Todd Holland Movies

To some people, the true definition of Hell might be: "To remain in the same high school with the same irritating people for the rest of your life." Even so, this was more or less the premise of the ABC sitcom Miss Guided. Judy Greer headed the cast as Becky Freeley, formerly the gawky, underachieving class nerd of Glen Ellen High School (she'd been president and half the membership of the school's Milli Vanilli Fan club, among other things). Now attractively grown up, Becky returned to Glen Ellen as the school's guidance counselor, determined to make a difference in the lives of other disenfranchised youngsters. Making life difficult for Becky all over again was the fact that her onetime "bete noire" Lisa Germain (Brooke Burns), the most popular girl in our heroine's graduating class, was also at Glen Ellen as the new English teacher--and worse, as Becky's rival for the affections of handsome Spanish instructor Tim O'Malley (Kristoffer Polaha). Also seen were Earl Billings as Phil Huffy, eternal principal of Glen Ellen; and onetime Saturday Night Live regular Chris Parnell as vice principal Bruce Terry, who had foresworn to get even for being relentlessly picked on during his days as a high school nerd by mercilessly persecuting the current crop of students (especially the good-looking ones). Created by Caroline Williams (The Office, High School Musical), and co-executive produced by actor Ashton Kutcher, Miss Guided debuted on March 18, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hollywood's hottest canine commodity has gotten hopelessly lost after wandering away from his master, and now the former movie star has become the beacon of hope for a small-town firehouse on the verge of collapse. Rex is the dog that every child in America has fallen in love with. A pompous A-list barker whose list of perks overshadows that of even the most esteemed Hollywood actor, Rex 's fate takes an unexpected turn when a skydiving stunt goes awry and his handlers assume that their cash-canine has perished as a result. Now, despite being very much alive, the former doggie diva has become just another mangy stray wandering the streets in search of a home. Lost in an unfamiliar city and pursued by animal control, Rex seeks refuge in a run down building that soon goes up in flames. Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson) is a rebellious preteen whose single-parent father, Connor (Bruce Greenwood), is struggling to care for his son and cope with the death of his brother, the former captain of the local fire department. Pressed with the responsibility of getting the crumbling inner-city fire house back in working order while helping his 12-year-old son deal with the untimely loss of a beloved family member, Connor just can't seem to convince Shane to keep his grades up and stop ditching school. Upon rescuing the unidentified Rex from the four-alarm blaze, Connor attempts to teach young Shane the meaning of responsibility by charging him with the task of locating the dog's owner. Despite an initial clash of personalities, the headstrong mutt and the disobedient adolescent soon form a strong bond. Subsequently adopted as the scrappy fire department's new mascot, Rex proves just the catalyst needed to reenergize the dejected firefighters and reform the once-tenuous bond between father and son. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Launched in March 2004 as a mid-season replacement, this supernatural comedy drama suffered a death as quick as its premise was quirky. Thanks in part to a punishing Friday-night time slot, Wonderfalls managed only four episodes before Fox pulled the plug. Less than a year later, however, the offbeat series found new life on DVD, where all 13 completed installments were released to brisk sales and critical acclaim (see Wonderfalls -- The Complete Series). The brainchild of veteran director Todd Holland (Twin Peaks, My So-Called Life) and Dead Like Me creator Bryan Fuller, Wonderfalls chronicles the misadventures of Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas), a Niagara Falls, NY gift-shop employee whose snarky world view gets shaken up when inanimate objects -- a wax lion, a stuffed chameleon -- begin ordering her around. Convinced she's cracking up, Jaye nevertheless follows the animals' instructions and unwittingly helps a broad range of unusual characters: an elementary-school Romeo, a stuttering stalker, a faithless nun, a mysterious housekeeper, etc. Her partners in crime on these assignments include sardonic pal Mahandra (Tracie Thoms), buttoned-up lesbian sister Sharon (Kate Finneran), and overeducated, underachieving brother Aaron (Lee Pace). Though unaware of their daughter's peculiar conversations with stuffed animals, Jaye's stuffy parents Karen (Diana Scarwid) and Darrin (William Sadler) also figure prominently in her adventures. So does Eric (Tyron Leitso), a hot, heartbroken bartender whose honeymoon was recently cut short when he caught his bride servicing the hotel bellhop. As Jaye flirts with Eric, fights with her family, and struggles to maintain her ironic detachment, she comes reluctantly closer to understanding the nature of her unorthodox destiny. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

