Robert Scheerer Movies
- 1994
Following up a series of strange sensor readings, Odo and Dax are drawn to an unknown planet. Here they are taken prisoner by a Yaderan colony, where several inhabitants have disappeared without explanation. As Odo and Dax endeavor to solve the mystery (and to plan their escape), back at DS9, Kira becomes more closely acquainted with Vedek Bareil (Philip Anglim. Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, "Shadowplay" made its U.S. television bow on February 19, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Data embarks upon a routine mission to save the planet Atrea Four from destruction. En route to his destination, he makes the acquaintance of one of the resident scientists, Dr. Juliana Tainer (Fionulla Flanagan). Data is thrown for a loop (to put it mildly) when Tainer insists that she is really Juliana Soong, ex-wife of scientist Noonian Soong, and Data's own mother. Initially aired on November 27, 1993, "Inheritance" was written by Dan Koeppel and Rene Echevarria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The titular figure in this episode is Soren (Melinda Cullen, a member of the androgynous J'naii race. In defiance of her race's ban on male/female relationships, Soren has a sexual relationship and is promptly ostracized. Her plight becomes even more poignant -- and potentially deadly -- when she falls in love with Riker, whose presence amongst the J'naii might very well signal the end of the race. First broadcast March 21, 1992, "The Outcast" was written by Jeri Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
After several weeks of reruns, Next Generation resumed its first-run manifest on January 4, 1992, with this poignant episode. Resigned to the fact that he has a son named Alexander (Brian Bonsall), Worf reluctantly allows the boy to live with him on the Enterprise. Worf's parenting skills, which even in the best of times are hardly salutary, are put to a grueling test when Alexander begins exhibiting some markedly un-Klingonlike behavior. The inevitable climax is a showdown between father and son (described by one publicity blurb as "Fatherhood: The Final Frontier"). "New Ground" was scripted by Grant Rosenberg from a story by Sara Charno and Stuart Charno. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Just in time for the 1992 Christmas season, Next Generation offered the first installment of this two part episode. The story gets under way during a breakdown in the hostile relationship between the Federation and the Cardassians. In order to participate in a dangerous commando raid on a Cardassian stronghold, Picard resigns his command, leaving the Enterprise in the hands of autocratic, no-nonsense Captain Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox). During his mission, Picard is captured and threatened with torture, while back on the Enterprise, Jellico's callous behavior not only angers the crew but threatens to spark an all-out war. Originally telecast December 19, 1992, part one of "Chain of Command" was scripted by Ronald D. Moore from a story by Frank Abatemarco. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Picard's perennial nemesis Q (John DeLancie) makes his first sixth-season appearance in this episode. On this occasion, Q sets forth to test Enterprise medical intern Amanda Rogers (Olivia d'Abo), whose parents were originally from the Q continuum. The testing process reaches its peak when Amanda begins displaying Q-like tendencies, leading to a difficult decision between her present self and her true heritage, and a potentially larger crisis involving a dangerously polluted planet. First telecast October 31, 1992, "True Q" was written by Rene Echevarria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
James J. Sloyan stars as Setal, a Romulan defector. Taking refuge on the Enterprise, Setal warns Picard of an impending major Romulan offensive designed to regain control of the Neutral Zone. Since any resistance to this offensive would spark a full-scale war, Captain Picard cannot help but question Setal's reliability, as well as his motives. A surprise revelation awaits the crew in this tense Next Generation entry, which was written by Ronald D. Moore and originally telecast January 6, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
One of several third season Next Generation episodes to earn an Emmy nomination (this one for Special Visual Effects), this was first telecast April 28, 1990. The Enterprise is assigned to provide safe passage for Tam Elbrun (Harry Groener), an emissary from the Betazoid Federation. Elbrun's mission: To established contact with a newly discovered life form called Tin Man before the Romulans can beat him to the punch. Tensions mount as the Enterprise crew finds itself caught between the hostile Romulans and an exploding star. "Tin Man" was cowritten by Dennis Putnam Bailey and David Bischoff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The away team embarks upon a rescue mission to Turkana Four, home of the long-deceased Tasha Yar. While trying to aid a marooned Federation crew, the team is hampered by the ongoing hostilities between two feuding factions. The resolution to this crisis may or may not rest in the hands of Tasha Yar's mysterious sister Ishaya (Beth Toussaint). Written by Joe Menosky, "Legacy" was first shown on November 3, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Counselor Troi falls in love again, this time with handsome Chrysalian delegate Devinioni Ral (Matt McCoy). Alas, the object of Troi's affections is a double-dyed deceiver, intending to employ underhanded methods to gain control of a galactic shortcut called a wormhole. The shock of this discovery has profound long-ranging effects on both Troi and Ral. Scripted by Hannah Louise Shearer, "The Price" made its American TV debut on November 18, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Having clashed with the half-human, half-robot Borg in "Q-Who?," the Enterprise crew is in no mood for a rematch. Even so, the crew participates in an elaborate Federation war game called "stratega" in preparation for the impending fray. The mock battle takes a serious and deadly turn when a Ferengi battleship decides to join in on the "fun." First broadcast July 15, 1989, "Peak Performance" was written by Robert Scheerer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In this episode of the popular, enduring courtroom drama, gentleman attorney Ben Matlock heads to North Carolina's Roanoke Island to defend a man accused of murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nancy Stafford, Jeff Wincott, (more)
