of series costar John Travolta, in the first of several appearances as "Mrs. O'Hara", this time in a two-parter in which the nerdish Horshack (Ron Palillo) thinks about quitting school to support his family. In addition to the aforementioned "regular" sweathogs (plus Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington), Charles Fleischer, future voice of cartoon star Roger Rabbit, makes his intial appearance this season as Carvelli, Barbarino's tough-guy rival from another school; by the end of Season Three, Carvelli will have transferred into Kotter's class at Buchanan High. Season Two ends with the news that Gabe's ever-lovin' wife Julie (Marcia Strassman) is pregnant with twins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, (more)
The pilot episode of Welcome Back Kotter finds history and social studies teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan) taking charge of the remedial class at Brooklyn's James Buchanan High School, some ten years after he had graduated from the same class. Despite his status as a former "Sweathog", Gabe has a lot of trouble riding herd over such "unteachable" 10th graders as Barbarino (John Travolta, Horshack (Ron Palillo), Epstein (Robert Hegyes) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), and by the end of the first day he is sadly informing his wife Julie (Marica Strassman) that he intends to quit. Gabe is prevented from doing so when the "Sweathogs" tell him how much they really like and appreciate him--much to dismay of our hero's longtime nemesis, Buchanan's scowling vice-principal Woodman (John Sylvester White). Incredibly, this pilot show was NOT the debut episode of Welcome Back, Kotter's first season: Instead it was shown third, after episodes in which the sweathogs match wits with a snotty debate team, and in which Washington contemplates dropping out to become a basketball star. Though audiences of the time were probably confused by the chronological mixup, they quickly picked up on the comic rhythm of the show, especially those scenes in which Kotter's charges indulge in their pet hobb of "ranking"--that is, topping each other's insults. Before long, all of America was rooting for Kotter's sweathogs and booing the efforts of Mr. Woodman to undermine Kotter--which including finding an academic loophole forcing Gabe to retake his high school finals! Among the first season's best episodes are "Whodunit", in which student Rosalie "Hotsy" Totzie gets even with the sweathogs for underservedly tagging her with a "fast" reputation; "No More Mr. Nice Guy", in which Kotter and Woodman unexpectedly exchange personalities when Woodman takes over teaching the class one day; "Arriverdci Arnold", wherein the nerdy Horshack is promoted to a "smart" class--and hate it); "Follow the Leader", a two-part power struggle with Barbarino and Washington vying for the unofficial position of class leader; and "Dr. Epstein, I Presume", in which Epstein displays a hitherto unsuspected talent as a veterinarian. In addition to the actors mentioned above, Season One features a number of recurring characters: Vernee Jean Williams (Vernee Watson), who in one installment is talked out of marrying Washington by his pals; supersmart Judy Borden (Helaine Lembeck), whom Barbarino despises until she helps him improve his grades; and Todd (Dennis Bowen) and Maria (Catarina Cellino). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, (more)
Michael Schultz directed this deeply felt recollection of adolescent life on Chicago's near North Side in 1964. Like American Graffiti, Cooley High deals with girl, school, and police troubles as a group of high-school seniors prepare for post-high-school life. The chums are Glynn Turman as "Preach," who loves to read poetry and history and wants to become a Hollywood screenwriter, but who has the worst grades in the school; and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Cochise, the high-school basketball star and suave lady-killer. Preach has to contend with love problems in the form of Brenda (Cynthia Davis), school problems with emphatic teacher Mr. Mason (Garrett Morris), and law problems with street toughs Stone (Shermann Smith) and Robert (Norman Gibson). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glynn E. Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, (more)
Claudine (Diahann Carroll) is an impoverished African-American Harlem resident. Unmarried, Claudine supports herself and her six children by working as a maid--albeit secretly, so she can still qualify for welfare. Garbageman James Earl Jones falls in love with Claudine, and after strenuous effort manages to win the affections of her suspicious kids. Just when it seems as though there's a marriage in the offing, Jones runs off. Claudine's kids hunt him down and shame him into returning to their mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones, (more)