In the opening segment, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) explains that every 17.4 dinners, his family actually has a pleasant meal together, but that pleasant feeling is threatened when Reese (Justin Berfield), playfully but unwisely, threatens to fling a spoonful of mashed potatoes at Lois (Jane Kaczmarek). At school, Caroline (Catherine Lloyd Burns) holds Malcolm after class, to express her desire to "connect on a deeper level." She offers a sympathetic ear, which just makes Malcolm uncomfortable. Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) is babysitting for the weekend while Lois and Hal (Bryan Cranston) go out of town for a wedding. "Just remember," Lois warns the boys, "Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) will tell us everything you did." Malcolm has reason to believe that if Francis does a good job babysitting, he'll get to come back home from military school permanently. Malcolm convinces Reese (Justin Berfield) and Dewey to behave themselves, but doesn't tell Francis about their plan, knowing that he doesn't respond well to being told what to do. But when Francis invites some friends over and they trash the house, Malcolm reveals what he thinks is going on. The four boys frantically whip the house back into shape. Just when it seems like all is well, a shelf collapses on Malcolm's head, necessitating a visit to the emergency room, where Malcolm finds himself in need of "a sympathetic ear." ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

The Krelboynes do a musical number during recess. Reese (Justin Berfield) is behaving strangely. He's begun showering. Hal (Bryan Cranston) asks him bluntly, "Son, are you on drugs?" It turns out that Reese has a huge crush on Wendy (Lisa Lewolt), but she seems to hate him. Unable to bring himself to speak to her, he gets her attention by tormenting her while giggling maniacally. Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) suggests that Reese should take a different tact, inadvertently prompting his brother to become a cheerleader like his inamorata. Humiliated by his brother's new lowly social station, Malcolm complains to Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor). "I'm a Krelboyne whose brother is a cheerleader," he whines, "I could wet my pants in public and it would be a lateral move." Reese's interest in a girl prompts Hal to give the boys "The Talk." Meanwhile, Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) has a heart-to-heart with Commandant Spangler (Daniel Von Bargen), uncovering both of their mother issues. This episode also offers our first glimpse into Dewey's (Erik Per Sullivan) distorted view of the world, as he tries to convince Hal and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) to buy him a Sleepy Time Herbie doll. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) discover that Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) has been using their calling card to call his girlfriend, Beebee (Lauren Hodges), from military school, and he's run up a huge bill. The commandant revokes Francis' phone privileges for a month. With Stanley (Karim Prince) enforcing the ban, and Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) unwilling to steal Mom's credit card to buy him a cell phone, Francis decides to escape so he can run off to Canada with his beloved. Francis hitchhikes home and hides in the backyard, depending on Malcolm to feed him, contact Beebee for him, and most importantly, keep his whereabouts a secret from Lois. After delivering a message to Beebee, who can't remember Malcolm's name, but enlists him as a co-conspirator in her shoplifting, Malcolm begins to have doubts about the wisdom of Francis' actions. And how can he possibly keep a secret from his supernaturally intuitive mother? When Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) hears Malcolm arguing with Francis in the backyard, he thinks it's the monster that Reese (Justin Berfield) and Malcolm told him has been hiding under his bed. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) explains that when he's in school, he's either "bored, terrified, or confused about Julie" (Landry Allbright). Malcolm likes Julie, but can't read whatever signals she might be sending him. A simple "hello" sends him into whirlwind of hormonal confusion. At the Lucky Aide, Reese (Justin Berfield) and Malcolm get into trouble with the foaming action steam cleaner while waiting for Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) to get off work. Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), feeling left out, consoles himself by stealing an expensive bottle of cognac from the store. At home later, when Dewey's thievery is discovered, Lois insists that they go right back to the store and explain what happened to her obnoxious boss, Mr. Pinter (Marc Vann). Things aren't quite resolved, though, as Pinter fires Lois, and she responds by ripping off his toupee. She hands it to the forlorn Craig (David Anthony Higgins) on her way out, deadpanning, "Velcro. I win the pool." Lois stands her ground, refusing to apologize to Pinter. The family is forced to scrimp and save to make up for the lost income, and Malcolm faces horrifying humiliation when Julie organizes a food drive for his family. Meanwhile, at military school, Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) lands a plum gig helping out at the local Miss Mobile Teen Sensation pageant. He's so kind and thoughtful to all the Southern belles that they assume he's gay, a situation he tries to turn to his advantage. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