- 1989
Commander Maddox (Brian Brophy), the officer presiding over Starbase 173 demands that Data be taken apart for study. The argument is that Data is merely "property" and not a living being. This assertion is particularly painful to Guinan, who equates Maddox's attitude with that of Southern slaveholders during the Civil War; it is on this base that Picard mounts his defense of the hapless Data. Written by Melinda Snodgrass, "The Measure of a Man" was originally telecast February 18, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
- PG
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Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James share star-billing with Jessica Lange in this uninspired comedy about three women who need a cash infusion. (Curtin and Saint James would later co-star in the popular sitcom Kate and Allie.) Jane (Saint James) is divorced and financially pressed to raise her children in the manner to which they were accustomed. Elaine's (Curtin) husband left with all their assets except for the house and car, and Louise's (Lange) antique store is going to go bust unless she gets rid of the red ink. After the three women share their angst, they hit on a scheme of robbing cash from the local shopping mall, a place they know quite well. That familiarity, it turns out, cannot guarantee success. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Saint James, Jessica Lange, (more)
- 1978
Capitalizing on her sudden Three's Company-engendered superstardom, Suzanne Somers topped the cast of this innocuous made-for-TV comedy. Somers is cast as Mattie, a backwoods girl with big-city ambitions. Mattie is in love with fellow mountaineer Jack (Bruce Boxleitner), but she also craves stardom as a country-western singer. Things come to a head when Mattie is given her big showbiz chance in Las Vegas. In the course of things, Somers belts out a duet with co-star John Rubinstein, "You Made a Believer Out of Me." Happily Ever After first aired September 5, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Killer ants ruin the summer holidays of vacationers visiting a posh summer resort in this horror movie. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Just prior to her Three's Company superstardom, Suzanne Somers played the lead in the made-for-TV meller It Happened at Lakewood Manor. Boiled down to basics, this is a rehash of Jaws, with ants (!) substituting for sharks (the film's video release title, in fact, was Ants). A summer resort full of special-guest-star tourists is besieged by battalions of killer ants. Robert Foxworth, Myrna Loy, Lynda Day George, Bernie Casey, Barry Van Dyke and Brian Dennehy are among those on the little critters' menu. First telecast December 2, 1977, It Happened at Lakewood Manor was subsequently retitled Panic at Lakewood Manor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Bo Svenson plays a bonded courier whose girlfriend Meredith Baxter is kidnapped while the two of them are out on a date. The villains demand that Svenson participate in an elaborate scam. He is to fake a diamond robbery, so that the bad guys can collect a huge insurance settlement. But Svenson turns the tables on the crooks and saves Meredith from an untimely end (else she wouldn't have been able to play straight woman to Michael J. Fox on Family Ties). The pilot for an unsold Bo Svenson TV action series, Target Risk was originally telecast January 6, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
A robbery committed by three men goes horribly awry: one thief is killed, the second escapes, and the third, a lifelong loser named Hardway (Paul Burke), is arrested. While languishing behind bars, Hardway learns that his daughter has been kidnapped--and that the only way he can ransom her is to reveal the whereabouts of the stolen money. Ironside (Raymond Burr) enters the scene in hopes of saving the girl, retrieving the money, capturing the villain--and, just possibly, redeeming the hapless Hardway. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
One of the best of the early-1970s Disney farces, The World's Greatest Athlete stars Jan-Michael Vincent in the title role. A "wild boy" living off the land in the jungles of Africa, Vincent is discovered by coaches Tim Conway and John Amos. Cursed with a last-place college athletic lineup, Conway and Amos hope that Vincent will pull them out of their years-long slump. And he does, but not before several Disneyesque slapstick highlights, not to mention a handful of amusing special-effects gags (at one point, Conway is shrunk to mouse size by witch doctor Roscoe Lee Browne). Despite its formidable lineup of comedians-Conway, Billy DeWolfe, Nancy Walker, Vito Scotti et. al.--The World's Greatest Athlete's funniest line goes to guest star Howard Cosell! The script is the handiwork of Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso, late of That Was the Week That Was and Get Smart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Conway, Jan-Michael Vincent, (more)
- 1972
In this comedy, a burned out bookkeeper thinks about selling his soul to Satan. His thoughts invoke the presence of a bungling messenger from the devil himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Looking like a high-school junior, Michael Douglas plays a college professor in Adam at 6 AM. Tired of academia, Douglas opts for the supposed tranquility of rural Missouri. After working as farm hand for a few weeks, he realizes that his "normal" neighbors are as screwed up as any of his more sophisticated friends. To punch up the film's leisurely screenplay, a great deal of sex talk is injected, which may have sounded daring in 1970 but which plays like an episode of Married: With Children nowadays. Adam at 6 AM is blessed with a superb supporting cast: among the secondary actors is 1940s leading lady Anne Gwynne, making a one-time-only film comeback. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Douglas, Lee Purcell, (more)