On the pilot of Malcolm in the Middle, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) introduces his family. Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) is first seen shaving the back of Hal (Bryan Cranston), his hirsute father. Lois gives Malcolm bad news at breakfast. She's arranged a playdate for him with Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor), an asthmatic, wheelchair-bound kid from school. Lois admonishes Malcolm, Reese (Justin Berfield), and Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) not to take their good health for granted. "Every day is a lottery," she explains, "and first prize is that you don't have to scoot yourself around town on a skateboard with your hands." On the way to school, a friend asks if Malcolm's brother Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) is really in jail. Malcolm explains that Francis, the one person in his family whom he actually likes, has been sent to military school in Alabama for his various misdeeds. At school, Malcolm has an unpleasant encounter with a bully, Dave Spath (Vincent Berry), and his teacher Caroline (Catherine Lloyd Burns) gives him an IQ test. After school, Malcolm unexpectedly bonds with Stevie over their shared love of comic books. Francis calls and tells Lois about the "simmering homoeroticism" of military school, and she actually hears him smoking over the phone. Later, Caroline drops by, and tells a shocked Lois that Malcolm has an IQ of 165. After a brief discussion over breakfast the next day, Lois decides, over his strenuous objections, that Malcolm will move into a "special" accelerated class. "Any kid who makes fun of you," she tells him, "is a creepy little loser who'll end up working in a car wash." "This shouldn't make me feel better," Malcolm tells us, "but it does." The next day, a newly ostracized Malcolm and Stevie improvise a way to turn Spath's cruelty against him. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Todd Holland directed this Charlie Peters adaptation of Frank Parkin's novel. Respected anthropologist James Krippendorf (Richard Dreyfuss) and his wife, Jennifer (Barbara Williams), bring their three children along during their failed search in New Guinea for a lost tribe. After Jennifer's death, James reaches a zero point back in the U.S., having spent all his foundation grant money raising the kids as a single parent. Scheduled to lecture at a college and fearful he could be charged with misuse of grant funds, James concocts an imaginary tribe, the Shelmikedmu, and fakes a 16 mm "documentary" film, casting his children as tribe members and editing in footage of a legit New Guinea tribe. Anthropologist Veronica Micelli (Jenna Elfman) contacts cable-TV producer Henry Spivey (David Ogden Stiers), forcing James to continue creating fraudulent footage as the rival Ruth Allen (Lily Tomlin) gets suspicious. It seems a shame this racially insensitive film was made, while the once-announced plans to film anthropologist Kenneth Good's nonfiction Into the Heart (Simon & Schuster, 1991) never led to a production. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Despite his excitement over his first post-announcement interview with Maureen O'Boyle, Larry (Garry Shandling) breaks down in tears on-air and pressures Artie (Rip Torn) to have it cut. Having had a sexual relationship with O'Boyle in the past, the conflicted producer struggles with his conscience. Meanwhile, Mary Lou (Mary Lynn Rajskub) fears Hank's (Jeffrey Tambor) wrath after hitting his car in the parking lot. While Mary Lou avoids the temperamental sidekick, Hank draws the conclusion that Vince Vaughn must be the man behind the damage. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

When Larry (Garry Shandling) relents to his new girlfriend Alex's (Melinda McGraw) requests to appear on the show, he offers to cast her as a mermaid in an upcoming skit. All seems well until Alex spots sleazy network VP Roger Bingham (Bruce Greenwood) and attempts to turn a one-time appearance into an extravagant career starter. This was the final episode of The Larry Sanders Show's fifth season. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi