• DVD review: “Stingray” (1964-1965) 

    “Stingray” (1964-1965) 

    Television

    Thirty nine Episodes

    Created by: Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

    Featuring: Ray Barrett, Robert Easton, David Graham, Don Mason and Lois Maxwell

    Opening Theme:

    “Stand by for action, we’re about to launch Stingray

    Stingray Stingray
    Stingray Stingray

    Marineville i am calling all battle stations, Anything can happen in the next half hour

    Stingray Stingray”

    Released recently on DVD is the 1960s English television series “Stingray” (1964-1965) created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson whose biggest hit among their creations was “Thunderbirds” (1965-1966) using their own technique known as supermarionation (a portmanteau of the words “super”, “marionette” and “animation”). The characters were played by electronic marionettes with a moveable lower lip, which opened and closed in time with pre-recorded dialogue by means of a solenoid in the puppet’s head or chest. The productions were mostly science fiction and they also made extensive use of scale model special effects.

    Stingray, a nuclear-powered combat submarine, is the flagship of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP), a branch of the World Security Patrol (WSP) responsible for policing the Earth’s oceans in the mid-2060s. The WASP is based in the self-contained city of Marineville, located several miles inland somewhere on the West Coast of North America. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean via a tunnel leading to an “ocean door”, through which Stingray is launched. General quarters alerts are sounded by rapid drumbeats played over the base’s public address system. In emergency situations, the entire base can be lowered into underground bunkers via giant hydraulic jacks while fighter aircraft and interceptor missiles are launched to counter threats. Stingray is piloted by the square-jawed Captain Troy Tempest. He is paired with Southern navigator Lieutenant George Lee Sheridan, nicknamed “Phones” for his secondary role as Stingray’s hydrophone operator. Troy and Phones board Stingray from the Marineville stand-by lounge by sitting on twin seats that are then lowered into the submarine via injector tubes. They answer to the “hoverchair”-bound Commander Sam Shore, whose daughter, Lieutenant Atlanta Shore, works in the Marineville control tower and is enamoured of Troy.

    Overall, fans of Gerry Anderson’s work will not be disappointed, the DVD is well presented with good video, sound and extras, wrapped up with good menus. As far as the content goes, it’s typical Gerry Anderson material with a crazy sci-fi plot, plenty of action and technology being used to save the world. Each show runs for 30 minutes, and being designed to hold children’s interest, crams plenty into the short running time. Given the continued success of Stingray and Thunderbirds, it seems the Gerry Anderson got the balance about right, I certainly enjoyed watching Stingray again, although because of the similarity of the episodes, it’s not something to watch in one sitting. Thunderbirds is better, but Stingray still has plenty to offer.

    Episodes

    Stingray: Investigating the loss of a submarine, the crew of Stingray are captured by their new enemy, King Titan of the Aquaphibians.

    Emergency Marineville: Marineville goes to battle stations as a missile is launched. Counter measures are launched and the missile is destroyed before it hits. Troy and the Stingray are ordered to investigate with air squadrons in support. The search centers on an abandoned island when another missile launches also successfully destroyed before impact. Troy and Phones discover the mouth of a cave, following it they discover a secret base but are captured. Marina is then tortured till Troy gives up secret information about Marineville defenses. The occupants of the base use the information …

    The Ghost Ship: The sunken wreck of an old sailing ship suddenly rises to the surface and begins sailing. WASP are contacted and told the ocean liner Atlantis has gone missing after reporting the sighting of an ancient sea galleon. The Stingray is sent to investigate. In an unusual move Commander Shore accompanies them on the mission. Stingray arrives at the location to find it shrouded in fog. From nowhere they see the galleon reported by Atlantis. The Commander and Phones decide to board the galleon. Initially they find no one till they encounter a trap set by an unknown creature … 

    Subterranean Sea: Scientists drill through the ocean floor to find another sea underneath. WASP sends Stingray to investigate, after Commander Shore orders Troy and Phones to cancel a scheduled vacation. The Stingray crew discovers a weird place where water rapidly disappears then reappears.

    Loch Ness Monster: Admiral Denver fishing on Loch Ness is attacked by the monster. Back at WASP debate rages if the creature exists or if the admiral imagined it. To win the argument Shore orders the Stingray to investigate. Marina refuses to go and Atlanta steps in. They stay overnight at a castle overlooking the loch and during the evening they are woken by strange noises, a search reveals nothing of consequence. Next day they take Stingray out onto the Loch and encounter the monster. Taking evasive action they fire a missile. Rather than kill the creature, the missile exposes it as a…

    Set Sail for Adventure: Admiral Denver finishes showing the team at Marineville his favorite naval movie. This sparks a debate if modern sailors were as tough as the sailors from the age of sail. To win the argument Admiral Denver arranges a galleon to be borrowed from the museum with plans to sail it across the Pacific. Troy and the Stingray are assigned escort duty, despite Denver’s emphatic desire to have no outside help. The ship runs into a very bad storm, and the admiral is injured by falling rigging. The Stingray loses contact with the ship sparking a major air search which turns up …

    The Man from the Navy: During a training exercise Stingray is fired on by a submarine from the World Navy controlled by Captain Jordon. Despite Stingrays best efforts Tempest fails to shake the artificial missile and it thuds harmlessly into Stingray. On a nearby island an agent for the Aquaphibians makes a report back to King Titan about the successful test. Titan discovers another test is to be conducted and takes the opportunity to set a trap to destroy the Stingray and Tempest. The agents capture the World Navy sub and Jordon, then arms the dummy torpedo. The Stingray manages to avoid …

    An Echo of Danger: Titan, leader of the amphibians decides that destroying Stingray is taking too much effort. He thinks that getting the crew replaced on Stingray could be just as effective. He instructs surface agent X20 to take charge of the operation. Stingray while on escort duty is drawn into a trap set by X20 that sees a vessel destroyed and Phones’ judgment called into question. At the enquiry the blame for the loss is placed squarely with Phones. Troy begins a desperate search for answers before his best friends career is washed up.

    Raptures of the Deep: Although told otherwise, two men take an unsafe submarine to the ocean floor searching for a rumored forest of gems. As expected they quickly get into trouble and need rescue. As Stingray maneuver to help the trapped men, Troy himself gets into trouble. On the verge of death Troy has a strange encounter that sees him assume command of an undersea empire including the fabled gem forest. As his capital comes under attack things begin to crumble leading Troy realize all may not be as they seem.

    Titan Goes Pop: Duke Dexter the world’s most famous singer will be visiting Marineville for a benefit concert. Titan, although unsure who Dexter is, decides he could be valuable to Titanica’s plans and arranges for him to be kidnapped. Surface agent X20 gets the opportunity to execute the plan by using the confusion created in Marineville by the waves of Dexter fans arriving for the concert. Dexter is interviewed by Titan leading to some unusual conclusions both for Titan and the Stingray team

    In Search of the Tajmanon: Stingray is deployed to Africa to investigate a series of flooded underwater ruins that appear to have disappeared. Arriving at the site the crew discovers evidence of human intervention and narrowly avoid fatal trap when a bomb explodes under Stingray. Commander Shore believes the same people set the bomb and stole the temple complex and Troy and the team are ordered to solve the twin mysteries.

    A Christmas to Remember: Troy visits Barry, an orphan of a former commander of Marineville. After telling Barry stories of his adventures on Stingray, Troy invites the boy to spend Christmas at Marineville, and the holiday progresses Troy talks Commander Shore into allowing Barry to go on patrol with the Stingray crew. During the patrol a series of strange events occur that catapult Barry to the status of hero just like his father before him.

    Tune of Danger: Learning that a jazz group is to give a concert in the undersea city of Aphony, where Marina’s father lives, Surface Agent X20 plants a bomb in the group’s bass.

    The Ghost of the Sea: Commander Shore keeps having nightmares about the time when he was crippled in a sea battle with an underwater craft five years ago and rescued by a mysterious stranger.

    Rescue from the Skies: As part of his training to become an aquanaut, Lieutenant Fisher is given temporary command of Stingray and assigned target practice.

    The Lighthouse Dwellers: Just as an aircraft begins its approach towards a new airfield, the light from a disused lighthouse comes on, confusing the pilot and causing him to crash.

    The Big Gun: An underwater race that lives beneath the floor of the Pacific Ocean, has developed a large “missile ejector” and is test firing it on small islands. Stingray is sent to investigate and manages to prevent an attack on the West Coast of the United States. The underwater race devises a trap designed to lure the crew of Stingray to its doom and to launch an attack on Marineville.

    The Cool Cave Man: Troy Tempest is on standby duty while a ship carrying a radioactive isotope nears its port destination. He is supposed to rest. While he does so, he ponders how he should dress to a costume party hosted by Atlanta Shore. Suddenly, he gets a summons to help the stricken ship. Or does he?

    Deep Heat: After a robot probe inexplicably disappears, the Stingray crew is ordered to investigate.

    Star of the East: An Eastern dictator named El Hudat arrives in Marineville, wishing to become a member of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol.

    Invisible Enemy: Troy and Phones rescue a comatose man and take him back to Marineville for treatment.

    Tom Thumb Tempest: While waiting for the call to action in the Stand-By Lounge, Troy falls asleep.

    Eastern Eclipse: Having been dethroned by the people of his Eastern nation, El Hudat’s twin brother, Ali Khali, arrives in Marineville.

    Treasure Down Below: A ship with a load of gold disappears after hitting an iceberg. Meanwhile, the Stingray crew is enjoying a shore leave in Casablanca. While there, Troy Tempest is on a date with Marina while “Phones” is offered the chance to buy a purported treasure map for $500. “Phones” only has $200 but blackmails Troy by reminding him he has a date the next night with Atlanta Shore and gets the remaining money to buy the map. However, the map indicates the treasure is out of the way for Stringray’s return course to Marineville.

    Stand by for Action: A film crew arrives at Marineville to make a movie on Stingray. Everyone will play themselves except Troy, who is to be replaced by an actor.

    Pink Ice: Reports come in from all over the world about pink ice.

    The Disappearing Ships: When three disused freighters that are to be blown up by remote control mysteriously vanish, Troy and Phones set off in Stingray to find them.

    Secret of the Giant Oyster: After recovering a giant oyster, two explorers are captured by Troy in restricted waters.

    The Invaders: The Stingray crew fall into a trap set by aliens at a weather station.

    A Nut for Marineville: When a seemingly indestructible craft is sighted heading towards Marineville on a collision course, the eccentric Professor Burgoyne is called in to help develop a new super missile with which to destroy it.

    Trapped in the Depths: When the insane Professor Cordo kidnaps Atlanta and takes her back to his undersea farm, Troy and Phones give chase in Stingray.

    Count Down: As part of his plan to destroy Marineville, Surface Agent X20 infiltrates the base by posing as a professor who can teach mute people to speak.

    Sea of Oil: The Stingray crew are sent to investigate the mysterious destruction of oilrigs.

    Plant of Doom: Following the escape of his slave Marina, Titan plots revenge by planning to kill the Stingray crew with a deadly plant that gives off toxic fumes.

    The Master Plan: During a Terror Fish attack, Stingray is damaged. When Troy goes to make repairs, an Aquaphibian poisons him with some purple liquid.

    The Golden Sea: The Stingray crew is assigned to make monthly visits to Professor Darren and his team, who have developed a method for making gold from minerals taken from the sea bed.

    Hostages of the Deep: When an undersea alien named Gadus kidnaps World Navy Admiral Carson and his wife from their remote island home, Troy, Phones and Marina head off on a rescue mission in Stingray.

    Marineville Traitor: Commander Shore appears to be a traitor after Marineville’s security has been breached. This forces Troy Tempest to arrest his commanding officer and causes heartbreak for Atlanta Shore. However, just when the situation seems to be resolved, a complication occurs.

    Aquanaut of the Year: After receiving the ‘Aquanaut of the Year’ award, Troy finds himself part of a ‘This is Your Life’ programme where he reminisces some of his greatest adventures.

    The Reunion Party: While waiting for Atlanta and Marina, Commander Sam Shore shows to Admiral Denver films showing the previous missions that Troy Tempest and Phones had with the submarine Stingray.

  • DVD review: “Melrose Place” (1995-1999) 

    “Melrose Place” (1995-1999) 

    Television

    Two hundred and Twenty Six Episodes

    Developed by: Darren Star

    Featuring: Linden Ashby, Josie Bissett, Thomas Calabro, David Charvet, Marcia Cross, Kristin Davis, Rob Estes, Brooke Langton, Laura Leighton, Amy Locane, Jamie Luner, Alyssa Milano, John Haymes Newton, Johnny Drama, Lisa Rinna, Kelly Rutherford, Doug Savant, Grant Show, Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Jack Wagner, Vanessa A. Williams,Daphne Zuniga and Heather Locklear

    Dr. Michael Mancini: “It’s this building… it makes people nuts. It must be something in the water, something to do with the pool. Come to think of it, I was normal when I moved in.”

    Released recently on DVD is the 1990s soap/drama television series “Melrose Place” (1995-1999) that for most of its run was a ratings success and made stars out of most of its main cast.

    Melrose Place’s first season featured eight main characters: Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro), a physician who works at Wilshire Memorial Hospital; Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett), his budding fashion designer wife; Billy Campbell (Andrew Shue), a struggling writer adapting to life out of his parents’ control; Alison Parker (Courtney Thorne-Smith), a receptionist at D&D Advertising; Jake Hanson (Grant Show), a struggling manual laborer and motorcycle enthusiast; Matt Fielding (Doug Savant), a gay social worker; Rhonda Blair (Vanessa A. Williams), an aerobics instructor; and Sandy Harling (Amy Locane), a struggling actress who also works as a waitress at a local bar. Locane was written off after 13 episodes and replaced by Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds, a photographer running away from her abusive husband.

    Actress Heather Locklear, who in season one had guest starred as Alison’s boss Amanda Woodward, was promoted to series regular status in the second season after her character bought and moved into the Melrose Place apartment building. Guest Laura Leighton, recurring as Jane’s trouble-making younger sister Sydney Andrews in the first two seasons, was upgraded to series regular for season three. Marcia Cross, recurring as Dr. Kimberly Shaw in season 1, became a series regular by the end of the second season. Janet Carroll appeared in several episodes as Marion Shaw, Kimberly’s domineering mother.

    Season four saw two new regular characters: Peter Burns (Jack Wagner), the ruthless hospital Chief of Staff introduced in season three; and Brooke Armstrong (Kristin Davis), a young, conniving intern at D&D Advertising also recurring the previous season. Davis’s character was subsequently killed off in the middle of the fourth season, while Zuniga left the series at the end of the season. Patrick Muldoon also arrived in the third season as the villainous Richard Hart. Although Muldoon was not billed with the main cast (though he appeared in numerous promotional photos with them), he appeared in most of the fourth season’s episodes and is also Melrose Place’s longest recurring character (i.e. not in the opening credits) in terms of number of episodes.

    The fifth season saw the addition of Rob Estes as restaurateur Kyle McBride, Lisa Rinna as his opportunistic wife Taylor, and Brooke Langton as Samantha Reilly, an artist and a new tenant in the apartment complex. Bissett and Cross left the series towards the end of the fifth season; Kelly Rutherford was brought in as Megan Lewis, a prostitute hired by Kimberly Shaw to have an affair with Michael Mancini, and David Charvet played Craig Field, Amanda’s new co-worker and later Sydney’s boyfriend. The season finale featured the exits of series regulars Thorne-Smith, Show, and Leighton.

    The season premiere of season six featured the departure of original cast member Doug Savant while Alyssa Milano (recurring as Michael’s sister Jennifer Mancini since season five) was bumped to series regular, with Linden Ashby joining the cast as Dr. Brett Cooper and Jamie Luner as his seductive and rich ex-wife, Lexi Sterling.

    Charvet was written out in the middle of season 6, and the beginning of season seven saw the departure of Shue, Langton, Rinna, Milano, and Ashby. The show’s seventh season introduced John Haymes Newton as Ryan McBride, Kyle’s younger brother, and Rena Sofer as Eve Cleary, a woman from Amanda’s past who marries Peter. Sofer was not billed with the main cast. Bissett reprised her role as Jane for the seventh season.

    Episodes

    Season One

    Pilot: Alison’s roommate leaves in the middle of the night and sticks her with the rent. The goofy Billy Campbell approaches her and asks about the vacancy, but she turns him down. Faced with eviction, she finally takes him up on his offer. Alison accidentally dents the car door of a vice president at the ad agency that employs her, D&D. She accepts a date with him, but Billy has to come to the rescue when the man tries to force his way into the apartment. Jake attempts a relationship with Kelly Taylor, a teenager whose house he had helped remodel. They are constantly faced with obstacles due to their age difference. Rhonda is pursued by one of her aerobics students, but learns that his interest is anything but romantic.

    Friends and Lovers: Billy picks up a talkative girl who was a passenger in his cab. Alison finds her to be annoying, and Michael and Jane suspect that she is jealous. Jake is arrested following a scuffle at the unemployment office, and is less than grateful when Kelly bails him out. Jane and Michael reminisce about their first meeting.

    Lost and Found: Jake fears that Kelly will be hurt if they continue their relationship. He sets up a fake date with a friend and rubs it in Kelly’s face to trick her into breaking up with him. Jane loses her wedding ring during a girls’ night out with Rhonda. Billy writes a screenplay inspired by his experiences with the talkative girl, but Alison isn’t impressed.

    For Love and Money: Alison is enraged when a guy from the mail room steals her idea for a sunscreen account. After failing miserably in his new job at a coffee shop, Jake agrees to help his ex-girlfriend Peri with the sale of a fraudulent painting. He backs out of the deal after catching Peri using drugs, and later lands a job as a mechanic. Matt questions Rhonda’s character after she reneges on a promise to help with a dinner at the halfway house.

    Leap of Faith: Jane learns that she is pregnant, but doesn’t tell Michael because he hadn’t seemed thrilled by the prospect of having kids. She tries to get an abortion secretly, but changes her mind. Michael is furious at Jane for keeping him in the dark, until the joy over their child brings them back together. Billy is given a column in the neighborhood newspaper. He can’t come up with a topic because his life is boring. Hoping to alleviate this problem, he convinces Jake and Matt to go bungee-jumping with him. After he is unable to go through with the jump, Billy writes a column about “wimping out.”

    Second Chances: Jake asks Alison to help him study for his G.E.D., but requests that she keep the matter a secret. The building is filled with gossip after Alison is seen sneaking out of Jake’s apartment after an all-night study session. Billy and Sandy become jealous. Jake and Alison share a kiss, but decide to just remain friends. When Rhonda meets up with an old friend from her dancing days, she is haunted by memories of the injury she faked to avoid an audition. After Rhonda learns that a spot has opened in her friend’s dance troupe, she is determined to redeem herself. She nails the audition, but decides that she’s happy with her current life.

    My Way: Billy asks Alison to accompany him on a visit to his parents’ house, then pleads with her to pose as his girlfriend. Billy tries to convince his parents that he is a successful writer, but is roped into helping run his father’s furniture store. He quits in a huff after his father questions his sales techniques. Sandy gets a swelled head after landing a part in a horror movie, and ends up moving out. She comes down to earth after the director tries to insert nudity into one of her scenes.

    Lonely Hearts: A jilted blind date stalks Sandy, and Jake finds himself behind bars after he roughs up the guy in the hopes of getting him to back off. Alison looks to replace her clunker car, but has a difficult time letting go.

    Responsibly Yours: Billy begins dating a stand-up comedian with a young son and financial problems, and Alison finds herself caught in the middle. Billy loses the boy’s trust when he tries to stand up to the absentee father. Jake and Sandy try to rebuild their relationship, but Sandy is enraged when their first date goes a little too well.

    Burned: During his surprise birthday party, Jake receives an unexpected visit from his mother. Her constant drinking and carousing creates friction in their already-strained relationship. Although Sandy suggests that he be more understanding, Jake throws his mother out. He later goes to the bus station to apologize and see her off. Billy is the victim of a car-jacking after dropping off a passenger in South Central, and begins to display signs of racial prejudice. Billy and Jake conduct a stake-out that leads to the arrest of the surprisingly young culprit. Rhonda takes Billy back to South Central to educate him about the area’s people.

    A Promise Broken: During a routine appointment, Jane learns that she has suffered a miscarriage. Rhonda and Matt give the Mancinis a puppy to try to take their minds off their loss, but Jane loses the dog at the beach. Jane and Michael decide to let a homeless woman keep the dog, and realize they must confront their pain. Alison lashes out at Billy after she finds him fooling around with one of her bras in the laundry room. She later reveals the source of her embarrassment.

    Polluted Affairs: After a chance meeting in the street, Alison becomes romantically involved with environmentalist Keith Gray. She is stunned to learn that he is married, but finds it difficult to break off the relationship after he vows to leave his wife for her. Billy is saddled with bad credit because he has yet to pay off a college loan that he didn’t even need. Jane is determined to work off the weight from her pregnancy. She realizes that she is trying too hard to forget the miscarriage.

    Dreams Come True: Alison continues to see Keith, despite the misgivings of her friends and the fact that her erratic behavior has put her job in jeopardy. Billy confronts Keith about his treatment of Alison. Matt is the victim of an attack outside a nightclub. When an officer from the hate crimes unit comes to the halfway house, Matt’s supervisor is stunned to learn that Matt is gay. He quickly devises a reason to fire him. Jake and Rhonda convince Matt to seek legal recourse. A customer at Shooters asks Sandy to audition for a soap opera. She wins the role and moves to New York.

    Drawing the Line: Keith stays with Alison while his estranged wife, Lily, is in town for the weekend. Alison is wracked with guilt after Lily confronts her in a dream, and recalls the despair her mother suffered following her father’s affair. After bailing out of a camping trip, Alison drives to Keith’s house to catch a glimpse of Lily. She realizes that she can’t continue the affair. Matt’s parents refuse to support his lawsuit because they fear it would damage their reputation. He finds a lawyer who will work for free, provided that he let her use the case to publicize the issue of anti-gay discrimination. Rhonda’s “efficient” new roommate turns out to be completely anal-retentive.

    House of God: A mysterious aspiring photographer named Jo Reynolds moves into the building. She responds coldly to Jake and Billy’s advances, but strikes up a friendship with Alison when they take out their romantic frustration on a washing machine. Jo flirts shamelessly with Jake after he comes up to her apartment in a towel to remind her about the hot water shortage. Michael and Jane learn that a respected pediatrician is abusing his wife.

    The Whole Truth: Jake grows closer to Jo after taking her for a motorcycle ride, but becomes suspicious when she borrows his bike without permission and tries to sell a bracelet with the inscription “To Beth.” Jake gets into a bar fight with a guy who insists that Jo is someone named Beth. Jake demands the truth, and Jo tells him that she had used her middle name since she was eight, when her mother committed suicide. She recently escaped from an abusive marriage, and has changed her name back to Jo to make a fresh start. Billy fantasizes about Alison while under the influence of medication following a trip to the dentist. Jane is hired by Kay Beacon, the snooty designer who has just purchased the store where Jane worked. Matt regains his job in a settlement with the halfway house, but uses his monetary winnings to fund a scholarship.

    Jake vs. Jake: Jake is visited by an old girlfriend, Colleen, who stuns him with the news that he is the father of her five-year-old son. She asks Jake to waive his parental rights so that her husband can adopt the boy, but he is reluctant. Alison learns that she needs surgery to remove a cyst. Because she has no insurance, Michael and Billy must come up with a plan to make the operation affordable. Rhonda falls for a wealthy restaurant owner

    A Melrose Place Christmas: Billy smothers Alison with attention after she comes home from the hospital. He is stung when she tells him to back off. Jake and Jo observe that the necklace Billy plans to give Alison for Christmas is more than a “friendship” present. Alison apologizes to Billy during the building’s Christmas party, and admits that she is confused by her feelings for him. Jo and Jake try to overcome their unhappy memories of Christmas. Michael is depressed when he and Kimberly cannot save a young gunshot victim, but his spirits are revived after delivering a baby for the first time. He invites Kimberly to the Christmas party, as Jane is out of town. Rhonda flies to Aspen with Terrence for the holidays. Matt makes up with his father.

    Single White Sister: Jane receives a surprise visit from her sister Sydney, who has dropped out of college. Jane keeps the news from their parents, but is annoyed when Syd hangs around her workplace. Kay eventually hires Sydney as her assistant. Billy agrees to set up Alison with one of his friends, as she needs a date to the advertisers’ ball. He scuttles the whole thing due to jealousy, and agrees to be Alison’s date to make it up to her. Jo is disturbed by letters from her husband, whom Jake later finds snooping around the mailboxes. Rhonda is furious when Terrence doesn’t defend her honor to his snobbish friends, but he later proposes marriage.

    Peanut Butter and Jealousy: Sydney continues to get on Jane’s nerves. After Jane accuses her of trying to steal her life (in lieu of getting one of her own), Syd sabotages Jane’s surprise birthday party. Jane orders her to move out. Jake feels helpless when Jo begins seeing her husband, Charles, who seems to be a changed man. Charles shows his ugly side after drinking, and grants Jo a divorce. Billy is hurt when Alison leaves the advertisers’ ball with another man. Matt fears that he and Rhonda will drift apart after her marriage. She ignores tradition and asks him to be her best man in the wedding.

    Picture Imperfect: Alison is promoted to junior account executive and meets her immediate superior, Amanda Woodward. Alison flirts with the handsome tennis star who is modeling for an underwear account. She decides not to pursue him because it she fears it could affect her career. Jo is hired as photographer, but jeopardizes the account with her “alternative” photos. Billy doesn’t hit it off with a blind date arranged by Michael, but is attracted to Amanda. An overwhelmed Rhonda breaks her engagement.

    Three’s a Crowd: Amanda, Billy and Alison spend the weekend at a lakeside cabin. Alison is concerned by Billy and Amanda’s obvious attraction. She asks Billy not to date Amanda, as a break-up could hurt Alison’s career. They decide to see each other behind her back, but Amanda later comes clean. Jake and Jo have a romantic evening and consummate their relationship. Matt is caught in the middle of Rhonda and Terrence’s romantic problems. The couple gets back together, but decides to take it slow.

    My New Partner: Amanda suggests that Alison examine her feelings for Billy. Before she can talk with Billy, Alison is approached by a now-divorced Keith at Shooters. She denies her attraction to Billy. Billy sleeps with Amanda. Jake loses his job when the repair shop goes out of business. Jo receives a $50,000 divorce settlement, and offers to invest the money in a bike shop for Jake. After some resistance, he finally agrees to become her business partner. Michael tries to convince Jane that they should join a country club.

    Bye Bye Billy: Billy backs out of plans with Alison to have dinner with Amanda and her father. Amanda’s father declares that Billy is a worthless bum. Keith loans Alison his sports car, but she has it stolen at gunpoint. He comforts her when Billy isn’t home to hear her tearful messages. Billy feels guilty about not being there for Alison. Amanda suspects that Billy is in love with Alison. He tries to disprove this by moving in with Amanda. Keith asks Alison to move to Seattle with him. Jake freaks out when he learns that Jo owns a gun. Rhonda’s ex-roommate Carrie is hired to decorate Terrence’s new house, and tries to make a play for him.

    Irreconcilable Similarites: Billy and Amanda bicker constantly after he moves in with her. Alison quits her job and decides to move to Seattle with Keith. Billy confronts Amanda after she insults Alison at her farewell party. Amanda sarcastically wonders if Billy would rather be with Alison. Billy breaks up with Amanda, then races to the airport to try to stop Alison from leaving Los Angeles. She tells him that it is too late for them, and leaves. Michael’s college friend Sam makes a pass at Jane after they have dinner together. Michael is livid when Sam–not Jane–is the one to tell him about the incident. Kimberly offers to “comfort” him. Jake and Jo argue about their new business.

    End Game: Billy’s father dies of a heart attack. Amanda shows up at the funeral in an attempt to score points with her ex. Alison flies back from Seattle to comfort Billy. Billy feels that he let his father down, and decides to take over the furniture store. His mother says that she is going to run the store with Billy’s sister Celeste. She gives Billy a letter in which his father expressed his pride in him. Billy drives Alison to the airport, but she decides to move back to Los Angeles. Billy’s family tragedy prompts Matt to attempt to repair his own relationship with his father. Rhonda fears that she is losing Terrence to Carrie. Although she asks him to fire Carrie, Terrence convinces her to do it herself.

    The Test: Jake and Jo are forced to submit to AIDS tests after his ex-girlfriend Peri reveals that she is HIV positive. Unable to cope with their anxiety, Jake and Jo take off on their bikes and spend the night in the desert. He apologizes for the situation, and they confess their love. Their tests come back negative, and Jake offers his support to Peri. Billy uses an embellished résumé to win a job at Escapade Magazine. He confesses the truth to his new boss, Nancy, but she is impressed by his writing and lets him keep the job. Alison returns to work at D&D.

    Pushing Boundaries: Billy is furious when Alison suggests that Nancy hired him because she is attracted to him, not for his writing ability. Alison tries to make amends by fixing him a nice dinner, but he ignores her to go out with Nancy. Alison’s instincts about Nancy prove to be correct. Billy threatens to quit unless Nancy agrees to back off. Michael continues to give Jane the cold shoulder, and later begins an affair with Kimberly. Matt gets a date with a lawyer, but he turns out to be an egomaniac who only cares about material items.

    Pas de Trois: Alison sees Michael and Kimberly making out in the hospital parking lot. Alison confronts him, but he warns her to mind her own business. Michael spends his day off at the beach with Kimberly. When Jane calls the hospital, she is surprised to learn that he is not on call. She later finds sand in his shoes. Amanda propositions Billy at Lucy’s engagement party, and Alison becomes jealous after seeing Amanda kiss him. Jo advises Alison to make a move on Billy, but Amanda invites him to her house before she has the chance. He comes home and wakes up Alison to assure her that he didn’t sleep with Amanda. Amanda says that Alison is in love with Billy, and taunts her for being gutless. When Billy comes home from work that night, Alison greets him with a passionate kiss. Jake and Jo bicker over her preparation of the bike shop’s taxes.

    Carpe Diem: Billy and Alison’s first real date is a disaster, as she is fretting about Michael’s affair and he has only one thing on his mind. Before they can try again, Alison is called away to a conference in Palm Springs. On her way out, Alison tells Jane about Michael and Kimberly, but she doesn’t believe her. Michael denies everything, but Jane later catches him at Kimberly’s apartment. Jake loans Billy his motorcycle so that he can surprise Alison in Palm Springs. Amanda intercepts a note intended for Alison and tries to send Billy home. He runs into Alison in the parking lot. They check into the hotel and consummate their relationship.

    State of Need: Billy and Alison’s relationship is torn apart when Amanda discovers that she is pregnant with his child. Michael begs Jane to give him another chance, and she agrees to attend couples’ therapy. Jo’s nights out partying with a new model friend come to an end after the woman makes passes at both Jake and Jo.

    Suspicious Minds: The apartment building goes up for sale. Lucy resigns from D&D, and tells Amanda and Alison that promotions may be in their future. Amanda asks Alison to keep her pregnancy under wraps, but Alison lets it slip while out drinking with a colleague to make Billy jealous. Amanda denies the man’s allegations. She later suffers a miscarriage while working late with Alison. An unidentified individual begins harassing Alison. Keith returns to Los Angeles, completely obsessed with Alison. Michael and Jane rekindle their romance during a weekend getaway. Jo tries to dodge Jake’s discussions of commitment. She is arrested for carrying a concealed weapon while working on a photo essay about the homeless. Jake is enraged to learn that she went back on her promise to get rid of the gun. Rhonda proposes to Terrence. Keith stakes out Alison’s apartment, and attacks Billy from behind with a tire iron. While Billy is in the hospital, Keith shows up to console Alison. Billy tells Amanda that he is in love with Alison. Jane confronts Kimberly at the hospital, and learns that Michael hasn’t broken off the affair. Billy and Alison come home to learn that Amanda and her father have purchased the building.

    Season Two

    Much Ado About Everything: Amanda throws herself a housewarming party, but forces Alison to work late so that she can hit on Billy. Alison continues to receive threatening letters and phone calls. Keith picks her up at work and takes her to the party. He slips something into her drink and tries to take advantage of her, but Billy interrupts. Keith purposely injures his head and claims that he was attacked. Billy doesn’t seem to believe him. In order to dodge suspicion, Keith pays a homeless man to make an obscene phone call to Alison while Keith is present. Jane files for divorce. Michael moves in with Kimberly. Jake brings a bimbo to the housewarming party to make Jo jealous, and Jo agrees to live with him. They argue about everything. Matt loses his job when the halfway house shuts down.

    A Long Night’s Journey: Billy remains wary of Alison’s relationship with Keith. Alison agrees to drive Keith to the airport. When she drops by his hotel room to pick him up, he tries to rape her. She kicks him in the groin and escapes. Keith is arrested, but released due to lack of evidence. Billy follows him back to Seattle. Jo fears that Amanda has set her sights on Jake. Michael convinces Kimberly to lie about their affair in court. Jane throws the wedding china at Michael. Sydney returns to L.A., and Michael seeks her friendship.

    Revenge: Billy shows up at Keith’s work site and assaults him. After Alison tells Keith that she hates him, he commits suicide while on the phone with her. Alison begins drinking and is sent home from work. Amanda tries to convince Jake to model for a beer campaign. Sydney caters to Michael’s every whim, despite a warning from Jane. Matt is hired by the hospital’s social services department.

    Fire Power: Amanda threatens to fire Alison when her drinking gets out of hand. Billy forces her to confront her guilt over Keith’s suicide. Amanda hires Jo for an evening photo shoot, then takes Jake to dinner to discuss “business.” On her way out of the bike shop, she accidentally knocks over a blowtorch. The shop burns to the ground. Jo is placed in danger because she believed Jake was still inside the building. Jake is suspected of arson and insurance fraud. Sam returns to town for a construction job and has dinner with Jane. Sydney tells Michael about the date; and he confronts Sam at the job site, much to Kimberly’s annoyance. A female doctor has a crush on Matt.

    Of Bikes and Men: Jake realizes that he accidentally burned the shop down. He flies into a rage and trashes Jo’s apartment. She throws him out. He later breaks up with her for failing to trust him. Alison tags along when Billy travels to a beautiful hotel to interview the reclusive owner. The man’s daughter gropes Billy under the table during dinner. Michael accuses Jane of infidelity. He shows up at Jane’s favorite supermarket to spite her, so she rams her cart into him and dumps spaghetti sauce on his head. Kimberly breaks down during a court hearing and admits her affair with Michael. Matt tells his friend Katya that he is gay, and learns that she has a five-year-old daughter.

    Hot and Bothered: Billy and Alison cannot get Jake and Jo back together. Amanda forces Jake to work with Jo on a photo shoot, where they bicker. The Mancinis’ divorce is finalized. Michael fears that Jane is stealing his friends, so he throws a party at the beach house. Jane goes drinking with Alison and Jo; then sleeps with her lawyer, Robert. Kimberly is irritated when a drunken Michael flirts with every woman at the party. Sydney passes out drunk and spends the night on Michael and Kimberly’s couch. Jake tries to invite himself to Amanda’s apartment, but she slaps him. Katya asks Matt to marry her so that she and her daughter Nikki won’t be deported.

    Flirting With Disaster: Jane throws Sydney out, but Amanda leases her an apartment in the building. Alison travels to a ranch to make a presentation to millionaire computer exec Steve McMillan, but it does not go as planned. Matt decides to marry Katya. Michael sleeps with Sydney while Kimberly is out of town at a conference.

    No Bed of Roses: Amanda’s father offers Jake a high-paying job at his car restoration business. He refuses, but changes his mind after sleeping with Amanda. Jo is devastated by the news, but cheers up when Steve asks her on a date. Sydney prevents Michael from breaking up with her by threatening to expose their affair. Jane decides to take things slowly with Robert.

    Married to It: Sydney gets a waitress job at Shooters. Kimberly catches Michael in bed with Sydney. She tells Jane, and says that she did her a favor by breaking up her marriage because “that man is sick.” Kimberly moves out when Michael refuses to leave the beach house. A drunken Michael interrupts Jane’s dinner with Robert’s parents. Matt gets a date, but is distracted when Katya and an ailing Nikki have to move into his apartment to fool an immigration official. Alison is jealous of Steve’s relationship with Jo.

    The Tangled Web: Jo, Alison and Billy go to Steve’s ranch for the weekend. Billy is unhappy about Steve’s attraction to Alison. Jo and Steve break up because she hasn’t gotten over Jake. Jo confronts Alison after learning of Steve’s feelings for her. Steve and Alison later share a kiss. Jake suspects that Palmer is engaging in fraud. Kimberly refuses to take Michael back.

    Collision Course: Michael convinces Kimberly to have dinner with him. When she rejects his marriage proposal, he becomes very drunk. Kimberly changes her mind during the drive home, but Michael loses control of the car during their celebratory kiss. The car flips off an embankment, leaving Michael paralyzed and Kimberly in a coma. Michael blames Syd for the accident. The police suspect that Michael was driving under the influence. He pleads with Matt to change the results of his blood alcohol test. One of Sydney’s co-workers takes her to a party. She makes a date with a director, unaware that he is under the impression that she is a hooker. Jo gives Alison the cold shoulder, and warns her that she is on the verge of destroying her relationship with Billy.

    Cold Turkey: Alison has to miss Thanksgiving dinner when Amanda sends her to San Francisco for a presentation on Steve’s account. Billy, aware that Steve will try to romance her, threatens to break up with Alison if she makes the trip. She ignores his ultimatum. A suddenly sympathetic Amanda urges Billy not to give up on Alison. He calls her room, but hangs up when Steve answers the phone. The FBI orders Jake to assist them with a sting on Palmer. Jake skips Thanksgiving dinner (or in Jo’s words, “Amanda’s tribute to the men in her life”) to hang out on the stairs and talk with Jo. Jane offers Sydney a holiday truce, but Syd decides to dine with a madam named Lauren and her girls. Kimberly’s mother has her daughter shipped home to Cleveland.

    Duet for One: Michael learns that Kimberly has died. He is transferred to a rehab hospital, but manages to convince Jane to take him in. Robert is enraged by this development. Billy breaks up with Alison and moves in with Jake. Sydney becomes a prostitute. Katya leaves Nikki with Matt as she returns to Russia to care for her mother.

    Strange Bedfellows: Alison learns that Steve is leaving for Europe in a few days. He gives her a new jeep and confesses his feelings. Alison joins him for a weekend on his ranch, but suddenly dumps him because she wants to reconcile with Billy. Billy’s bitterness about Alison clouds his judgment on a writing assignment. Jake forces Palmer to confess to fraud on tape. Palmer convinces Amanda that Jake set him up, so she dumps Jake and plots to evict him. Michael falls out of bed, and Sydney refuses to help him until he apologizes for his past actions. Jo rejects Jake’s thinly veiled advances, but Billy and Amanda sleep together.

    Under the Mistletoe: Billy manages to sneak out of Amanda’s apartment without detection. Alison asks him for a reconciliation, but he turns her down. Matt promises Nikki a Christmas party. Billy and Jake look for a tree for the courtyard, and end up running into Jo and Alison. Billy tries to fly home for Christmas, but can’t get a flight. He plays Santa at Nikki’s party. Alison finds him sneaking a present into her stocking during the night. They apologize and renew their relationship. A temporary nurse prompts Michael to reflect on his behavior. He apologizes to Jane and Robert. Sydney goes to confession and gives up hooking. Nikki returns to Russia.

    Reunion Blues: Billy tells Amanda that he and Alison are back together. Amanda responds by removing Alison from the Microcomp account because she was romantically involved with the client. Amanda moves forward with her plans to evict Jake, but Jo refuses to testify against him. Amanda relents when she needs Jake’s help with a plumbing problem. Palmer confesses his guilt to Amanda and skips town. She goes back to Jake. Jo goes to her ten-year high school reunion and runs into Reed, an old boyfriend who has just been released from prison. He later turns up at her apartment. Michael has a breakthrough at a physical therapy session, and regains the use of his legs. Sydney is busted for prostitution. Michael bails her out and agrees to keep quiet if she helps him break up Jane and Robert.

    Michael’s Game: Alison complains to the brass about Amanda’s mistreatment of her. After the FBI shows up with questions about her father’s disappearance, Amanda is ordered to take a vacation. She heads to Hawaii with Jake, but returns because she fears that Alison is after her job. She goes to Billy and threatens to expose their one-night stand unless he gets Alison to back off. He refuses to cave in, although Alison ends up apologizing to Amanda anyway. Sydney sets up a hooker with an unknowing Robert during a business trip. Jane receives a videotape of the two together and breaks up with Robert. Reed and Jo sleep together. He later decides to start a charter boat service.

    Arousing Suspicions: After Michael shuns her, Sydney tells Jane the truth about her involvement with prostitution and Michael’s scheme against Robert. Jane blames herself for Sydney’s problems, and throws Michael out. Sydney is acquitted because of an incompetent prosecution team. Jo is angry when Reed approaches Amanda as a potential investor in his charter boat service. Jake confronts Reed about his intentions toward the two women in his life. Billy wins a promotion, but learns that the job requires a move to New York. Matt is annoyed by the bizarre behavior of his new love interest. He learns that the man is a closeted Navy officer.

    The Young Men and the Sea: Amanda and Jo invest in Reed’s business, and Jake is hired as chief mechanic. Jo displays a lack of trust toward Reed after he leaves a suitcase of personal possessions in her care. Michael becomes addicted to painkillers. Jane files a restraining order against him. She calls the police when Michael shows up at her apartment, but Sydney gives him refuge. After Michael talks Syd into getting him more pills, she finds him passed out on his bathroom floor. Alison refuses to move to New York with Billy, and suggests they try a long-distance relationship. Jeffrey fears that his relationship with Matt could jeopardize his career.

    Parting Glances: Jake and Amanda pull out of Reed’s business when Jake discovers some inconsistencies in his story, but Jo accuses him of jealousy. Reed picks up a shipment of drugs on the boat while Jo is sleeping on board. When Jo discovers drugs stored in a compartment below deck, Reed assaults and kidnaps her. Sydney overhears a semi-comatose Michael babbling about his plea for Matt to change his blood alcohol results. She lays the groundwork for a blackmail scheme. Frustrated by her inability to get in touch with Billy, Alison flies to New York to surprise him. She is stunned to find him having drinks with another woman. Jeffrey is transferred to the east coast after coming out of the closet.

    Swept Away: Reed plans to start over in Mexico after one last major drug deal. Jo knocks him overboard with a harpoon, but the boat runs out of gas. When Reed climbs on board and holds her at gunpoint, Jo is forced to shoot and kill him. She is arrested when the Coast Guard raids the boat. Alison accepts Billy’s explanation about his date, but breaks up with him again when he falsely assumes that she is moving to New York. He follows her back to Los Angeles and surprises her with a marriage proposal. Sydney presents her blackmail demands and moves in with Michael.

    With This Ball and Chain: Jo faces murder charges following Reed’s death. Jake is angry when Amanda refuses to help Jo because she could be implicated through her financial ties to Reed. She later has a change of heart, hiring her accomplished family attorney to represent Jo and putting the apartment building up as collateral for her bail. The charges are eventually dropped; the D.A. knew that Jo’s crime was self-defense, but wanted to press her for information about Reed’s associates. Alison accepts Billy’s proposal. Billy tells Amanda that he wants to tell Alison about their one-night stand (but doesn’t follow through), so Amanda confesses to Jake. At the engagement party, Jake decks Billy after being asked to serve as best man. Amanda explains the situation to Alison. Alison is stunned by the news, but forgives Billy. Sydney decides that she and Michael are getting married.

    Otherwise Engaged: Sydney and Jane get into a catfight in the pool after Syd tries to take Jane’s wedding dress (a family heirloom). Their mother comes to town, but cannot talk Syd out of the marriage. Michael and Sydney are married at the beach house, with only Matt in attendance. Inspired by a dream, Michael decides to take Syd on a honeymoon and murder her. Jo learns that she is pregnant with Reed’s child, and plans to have an abortion. Amanda is jealous of the amount of time Jake is spending with Jo, until she learns about the pregnancy. Jo decides to have the baby. Billy’s co-worker Celia and Alison lay a guilt trip on him until he buys Alison a more expensive engagement ring.

    Love, Mancini Style: Michael attempts to kill Sydney during their honeymoon in the mountains of northern California, but fails twice. Matt pursues them in the hopes of preventing the crime. Michael has the chance to push Syd off a cliff, but cannot go through with it. Sydney vows that he will love her one day. A guilt-ridden Matt tells Jane that he altered Michael’s blood alcohol records after the accident. Jane uses a signed confession from Matt to blackmail Michael and Sydney into staying married. Jo is haunted by visions of Reed, and is angry when she learns that Jake has decided to start a charter service on Reed’s boat, the Pretty Lady. He convinces Jo to face her guilt head on, and she visits Reed’s grave site to offer her forgiveness. Amanda erupts after seeing Jake comfort Jo. Alison decides that she and Billy won’t sleep together again until after the wedding.

    The Two Mrs. Mancinis: Billy ignores Alison’s wishes and tags along when she heads to Wisconsin for her father’s fiftieth birthday party. He is furious when Alison refuses to share the news of their engagement. When Alison’s ex-boyfriend Adam serenades her during the party, Billy announces the engagement. Adam warns Billy that the Parker family is “weird.” Alison is haunted by nightmares after returning to L.A. Jane and Sydney’s grandmother dies. Jane learns that she is to inherit $100,000, and decides to start her own design firm. Her plans are complicated when Syd and Michael seek a cut of the money because it is willed to “Dr. and Mrs. Michael Mancini.” Michael confronts Matt about his confession to Jane, and they duke it out. Jo’s potential romance with a model is quashed when he learns about her pregnancy.

    In Bed With the Enemy: Alison turns to a psychiatrist for help coping with her nightmares, but Jo warns that she seems to be developing romantic feelings for the man. Amanda resolves Jane’s financial dilemma by making Michael her business partner. Jane asks her accountant to falsify the design firm’s financial records to keep Michael and Syd from cutting into her profits. Sydney takes over Lauren’s operation after the madam is arrested. Amanda hires a young man named Ted Ryan as building manager. She fires him when he continually exhibits strange behavior, but he lurks around the building and watches Amanda in the shower.

    Psycho Therapy: Jake makes amends with Billy before leaving for a weekend fishing trip. Jo discovers that Ted is a peeping tom, and she and Amanda catch him sneaking around in the crawl space above Amanda’s apartment. Amanda refuses to allow Jo to call the police until Amanda has tied up Ted and emotionally tortured him. Billy warns Dr. Miller not to interfere in his relationship with Alison. Alison ends their sessions, but not before Dr. Miller makes an astute observation about her relationships with men. Michael learns that Dr. Levin is a client of Sydney’s “escort service,” and uses this information to blackmail his boss into appointing him chief resident. Michael tells Sydney that he wants to give their marriage a chance. As they kiss on the deck, Kimberly observes them from the beach below.

    The Bitch Is Back: Michael is astonished when Kimberly pays him a late-night visit. She reveals that she was in a coma for months, and that her mother claimed that she had died to keep Michael away from her. Michael dumps Sydney without explanation. When she brings a police officer to the hospital to have Michael arrested for manslaughter, Kimberly enters the room, prompting Syd to faint. Kimberly is plagued by headaches, and removes a wig in the bathroom to reveal a nasty scar on the side of her head. Amanda fires a model after learning that she is from the agency Models Inc., and is reprimanded by her boss. She reveals that her estranged mother, Hillary Michaels, is the head of the agency. Amanda rejects Hillary’s overtures, but Jake later convinces her to give her mother a chance. Alison takes back her decree about not sleeping with Billy until their wedding night. Alison’s parents hire an obnoxious wedding planner, but Billy and Alison fire her and decide to marry in the courtyard of the apartment building.

    Imperfect Strangers: Kimberly threatens Sydney when she tries to stake her claim on Michael. Syd’s business party is crashed by a newly freed Lauren, who breaks their earlier agreement and demands $15,000 by the end of the week. When Jane refuses to help her, Sydney takes a job as a stripper. Kimberly is still disturbed by Michael’s marriage to Sydney, and makes plans for revenge. Alison is annoyed when Amanda hires her mother’s fiancé, Chas. He refuses to take his share of the work, and ingratiates himself with Amanda by helping her smooth things over with Hillary. Alison later catches Amanda and Chas kissing in a conference room. Jo conducts a photo shoot with her model friend, Sarah, aboard the Pretty Lady. They are forced to stay overnight when the boat experiences engine trouble, and Jake and Jo nearly rekindle their romance. Sarah seeks refuge at Jo’s apartment after her visiting boyfriend Hank attacks her. Hank shows up at Jo’s doorstep and tries to come after Sarah. When Jo steps between them, Hank throws her down the stairs.

    Devil With the G-String On: Amanda is furious when Jake skips work to hold a bedside vigil for Jo. Jo is not seriously injured, and learns that her baby was unharmed. Billy warns Alison to keep quiet about Amanda’s rendezvous with Chas. Jake tracks down Hank at a pool hall and beats him up. He shows up late for dinner with Amanda, sporting a black eye, and storms out when she lambastes him for defending Jo. Michael throws Billy a bachelor party at a strip club, unaware that Sydney is the entertainment. When she sees Michael, she runs out of the club and is fired. A drunken Billy accidentally tells Jake about Amanda and Chas. Jake breaks up with Amanda, who fires Chas and vows to destroy Alison. Jake admits his feelings for Jo, and she agrees to take him back. Kimberly alters the chart of one of Michael’s patients, prompting him to unwittingly commit an error that nearly kills the man. He is stripped of the chief resident position. Kimberly bullies Jane into turning over the $5000 in profits she had kept from Michael. She tries to use the money to hire a hit man to kill Michael, but settles on doing the job herself.

    Till Death Do Us Part 1 and 2: Jo is certain that Amanda will not gracefully bow out of her relationship with Jake. Hillary refuses to believe that Chas tried to seduce Amanda. Chas files a $10 million sexual harassment suit against Amanda, and the agency does not support her. She turns to Jake for consolation. Sydney is assaulted by three hookers when she invades their turf. Kimberly comforts her and pays her rent. She convinces Syd to participate in her plot to kill Michael, and they plan the crime over ice cream. Michael stands in the way of Jane’s plans to expand her business. Billy’s college friend Rob comes to town to serve as his best man, and gets along well with Matt. Billy is stunned to see them kissing in the courtyard.

    Season Three

    I Am Curious Melrose: Michael survives the hit-and-run, but suffers from amnesia. Jane is released when she offers evidence that incriminates Sydney. Kimberly promises to serve as Syd’s alibi, then refuses to cover for her and plants a blonde wig at her apartment. Sydney is arrested. Billy deduces from Mrs. Parker’s strange comments that Mr. Parker molested his daughters, and goes to San Francisco in search of Alison. Mr. Parker comes inside the house and threatens Alison, but Meredith holds him at gunpoint. He escapes when Billy bursts through the door. Billy becomes angry when Alison agrees with Amanda’s advice and decides to prosecute her father instead of going to Las Vegas to elope. Jake breaks up with Amanda and decides to spend time on his boat. He takes in a beautiful woman named Brittany, who had jumped overboard following an argument with her abusive husband.

    It’s a Bad World After All: Kimberly brings Michael home from the hospital. Sydney convinces Matt to visit her in prison, and tells him that Kimberly is setting her up. Sydney’s father flies in from Chicago, but enrages his daughter by suggesting she seek a plea bargain. Matt becomes suspicious of Kimberly when he realizes that she is shielding Michael from the truth about their history. Sydney’s outburst convinces Mr. Andrews that she is crazy, and he and Jane have her committed to a mental hospital. Alison and Meredith fly to Wisconsin and attempt to file charges against their father, but Meredith bails out when she realizes that the town respects Mr. Parker too much to give their story credence. Alison confronts her father in front of all the prominent townspeople at a barbecue, and pushes him into admitting his guilt. Billy is fired when Nancy learns that he helped D&D get the inside track on the Escapade account, but lands a job writing ad copy for D&D. Jake sleeps with Brittany, unaware that Palmer Woodward is using her as part of a plot to destroy Jake.

    In-Laws and Outlaws: Chris warns that his company will have to cancel his deal with Jane’s firm if Michael does not sign off on it. Sydney calls Matt from the mental hospital and pleads with him to investigate Kimberly. Jane and Matt visit the beach house, where she bonds with Michael while Matt snoops. He discovers that Kimberly owns several wigs, then rips off her wig during a confrontation at the hospital. Sydney accepts a plea bargain after a scummy staff member propositions her, and is released into Jane’s custody. Kimberly vows revenge against Matt. Palmer and Brittany continue their plot against Jake. Palmer turns up on Amanda’s doorstep. Billy and Alison break up after she learns that he took a job at D&D without consulting her. Jo receives a surprise visit from Reed’s parents. She reluctantly admits that Reed is the father of her child, and is shocked when the Carters sue her for custody.

    Grand Delusions: Sydney (claiming to be someone named Miranda) hangs around the beach house and attempts to seduce Michael. Michael regains his memory when he is nearly struck by a car in a restaurant parking lot, but doesn’t immediately reveal this. Michael leaves Sydney in an embarrassing situation in Jane’s bedroom, prompting a suggestive remark from Chris. Michael confronts Kimberly and dares her to kill him, but she decides that she loves him too much to finish him off. Billy and Alison bicker constantly at the office. Jo extends an olive branch to the Carters, only to have them laugh in her face. Palmer tells Amanda that he cannot go to prison before paying off some debts, as he fears his creditors will harm her. He tells her of a secret safe deposit box and convinces her to withdraw $500,000. Palmer kidnaps Jake on the boat at gunpoint, and explains that he and Brittany are going to take the money and flee to Mexico. Brittany double-crosses Palmer, shooting him in the back. Jake discovers that the boat is laced with explosives; Brittany activates her detonator, destroying the boat.

    Nonsexual Healing: friends (especially Jo and Amanda) are shocked to learn that the Pretty Lady has exploded. The Coast Guard finds Jake clinging for life to a buoy, and he returns to the building safely. Jo is hurt when Jake completely ignores her to visit Amanda, unaware that he is breaking the news of Palmer’s death. When Jo shares her feelings with Jake, they get into a heated argument. He turns his apartment keys over to Matt and takes off on his motorcycle. Alison is disgusted when Billy begins dating their new secretary. Jane and Chris ask Sydney to seek Michael’s share of the design firm in the divorce settlement, but Michael tricks her into settling for $5000.

    No Strings Attached: Jo and Amanda argue over who is to blame for Jake’s departure. Jake meets his biological father, Vince Connors. After they resolve some of their differences, Vince convinces Jake to return to Melrose. Jake apologizes for abandoning Jo, then learns from the FBI that he is to receive a large reward for assisting with the capture of Brittany. Chris continually makes unwanted advances toward Sydney, but Jane believes her sister is just trying to cause trouble. Alison gets her new secretary fired, and picks up a guy at Shooters. She seeks revenge after he leads her to believe he wants a relationship, when he was actually just looking for a one-night stand. Peter Burns, the hospital’s new chief of staff, lays down the law to Michael and Kimberly.

    The Cook, the Creep, His Lover and Her Sister: Jake uses his reward money to purchase Shooters. When Jake drops off some papers at the design firm, Chris mistakes him for a deliveryman and makes a lewd comment about Sydney. Chris denies the allegations. Jane lashes out at Jake, and fires and evicts Sydney. Jake gives Syd a job at Shooters so that she won’t have to return to the mental hospital. Chris tries to attack Sydney. Michael and Kimberly are asked to appear in a coffee ad. Peter agrees to allow this in order to impress Amanda. She goes out to dinner with him. Billy takes a liking to Alison’s college roommate, Susan. Susan moves in with Alison when a chef job in Santa Barbara falls through.

    Love Reeks: Jake provides Sydney with refuge after learning of the attack. Amanda reveals that Jane and Chris have gone to Las Vegas, and Sydney realizes that Chris is planning to make good on his promise to marry Jane. Michael fears that Chris is after Jane’s money. He follows them to Las Vegas, with Kimberly in pursuit. Chris wins big in the casino and proposes to Jane. Michael and Kimberly break up the wedding, then tie the knot themselves. Michael is fired for skipping work. Jo is hospitalized with an ulcer, and Kimberly provides comfort. Jake beats up Chris and sleeps with Sydney. Peter continues to pursue Amanda. Alison learns about Billy’s involvement with Susan.

    Dr. Jeckyl Saves His Hide: Sydney plans to leave town to avoid her problems with Chris, but Jake convinces her to stay and give their relationship a chance. Alison claims to have accepted Billy’s relationship with Susan, but begins hitting the bottle. She gets into a catfight with Susan at a client party, prompting Susan to move in with Billy. Michael asks Amanda to manipulate Peter into rehiring him. Amanda agrees, provided that Michael surrender his share in the design firm. Jane promises to give Amanda 25 percent of the business if she can arrange this. Once Michael has returned to work, he backs out of the deal and tries to blackmail Amanda. Peter encourages Amanda to seek control of D&D. Matt learns that Jeffrey, an ex-lover, is back in town. He is stunned when Jeffrey reveals that he has left the Navy and is HIV positive.

    And Justice for None: The trial to determine custody of Jo’s baby begins. The Carters’ attorney raises many doubts about the character of Jo’s friends and neighbors, but Jo shines on the stand. Kimberly learns that she cannot have children because of injuries suffered in the car accident. Alison gets drunk at a client party and leaves with a hard-living music business scout named Zack Phillips. Bruce suffers a heart attack while dancing at the event, and Peter suggests that Amanda use the opportunity to seize control of the agency. Alison is unable to testify on Jo’s behalf because she is stoned following a night of partying with Zack. The judge awards custody of the baby to the Carters. Matt questions his relationship with Jeffrey due to the illness, but the two decide to commit to each other.

    The Days of Wine and Vodka: Zack encourages Alison to buy an expensive new car and skip work. Billy and Susan confront Alison during Thanksgiving dinner, but she reacts angrily and storms out. A drunken Alison tries to drive to Zack’s house, but he is having a party with his friends. While distracted by her phone, she crashes into a boy on a bicycle. Kimberly explores several motherhood options, some of them illegal. She invites Jo over for Thanksgiving and convinces her to fake a miscarriage and hide her baby from the Carters. A mobster’s associates begin harassing Jake. Sydney is told that Jake will suffer a serious accident unless she sleeps with the mobster’s friend–Chris. Amanda leaks information about Bruce’s health, while Peter prepares a takeover attempt. Matt and Jeffrey refuse to come to Thanksgiving dinner after Matt’s parents ask them to hide the true nature of their relationship.

    The Doctor That Rocks the Cradle: Alison is arrested for driving under the influence. She turns to Billy for comfort when Zack neglects her, but Billy reaffirms his relationship with Susan. Alison is cleared of all charges because witnesses felt that the bicyclist had been at fault. Bruce fires Amanda when he realizes that she leaked information and scuttled a possible merger. Kimberly takes Jo to the beach house and induces labor. She checks Jo into the hospital, claiming that she delivered a stillborn child. When Jo shows up at the beach house to take the baby, Kimberly insists that the boy is her child. After Jane allows Chris to deposit a $500,000 check, Chris clears out Jane’s account and kidnaps Sydney.

    Just Say No: Bruce learns that D&D has been purchased by a consortium of doctors. Peter fires Bruce and appoints Amanda president. Amanda gives Billy a promotion and orders him to fire Alison, who has begun to experience blackouts. Bruce hangs himself in Amanda’s office. Matt tells Billy that he can save Alison’s job by checking her into rehab. They conduct an intervention, and Alison agrees to seek treatment. She escapes when the trio stops for gas, but later checks herself into the clinic. Sydney decides that she doesn’t mind being a hostage when Chris buys her expensive gifts and gives her unlimited use of his credit cards. She finally calls Jake and asks for help after Chris loses all of Jane’s money and becomes abusive. Michael, Jane and Jake fly to Las Vegas, where Jake expresses his doubts about Sydney’s behavior. Jane and Michael learn that all the money is gone, and sleep together. Michael demands to know why Kimberly suddenly has a child. Jo struggles to prove that her son is alive.

    Sex, Drugs and Rockin’ the Cradle: Alison clashes with a man in her group meeting, NFL quarterback Terry Parsons. When Billy fails to show for a meeting featuring loved ones, Alison sneaks out to a bar and gets hammered. Terry helps her get sober and explains his earlier behavior. Billy is outraged when he learns that Susan failed to tell him about Alison’s meeting. He lights into her, prompting Susan to move out. Peter displays increasingly controlling behavior toward Amanda. Jane sends a note and flowers from Michael back to the beach house, and Kimberly threatens to divorce him. The baby becomes very ill and is raced to the hospital. Michael refuses to return the child to Jo, even after a blood test proves she is the mother. Jeffrey is livid when Matt reveals his HIV positive status to the neighbors (to explain Jeffrey’s panic over a bleeding cut). Jake breaks up with Sydney after learning that she slept with Chris.

    Holiday on Ice: Amanda is forced to confront her Scrooge-like behavior when Bruce appears to her in a dream and leads her in a version of The Christmas Carol. He encourages her to break free of the hold that Peter has over her. She visits Alison at the rehab center to apologize, and ensures that Bruce’s children are financially secure. Terry becomes jealous after seeing Billy and Alison together, and admits his own feelings for her. Matt and Jo tell Peter that Kimberly has stolen her baby. Peter orders Michael to return the child to Jo. Kimberly goes ballistic and tries to throw herself in the ocean. After Michael saves her, she calls Mrs. Carter to tell her that her grandson is alive. Jeffrey breaks up with Matt because he needs time alone to cope with his illness. Jane convinces Syd to come home for the holidays.

    Bye Bye Baby: Peter hires an efficiency expert named Caitlin Mills, who proves to be a headache for Amanda. Alison neglects Billy as her romance with Terry blossoms. Michael, prompted to investigate by Amanda, learns that Peter has been padding his income through a phony research project. Billy discovers that Peter and Caitlin are romantically involved. Jo hires an Englishwoman named Emily Baldwin as her son’s nanny. Jo names her son Austin, and plans to move back to New York. Emily offers Jo a ride to the airport, then drives off with the baby.

    They Shoot Mothers, Don’t They? 1 & 2: Jo realizes that Austin’s kidnapping was planned, and Kimberly admits that she told the Carters that the child was alive. Jo punches her. Jake and Jo hit the road in search of the Carters. They spend the night together in a motel, but Jo decides that she isn’t ready for a relationship. Jake and Jo stake out the Carters’ vacation home. Peter and Caitlin set up a plan to nullify Amanda’s contract. Michael blackmails Peter, and Amanda calls on Matt to investigate both men. Billy discovers that Alison is romantically involved with Terry. Sydney gets a roommate–a waitress named Rikki–after Amanda raises the rent.

    Another Perfect Day in Hell: Rikki commits acts of vandalism against Jo, Jane and Jake, who believe that Syd is responsible for the crimes. The isolated Sydney is forced to turn to Martin’s cult for comfort. The visiting Meredith admits that she has never slept with a man because of the trauma of the childhood abuse. She tries to seduce Billy. The new chief-of-staff institutes mandatory psychological testing for the staff. Kimberly’s test proves that she is extremely disturbed and highly dangerous. She has some men on the street assault test coordinator Matt, then changes her results while he is out of commission. John Rawlings, the police detective investigating the case, befriends Matt. Billy is concerned by Amanda’s deteriorating health, and asks Michael to check her out. Amanda is horrified when tests reveal that she has Hodgkin’s Disease.

    Boxing Sydney: Amanda and Michael clash over the treatment of her cancer, but she eventually realizes she must turn to him for support. Amanda shares her condition with Billy, but asks him to keep it a secret. Alison pries the truth from him after he seems a little too tolerant of Amanda’s behavior. Sydney attends a retreat with Rikki and other cult members. She finds it unsettling when Martin demands that his followers try to scam money from their families, and decides to leave after seeing Martin in bed with two women (including Rikki). Martin agrees to let her go, but he and Rikki pursue her and throw her into an underground pit. John pulls Kimberly out of her car and threatens her at gunpoint after learning that she orchestrated the attack on Matt.

    St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: Martin lets Sydney out of the pit and talks her into staying. Jane and Jake drive to Tucson to rescue Syd, but she refuses to leave with them. They return the following day, and Sydney is alarmed when Martin asks her to shoot her sister. She instead shoots up the camp and flees with Jake and Jane. Kimberly is furious to learn the role Michael is taking in Amanda’s treatment. Matt nixes a relationship with John. Jo goes on a ride-along with John to get photos for an underground magazine, and secretly snaps pictures of John beating a drug dealer. She claims she didn’t see anything, but John trashes her apartment. Billy and Alison spend a platonic Valentine’s Day together.

    Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Dinner at Eight: Michael and Amanda fly to New York to try to get her into an experimental treatment program. Kimberly sabotages their chances by phoning the doctor and telling him that Michael has a personal agenda. She also convinces Amanda that her condition is terminal. Michael tells Amanda that Kimberly is a liar, and persuades the doctor to accept Amanda as a patient. Amanda is taken aback when Michael kisses her, but she later sleeps with him. John holds Matt and Jo at gunpoint after they turn incriminating evidence over to the police. With Amanda out of town, Billy and Alison fumble away a big account. Jane convinces Jake to rehire Sydney. Syd is grateful, until she learns that her sister is dating Jake.

    And the Winner Is…: Alison goes to the Century Awards headquarters to submit Amanda’s entry. An employee named Brooke Armstrong convinces Alison to also enter her own campaign. Alison and Billy get carried away while working late in his apartment. Kimberly catches Amanda and Michael in a hot tub together during a weekend retreat in Santa Barbara. Michael claims that he has decided to ignore Amanda’s “obsession” with him, but later escorts her to the awards dinner. Amanda is outraged when Alison wins the award for best print ad. Michael professes his love to Amanda. Sydney’s antics break up a romantic dinner between Jake and Jane. Jake dumps Jane after she issues an ultimatum about avoiding Sydney.

    Love and Death 101: Alison replaces Amanda as D&D president. Alison has a liaison with Billy in her new office, but quickly rejects him. Brooke gets an internship at D&D. Michael tries to scam the city out of a million dollars by claiming that poor road conditions caused his and Kimberly’s accident. Michael ships Kimberly to Rochester for a job interview so that he can move Amanda into the beach house and watch over her. Amanda collapses and is hospitalized in serious condition. Jake learns that his mother has died. He and Jo drive to Ellensburg, Washington for the funeral. They encounter Jake’s half-brother Jess, who is feeling guilty over his mother’s death. He also harbors resentment toward Jake. The poverty-stricken brothers once robbed a store, but Jess took the heat. He feels that Jake abandoned him by leaving for California. Jake and Jo sleep together again, but still decide not to get back together. Jake establishes a truce with Jess.

    To Live and Die in Malibu: Kimberly comes home to discover that Amanda has been staying at her house. Amanda begins to recover from her illness, and asks Brooke to help her undermine Alison. Kimberly tries to use the $100,000 settlement from the city to keep Michael away from Amanda. He accepts her offer, but later files for divorce. Kimberly overdoses on pills, and Michael doesn’t try to revive her. Alison turns into a tyrant at the office and alienates Jo during a photo shoot. Alison gives Brooke a full-time job after she convinces her father to let them use his house for a shoot. Brooke reveals that she is engaged, but later comes on to Billy in a restaurant bathroom. Jess unexpectedly arrives in Los Angeles. Jake gives him a job and a place to stay. Sydney suspects that Jess is using his brother.

    All About Brooke: Michael is forced to call an ambulance for Kimberly when Sydney shows up at the beach house. Sydney swipes Kimberly’s suicide note. Kimberly pays Syd $50,000 to plant pills at the beach house and incriminate Michael. Michael pays Sydney another $50,000 for the suicide note. He threatens to turn it over to the medical board unless Kimberly leaves town. Amanda laughs at Michael’s marriage proposal and says that she no longer needs him. Alison rehires Amanda at D&D. Amanda and Brooke conspire to make Alison look foolish. Brooke reveals that she has broken her engagement. Billy turns to Brooke for companionship after Alison gives him the cold shoulder. Jess steals a credit card from one of the customers at Shooters and uses it to pay for a dinner with Jake and Jo. Jake and Jess squabble when Jake suspects the card is stolen.

    Melrose Impossible: Kimberly works on her self-defense skills at a survival camp called No More Victims. While in a sweat lodge, she hallucinates about being taunted by Jo, Amanda, Jane and Sydney. Amanda has a difficult time convincing Michael that their relationship is over. Jane is forced to turn the design firm over to Sydney to avoid bankruptcy. Amanda and Brooke trick Alison into committing an embarrassing gaffe with a client. Billy tires of Alison’s cold behavior and sleeps with Brooke. Jess goes on a date with Jo. Jo tries to break things off to avoid hurting Jake, but ends up getting naked with Jess in the alley behind Shooters.

    Hose by Any Other Name: Amanda files a restraining order against Michael. Amanda and Brooke finally succeed in ousting Alison from D&D. Jake confronts Jo after Sydney tells him that she overheard a romantic encounter between Jess and Jo. Kimberly gets an “early graduation” from No More Victims camp after breaking the sergeant’s arm. Sydney feels guilty about blackmailing Michael, so she puts him on the payroll in exchange for certain favors. Syd disobeys Jane’s wishes and signs a deal with a pantyhose manufacturer, only to learn that the business is a front for a drug smuggling operation. Matt becomes involved with Paul, a new doctor who is hiding a big secret.

    Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Jake throws Jess out of his apartment, and assaults him after his brother taunts him about Jo. Jess hires a thug to stage a robbery at Shooters and shoot Jake. Brooke convinces her father, Hayley, to offer Alison a job in Hong Kong. Billy follows Brooke’s advice and persuades Alison to take the job. Alison writes a note to Billy in which she professes her love, but Brooke refuses to give it to him. Matt learns that Paul is married, but continues the relationship when Paul says that he needs Matt’s help to come out. Paul’s wife, Carol, threatens Matt’s life. One of the alleged drug dealers reveals to Sydney that he is actually an FBI agent. He talks her into resigning so that she won’t be implicated when the feds raid the design firm. Sydney is stunned to discover that the entire fiasco was a set-up engineered by Jane to oust her from the business. Kimberly seeks Amanda’s friendship, then tricks her into believing that Michael is stalking her.

    Framing of the Shrews: Jake suspects that Jess is responsible for his shooting, and is unmoved when Jess keeps Shooters open in his absence. Brooke replaces Alison’s love note with a letter in which she states that long distance relationships cannot work. She also complicates Alison’s efforts to get in touch with Billy. Billy proposes to Brooke along the boardwalk. Paul says that he is getting a divorce, and asks Matt to help him move out. He then stays inside the house and tells Carol that Matt is stalking him. Kimberly tries to convince everyone that Michael is stalking her, and makes Amanda believe that he vandalized her car. Kimberly trashes the beach house and scratches her own face. She calls the police, then stages a fight with Michael so that he will be arrested. When Kimberly returns to her motel room after a court hearing, a creepy man’s image appears in a mirror and talks to her.

    The Big Bang 1 & 2: Peter bails Michael out of jail. He explains that he only served a few days of jail time, and asks Michael to testify on his behalf before the medical board. The demon tries to goad Kimberly into committing acts of violence against her enemies. Sydney breaks into Kimberly’s motel room and discovers a grotesque photo collage of Syd and others. Sydney and Michael’s warnings about Kimberly are ignored by the police. Kimberly confronts Peter about his alliance with Michael, and he expresses a romantic interest in her. Amanda tells Alison that Billy and Brooke are getting married. Alison realizes that Hayley hired her to get her out of Brooke’s way. Jo rejects Jess’s hasty marriage proposal. Jane’s firm faces foreclosure. Jane aggressively pursues a famous designer named Richard Hart, and is hired by his ex-wife’s firm. Paul tells Matt that Carol has moved out, but she is actually just out of town for the weekend.

    Season Four

    Post Mortem Madness: Kimberly sets off her bombs, destroying half of the building. MacKenzie suffers a fatal heart attack. Billy breaks down Alison’s door and pulls her to safety, although she is blinded by the blast. Peter saves Kimberly from drowning after the impact knocks her into the pool. Kimberly is placed in the psychiatric ward, and is unable to recall the events of the past week. Billy storms out when Hayley calls him to task for not immediately taking Brooke on their honeymoon. Brooke later moves out of the mansion and into Billy’s apartment. Jess is killed in the fall from the construction site, while Jake suffers only minor injuries. He shuns a guilt-ridden Jo. The jailed Matt is enraged when his parents seem to suspect that he is guilty of murder. They win back his trust when they put up their mortgage to bail him out of jail.

    Melrose Is Like a Box of Chocolates: Jane, Sydney and Jo get temporary roommates while the building is repaired. Jake goes on a drinking binge in the aftermath of his brother’s death. Amanda invites Alison to return to D&D. Peter encourages Kimberly to pretend to be insane to get a lighter sentence, but she refuses. Kimberly attacks a doctor during a psychiatric evaluation, and threatens to jump off the roof. Peter is able to talk her down with a love declaration (although he isn’t sincere). Michael and Peter decide to establish their own practice. Brooke is distressed when an inheritance isn’t all that she expected. Sydney quits Shooters because of Jake’s self-destructive behavior, and is hired as Michael and Peter’s receptionist. Matt gets into a fist fight with Paul at the hospital. He later punches out Jake after taking exception to his treatment of Jo. Jake finally breaks down and turns to Jo for comfort. Jane undermines Richard’s authority at work.

    Blind Ambition: Alison regains her sight during a client party. Jane convinces her to keep the news to herself, as Brooke is only allowing her near Billy out of pity. Brooke snoops in Amanda’s office and discovers a Florida driver’s license for Amanda Parezi. Matt’s lawyer, Alycia, resigns when he insists on trying to coax a confession from Paul on his own. Paul believes that Matt has an incriminating letter from Carol, and asks him to come to his house. Paul holds Matt at gunpoint and plans to kill him. Fortunately, Jo has called Alycia, who arrives with the police. Paul is mortally wounded in a shootout and confesses to his wife’s murder before dying. Matt returns to work, only to be fired by Dr. Hobbs. Peter again asks Kimberly to plead insanity. He is impressed when she lunges for Michael and Sydney in the courtroom, until he realizes that her behavior is not an act. Richard objects when Jane hires Jo without consulting him. Jake and Jo finally get back together. Jake receives a surprise visit from Jess’s ex-wife, Shelly.

    Simply Shocking: Brooke flies to Miami to investigate Amanda’s past. She learns from an old newspaper article that Amanda was presumed dead years ago. She also visits the house of Amanda’s ex-husband, Jack, claiming that her car has broken down. Brooke blackmails Amanda into giving her a promotion. Jack, who had swiped one of Brooke’s business cards, arrives in Los Angeles. Billy learns that Alison has regained her sight. Michael pretends to have reconciled with Sydney in the hopes of driving Kimberly over the edge. Peter reveals to Syd that his concern for Kimberly stems from memories of a deceased sister who suffered a similar plight. Jane and Richard get engaged. Richard fires Jane after she publicly dishonors MacKenzie’s memory, but is later forced to make her a partner. Jo is wary when Jake hires Shelly and allows her to stay at his apartment. Dr. Hobbs makes a homophobic remark about Matt to Michael. Michael encourages Matt to sue for wrongful dismissal.

    Drawing Henry: Kimberly reveals that she is being goaded into violent acts by visions of a man named Henry. When Kimberly’s mother learns of her daughter’s plight, she plans to ship her back to Cleveland. Peter convinces Mrs. Shaw to tell the truth about Henry. She reveals that Henry was a gardener that eight-year-old Kimberly killed when he tried to rape her mother. Peter tells Kimberly that this revelation may lead to her release, as she can now be treated. Brooke tries to keep Jack away from Amanda. Jack stops Amanda from leaving town and asks for a divorce. Jo and Jake bicker over the amount of time he spends with Shelly. Alison refuses to help Hayley break up Billy and Brooke, but later joins him for a romantic dinner. Jo talks to Jane on Richard’s behalf, and learns that Jane doesn’t love him.

    The Jane Mutiny: Jane and Richard announce that their engagement is back on. Jo is distressed when Jane reiterates the fact that she doesn’t love Richard. Jo gets very drunk at the engagement party, argues with Jane, and tells Richard the truth. Jack seeks to settle his divorce with Amanda so that he can re-marry. Amanda is angry when Jack makes the final payment on the apartment building repairs. Amanda reveals to Billy that Jack used to beat her. She faked her own death because Jack had threatened her father when she tried to escape. Brooke becomes jealous of Alison’s budding relationship with Hayley. Kimberly is released into Peter’s custody. Michael and Sydney plot to find a Henry-lookalike to drive Kimberly back to insanity. Matt wins his case when his lawyer goads Dr. Hobbs into admitting his homophobia.

    Let the Games Begin: Amanda is incensed when Brooke secures Jack’s cable company as a client for D&D. Michael hires a waiter and aspiring actor named Mark Paul to impersonate Henry. Amanda holds a “We Survived the Blast of `95” party in the courtyard. Kimberly receives permission to drop by the party with Peter to apologize for her actions. Amanda agrees to forgive her. Mark Paul hides in the laundry room and startles Kimberly. Jane declares war on Jo over the broken engagement. Shelly throws herself at Jake during the party, as Jo is working late with Richard. Alison sleeps with Hayley. Brooke tries to convince Alison that Hayley is a womanizing pig. Matt’s parents suggest that he use his settlement to return to medical school. Matt’s father dies of congestive heart disease. When Amanda goes to Jack’s house for dinner, she learns that his fiancée does not exist. He declares that he will never let go of Amanda.

    Dial M for Melrose: Amanda gets into a scuffle with Jack as she struggles to escape. Jack trips over Amanda while pursuing her, and tumbles over the top of the staircase. Amanda calls Peter for help, as she fears the police would not believe her story. Peter claims that he stopped by the house and found that Jack had suffered an accident. Michael realizes that Peter’s diagnosis is incorrect, but backs off after Amanda shares her history with Jack. Kimberly discovers that Mark Paul is a real person, and bullies him into admitting he was hired to scare her. Michael and Kimberly take their feud to national radio. Kimberly is furious when Peter neglects her in favor of Amanda. Alison agrees to move in with Hayley. Jake and Jo try to overcome their jealousy and stubbornness.

    Amanda Unplugged: Jack remains in a coma. A frightened Amanda gets plastered at the Shooters Halloween party and sleeps with Peter. Jack wakes up and pretends to apologize to Amanda, then tries to strangle her. When Amanda slaps him, his breathing apparatus is dislodged. Sydney witnesses the exchange. Richard asks Jo to join Jane and him for a photo shoot in Hawaii, then has Jane called out of town. Jane makes Jake believe that Jo is cheating on him. Jo refuses to go on the trip after learning Richard’s intentions, but catches a drunken Jake making out with Shelly at Shooters. Hayley explodes after finding Alison snooping in a locked room that belonged to his late wife. He apologizes and explains that he feels guilty that he married for money. Matt barely fails the medical school boards, but Michael changes his results so that he can gain entry. Kimberly violates her parole to take a job as a radio talk show host. Brooke discovers that she is pregnant.

    El Syd: Jack dies following his tussle with Amanda. Sydney blackmails Amanda and Peter, demanding half of Amanda’s share of the estate. Amanda sells her share for a dollar in exchange for the sealing of the autopsy records. Kimberly grows tired of living under Peter’s roof. Amanda and Peter realize that Sydney is more interested in Michael than any money. Amanda leases Sydney’s apartment to Kimberly, and sends Syd off to live in the beach house. Hayley proposes to Alison. Alison goes on a business trip with Billy. Their plane is forced to land in the desert, and Alison tries to share her feelings as they await repairs. Billy interrupts with the news of Brooke’s pregnancy. Alison and Hayley are married in Mexico. Jo follows Richard to Hawaii and quickly sleeps with him. Matt learns that Michael altered his test results.

    Free Kimmy: Alison and Hayley honeymoon at a luxurious hotel/resort in Cancun, which he owns. Alison overhears Hayley arguing with the hotel manager over finances. She is further distressed when Hayley tells Brooke that he and Alison will not have children. Amanda pushes Peter away. Jack’s father orders his other son, Bobby, to “take care of” Amanda. Michael is pleased when Sydney throws him a surprise birthday party, but threatens to cut her loose when he learns she is blackmailing Peter. Jane decks Jo after she overhears her make a catty remark to Richard. Jane decides to begin dating Michael to make Richard jealous. A lonely Kimberly has a fling with the pool boy. Matt and Jake discover that bookkeeper Shelly hasn’t given Jake the password to Shooters’ computer records. Meanwhile, Shelly fills a safe deposit box with cash.

    Kimberly Does L.A.: Kimberly’s bed-hopping puts her life in danger when her latest conquest turns out to be Vic, a psychotic man who has made threatening calls to her radio show. He ties her up and holds her hostage in a condemned building. Shelly tries to cover her tracks, but Jake eventually learns that she has been embezzling from Shooters. She tries to stab Jake when he confronts her. Peter convinces Amanda to open up to him. She tells him that she loved a man before she met Jack, and was deeply hurt when he left her. Bobby follows Amanda for a few days before finally coming to her apartment. She is angry at first, but then embraces him. Jane creates problems between Richard and Jo after she begins dating Michael. Hayley suddenly decides to sell his house. He wakes Alison in the middle of the night and says they are taking a second honeymoon. Billy and Brooke move into Alison’s old apartment.

    Hook, Line and Hayley: Hayley takes Alison away on a cruise. He reveals that he has serious financial problems, and throws his records into the ocean. Hayley plans to flee to Mexico, and Alison agrees to join him. A drunken Hayley falls overboard in the middle of the night. The Coast Guard later recovers his body. Kimberly manages to knock Vic unconscious and free herself. She hauls Vic into the police station. Kimberly tells Peter that she is giving up her radio career to become a psychiatrist. Amanda suspects that Bobby is going to kill her, but he says he came to Los Angeles to protect her from his family. Peter is furious when Amanda has dinner with Bobby, especially after he learns Bobby is the “first love” Amanda had described to him. Syd confronts Jane about her intentions toward Michael. Jake is frustrated by the police investigation of Shelly. He finds that most of his money is already gone.

    Two Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Brooke blames Alison for Hayley’s death, and arranges for Alison to be taken in for questioning. The death is ruled an accident. The bulk of Hayley’s estate is left to Brooke’s unborn child. Hayley left nothing to Alison, as he had actually secretly divorced her a week before his death. Brooke quits her job. Alison insists on making a presentation at a software convention, but fails to show for a lunch meeting. Billy drives to the hotel and finds that Alison has been drinking. Bobby seeks Peter’s help in rehabilitating his family’s image. Amanda sees Bobby in a new light after the FBI harasses him. Sydney reluctantly turns to Kimberly for counseling about Jane’s involvement with Michael. She suggests Syd push the two together to get it out of Michael’s system, but the plan backfires. Jake turns to a loan shark friend to cope with Shooters’ crisis. Matt befriends Alan Ross, an actor who was treated for a broken arm.

    Oy! To the World: Billy makes the presentation in Alison’s place. When Brooke arrives, Billy claims that he slept with Alison (in order to prevent Brooke from finding out that she is off the wagon). Brooke learns that she is not really pregnant, but doesn’t share the truth with Billy. Kimberly suggests that Sydney organize the hospital Christmas party to boost Michael’s career. Bobby agrees to host the event. When Jane monopolizes Michael’s time, Sydney slips tranquilizers into her drink. Jane and Michael head upstairs. As Michael is called to the podium to give the keynote address, he runs out of a bedroom in his underwear and says that Jane collapsed. Richard and Jo plan to force Jane from the business, but Jo has a change of heart when Jane extends an olive branch. Matt and Alan get closer.

    Holy Strokes: Jane has suffered a stroke, and is left paralyzed on one side. Sydney insists that she did not realize the pills would cause this reaction. Kimberly suggests that Syd dodge suspicion by becoming Jane’s caretaker. Jane moves into the beach house. Brooke asks Billy to meet her at the hospital, and says that she has suffered a miscarriage. She pushes Billy to get her pregnant “again,” as she can only gain access to Hayley’s money through a child. Billy learns the truth from Brooke’s doctor, and declares that the marriage is over. Bobby convinces Amanda, Peter and Alison to join him for a weekend in Palm Springs. Billy drives down to talk with Alison, who decides to leave early. Bobby declares his love for Amanda. They kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve, as Peter secretly looks on. Bobby settles a malpractice suit for Peter. Matt stops Alan from moving to New York by asking him to move in with him. Billy arrives home to discover that Brooke has slashed her wrists.

    The Brooke Stops Here: Brooke survives her suicide attempt. A guilt-ridden Billy returns to her side and demands that Amanda rehire her. Peter gives Bobby an ultimatum. Bobby stops by Amanda’s apartment to tell her that he is bowing out, but she sleeps with him. Kimberly suggests that Sydney incriminate someone else in Jane’s accident. She slips some pills into Richard’s desk, where Jo finds them. Jo turns to Jake for advice, but he has nothing to say to her. Michael moves out after Sydney accosts him for trying to take advantage of Jane. Monty asks Jake to collect from another of his “customers” to pay off his interest, but Jake cannot go through with it. Alan shies away from Matt after Kimberly shares the sordid details of his past relationships.

    Sydney, Bothered and Bewildered: Alison tries to show some sensitivity toward Brooke, who responds by trashing Alison’s apartment. When Billy confronts Brooke, she goes ballistic and throws dishes and pasta across the room. A fed-up Billy walks out on her. Amanda breaks up with Peter to pursue a relationship with Bobby. Peter flirts with Bobby’s lawyer, Alycia (who defended Matt against the murder charge). Alycia tells Jake that her (unidentified) client has bought his loan from Monty. Michael agrees to come home from Peter’s if Sydney can get Jane out of the beach house. Syd tries to dump her off at a cheap convalescent home, but Jane refuses to go. Sydney leaves Jane on the beach while she has dinner with Michael. Jake saves Jane from drowning. Jo believes Richard’s claims of innocence regarding the pills. Alan wins a role on a soap opera.

    The Bobby Trap: Vince is furious when he learns that Bobby did not kill Amanda. He shows up at their hotel during a weekend getaway and holds them at gunpoint. Billy files for divorce. Michael injects Kimberly with truth serum and gets her to admit that Sydney drugged Jane. She also tells Michael that she loves him. Michael throws Sydney out, and Kimberly asks her to stay at her apartment. Peter begins dating Alycia. Jane regains the use of her legs. She announces that she is quitting Hart-Mancini to concentrate on her own work. Matt is wary when Alan gains an on-screen reputation as a ladies’ man.

    No Lifeguard on Duty 1 & 2: Amanda tells Vince that Jack was not the loving son that he remembers. Vince is outraged, but decides to let Amanda and Bobby go. He sells his shares in Bobby’s cable company, leaving the business in jeopardy. Amanda agrees to help Bobby. Peter pays Syd to accompany him to a party and try to win Bobby away from Amanda. A financially strapped Brooke is thrown out of her hotel room. Alison convinces Billy not to have Amanda fire Brooke. Brooke tries to win back her ex-fiancé, but he laughs at her. Kimberly receives a call from Vic. When she visits him in prison, he vows that he will get out. Jane decides to start a business in Jake’s garage. Jane’s relationship with Jake is strained when she makes vicious comments to Jo. Matt accuses Alan of trying to keep their relationship under wraps.

    Devil in a Wet Dress: Alison and Billy pull Brooke from the pool, but she is already dead. Billy is haunted by nightmares about Brooke. Michael goes to great lengths to convince Kimberly to move back in with him. Alycia threatens to quit when Bobby warns her to stay away from Peter. She catches Peter going through her files. Jane and Richard resort to underhanded tactics as they fight over a potential client. Matt is wary of Alan’s relationship with his leading lady, until he learns she is a lesbian. She warns that the show’s producer destroyed her relationship, and could do the same to Matt and Alan.

    Circle of Strife: Kimberly is hurt when she receives divorce papers, although they had been filed months before her reconciliation with Michael. He suggests that they have a real wedding at the beach house and renew their vows. Michael fires Sydney at Kimberly’s request. Sydney sues Michael and Peter for sexual harassment, and they are forced to appoint her office manager. Peter stifles Alycia’s suspicions by claiming that his father was destroyed by the Parezis. They launch a plan to ruin Bobby’s image by making it appear that he is bribing a senator. Jo accidentally takes Jane’s sketch pad, and the designs are included in Richard’s new line. Alison is outraged when Billy embarrasses her in front of a client to set up his own pitch. They later sleep together, and Billy tries to bully Alison into moving in with him. Alan tells Matt that the show’s producer has decided that he and his co-star, Valerie, should marry as a publicity stunt.

    Run Billy Run: Alison is put off by Billy’s obnoxious behavior, and pushes him away. Amanda agrees to give Billy a raise if he can win a prestigious airline account. He sleeps with a rival executive to get her to reveal their strategy, then uses it to undermine them. Amanda turns to Peter for comfort after the bribery allegations against Bobby become public. An incensed Alycia threatens to reveal Peter’s scam unless he stays away from Amanda. Jane has to cancel her fashion show because Richard has taken her designs. She sabotages Richard’s show by using a tiki torch (part of the show’s theme) to trigger the sprinkler system. Kimberly begins suffering migraines.

    Ruthless People: Billy continues to irritate Alison with his win-at-all-costs attitude and boorish behavior. He befriends the chauvinistic president of a vodka company, and usurps one of Amanda’s accounts. Alan’s parents come to town for the “wedding,” and are unaware that their son is gay. They reveal that they have purchased a house for Alan and Valerie. A distraught Matt gets drunk and sleeps with his friend Dave. Matt walks out during the wedding, and Alan refuses to go after him. Jo discovers that Jane is responsible for the mishap at Richard’s show. She blackmails her into hiring Richard as a consultant. Kimberly develops an alternate personality–a prudish, controlling woman named Betsy Jones. Amanda rejects Bobby, and he breaks down her apartment door. Peter is later knocked unconscious following a scuffle with Bobby.

    The Burning Couch: Bobby is arrested for assaulting Peter, but Sydney later convinces Amanda to have the charges dropped. Peter makes a deal with Billy’s client so that he can pay off Alycia and escape her influence. Alycia takes over Bobby’s company. “Betsy” throws the couch off the deck and sets it on fire, and later tries to maim Michael. Jake is furious to learn that Jane sabotaged Richard’s show. He gets drunk during a fashion convention and sleeps with a stranger. The woman is later hired as Jane’s new assistant. Alan outs himself to a tabloid because he can no longer live a lie. Matt is hesitant to take him back.

    Triumph of the Bill: Billy uses underhanded means to steal the keynote speech at an ad convention away from Alison. He makes an emotional speech about lying, and reveals that he has sold his soul to become a star in the industry. After Billy is a hit at the convention, Amanda sleeps with him. Alison quits her job and learns that Amanda is using Billy to help her career. Kimberly develops another personality, a cool biker chick named Rita. She refuses Peter’s medical advice. Sydney blackmails Alycia into rehiring Bobby, but he instead seeks honest work as a mechanic. Sydney offers to let the homeless Bobby stay at her apartment. Claire has been hired by Richard to break up Jake and Jane. She tells Jane that she is having an affair with Jake. Jane fires Claire and breaks up with Jake. Jake rejects a reconciliation attempt by Jo and crawls back to Jane.

    What Comes Up, Must Come Down: Alison takes a job as a waitress at Shooters. Amanda uses Billy’s status to her advantage in her contract negotiations. Kimberly asks Peter to take Michael out of town for a few days so that she can have time to herself. Michael and Peter head to Palm Springs, where they are judges in a teen beauty pageant. Teri Carson, the pushy mother of one of the contestants, tries to convince Peter to vote for her daughter. Her daughter, Brandi, seduces Michael. She does not win the pageant. Amanda dumps Billy to go back to Peter. She rejects Peter after Teri shows up on his doorstep and says that she is suing him for sleeping with her underage daughter. Sydney tries to bond with Bobby by getting him drunk and getting tattoos together. Sydney’s friend Laurie comes to town with her young son Tyler. Jo takes them in because Sydney has no room for them. While babysitting, Jo discovers bruises on the boy’s back. Matt laments the fact that Alan has moved to New York.

    True Fibs: Teri threatens to expose Michael’s actions to Kimberly unless he lets Peter take the fall for sleeping with Brandi. Amanda apologizes for doubting Peter. He refuses to meet Teri’s settlement demands. Kimberly begs Peter for help with her illness. Before he can treat her, he is arrested for statutory rape. Amanda learns that Michael was the one who slept with Brandi. Kimberly argues with “Betsy,” who conks Michael on the head with a hammer. Matt asks one of his medical school professors, pediatrician Dr. Dominick O’Malley, to look at Tyler. He finds no evidence of abuse. Laurie tells Jo to mind her own business. Billy’s string of success with ad campaigns comes to an end. He decides that he must put his obsession with Brooke behind him and move on. Richard rapes Jane during a business trip to New York. She pushes Jake away and doesn’t tell anyone what has happened. Sydney inadvertently becomes a porno producer when she invests money with an old acquaintance of Bobby’s.

    Melrose Unglued: Amanda persuades Teri to drop the charges against Peter by making Brandi the spokesperson for a cosmetics company. “Betsy” throws a knife at Michael after he reveals that he slept with Brandi. When he returns, Kimberly begs him to stay away for his own good. She turns to Peter for help, but vanishes before he can aid her. Bobby’s friend Jimmy tells Sydney that Alycia and Peter conspired to take Bobby down. Syd shares this news with Bobby, who sets up a confrontation with Alycia. When he tries to attack her, she knocks him out a high-rise building to his death. As Peter is about to be questioned about Bobby’s death, Alycia calls from her car and confesses. She agrees to turn herself in, but loses control of the car while picking up her phone, and has a head-on collision with a semi. Dominick gets Matt to set him up on a date with Jo. She convinces him to see Tyler again, and Laurie reveals that the boy was abused by her ex-boyfriend. Jane tells Jake about the rape in the hopes that he will kill Richard.

    Peter’s Excellent Adventure: Peter learns that Alycia is dead. Amanda punches him for setting up Bobby, but later forgives him. Kimberly resurfaces and agrees to serve as Peter’s alibi. However, she has turned into Betsy again. She injects Peter with a paralyzing drug and has him committed to a mental hospital that she is temporarily running. Alison stops Jake from killing Richard. Jane tries to file rape charges, but learns that she has no case. Jake and Alison are stunned when Jane says that she is continuing her partnership with Richard. Jane is actually planning revenge, and begins hanging around the shooting range. Billy asks Jake to help him win back Alison. Matt is accidentally injected with tainted blood during a struggle with a street kid at the hospital.

    Full Metal Betsy: Michael and Amanda hit the road in search of Peter and Kimberly. Peter befriends a nurse, but she turns against him when he uses her as part of a plot to escape. As Michael and Amanda try to infilitrate the mental hospital, “Betsy” prepares to give Peter a lobotomy. Matt develops spinal meningitis as the result of his accident with the street kid (who has died of the disease). Jo is angry when Dominick behaves insensitively toward Matt. Michael blurts out that Sydney was responsible for Jane’s stroke. Jane blackmails Sydney into participating in her plot to murder Richard. Jane considers a new business proposition when a salesgirl named Samantha Reilly tells her that the store where she works is for sale. Billy and Alison have a disastrous date. Alison is furious to learn that Jake had aided Billy’s pursuit of her.

    Dead Sisters Walking 1 & 2: Peter is saved from the lobotomy when Michael and Amanda break into the hospital, but “Betsy” captures them and locks them in the boiler room. Nurse Benson realizes that Kimberly is crazy, and tries to release the trio. “Betsy” stops them from escaping, but Michael is able to talk Kimberly back to reality. An orderly suspects that Michael has brainwashed Kimberly, and tries to attack him. Kimberly rescues Michael, but falls off a twenty-foot platform in the scuffle. Syd tries to dissuade Jane from continuing her murder plot. Jane offers Samantha a job and apartment in exchange for information on other offers on the store. Jane embezzles money from Richard to buy the space. Matt begins to recover from his illness. Jo is stunned when Dominick proposes. Jake tries to push Alison away when she expresses a romantic interest in him.

    Season Five

    Living With Disaster: Richard torments Jane’s conscience by leaving clues about the murder around her home and office. Detective Wylie tells Amanda that Peter is actually Dr. Peter Howell, who is wanted in Kansas City on charges of murdering his wife. Amanda visits Kansas City and talks with the mother of Peter’s late wife Beth. She learns that Beth suffered from terminal cancer, and that Peter told her parents that he had fulfilled her wishes by putting her out of her misery. Beth’s father insisted on pressing charges, but a diary entry later revealed that Beth had taken her own life. However, Peter tells Amanda that he did kill his wife. Kimberly regains consciousness, but disappears before she can make a statement on Peter’s behalf. Alison rejects Billy’s marriage proposal. Alison and Jake decide to keep their relationship a secret. In Boston, a woman named Taylor McBride is intrigued when she reads a newspaper article about Peter’s legal problems. She tells her husband, Kyle, that she is visiting Los Angeles. She rents Jo’s old apartment.

    Over Dick’s Dead Body: Jane suspects that Richard is still alive. Sydney suggests that they dig up the body to alleviate her sister’s fears. They find that the body is gone, and someone has left a note threatening to turn the sisters in to the police unless they pay him $50,000. After initially trying to use counterfeit money, Jane and Sydney take the cash to the gravesite. Richard appears and points a gun at them. Michael finds Kimberly, who explains that she cannot remember the night of Bobby’s murder. Peter is injured after picking a fight with a prison guard. Alison decides to move out of the building so that she and Jake can have time alone. Matt steals Michael’s prescription pad to get access to more pills. Taylor convinces Kyle that they should buy a restaurant in Los Angeles.

    Moving Violations: Jane and Sydney escape when Jane hits Richard in the gut with a shovel. As a deputy is driving Jane and Syd to meet Samantha, they see Richard come out of a grocery store. Richard is killed in a shootout. At the morgue, Jane stabs his body with a brooch to make sure that he is dead. A sheriff returns their money, and orders them out of his town. Jane stops a bewildered Sam from moving out. Sydney invests her money in Jane’s boutique. Amanda threatens Kimberly when she refuses to perjure herself. Kimberly later ensures Peter’s release when she recalls a waiter who can serve as his alibi. Amanda is angry when Taylor shows up at the courthouse. Billy mistakenly believes Alison has invited him to her apartment, and gets into a fist fight with Jake when he finds him there. One of Matt’s professors suspects that he is on drugs.

    Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love: Peter fires Sydney after learning that she sold his house (which he had listed as a company asset) to pay the practice’s debts. Peter has to move into Amanda’s apartment. Sydney goes to work at the boutique. Billy goes on a date with Sam, but is still preoccupied with Alison. At the grand opening of the boutique, a drunken Billy announces that Alison and Jake are sleeping together. An outraged Jane throws Jake and Alison out of the store. After confronting Alison at her new apartment, Jane accidentally trips over some oily rags and sets the building on fire. Kimberly is ordered to appear before the medical board. She voluntarily surrenders her license and takes a job as the Burns/Mancini receptionist. Taylor has an appointment with Peter, and asks Amanda to handle advertising for the restaurant. Michael warns Matt to get clean. Matt nearly suffers a heart attack while high on PCP. He is later arrested for soliciting an undercover cop.

    Un-Janed Melody: Jane saves Jake and Alison from the fire. Jane apologizes for her outburst, but later tries to seduce Billy to make the couple jealous. She also makes crank calls and throws a brick through Jake’s window. Jake believes Billy is responsible, and assaults him when he and Samantha return from a date. Amanda is annoyed when Taylor and Kyle just happen to show up at the same Palm Springs hotel where she and Peter are spending their honeymoon. Arthur Field gives his son, Craig, a job at D&D. Billy overhears them plotting to destroy Amanda. Billy decides not to share this information after she bows to Arthur’s edict and demotes him. Sydney is smitten with Kyle. When he expresses interest in one of Sam’s paintings, Syd claims to be the artist’s agent. Kimberly is emotionally unable to sleep with Michael. He meets an attractive woman while jogging along the beach. Matt checks into a rehab facility, where the head doctor takes interest in him.

    Jane’s Addiction: Jane slashes Alison’s tires. Jake catches Jane following Alison and him, and orders her to stop stalking them. Jane files a restraining order against Jake. Sam pushes Billy away after Jane shares details of his past, but Billy is able to win her trust. Amanda denies Craig’s attempt to undermine her in front of a client. Amanda becomes annoyed when Peter neglects his job and begins hanging out at Kyle’s restaurant and drinking heavily. Michael sleeps with Megan, the woman he met while jogging. Sydney tells Kyle that the artist she represents is a Russian immigrant named Samuel Kirov, and offers to sell him the painting. Samantha reluctantly agrees to this deception. Matt is thrown out of medical school, and suspects that the doctor at the rehab facility, Dan Hathaway, squealed on him. Dan tells Matt that the classmate who got him hooked ratted on people after he was busted. Dan helps Matt get back into school after he agrees to counseling.

    Young Doctors in Heat: Amanda and Peter continue to fight constantly. Peter decides to stay with Michael and Kimberly for awhile. He spends one night on the McBrides’ couch after drinking heavily. While he is sleeping, Taylor stares at him and talks about how much she missed him. Amanda rents the restaurant for the night and reconciles with Peter. When Jake refuses to respond, Alison confronts Jane about her loony behavior. Megan insists that Michael doesn’t need to know anything about her. Kimberly undergoes an MRI to determine the cause of her headaches. Kyle comforts Sydney after she has a disastrous blind date with an acquaintance of Samantha’s. Matt expresses a romantic interest in Dan.

    Mission: Interpersonal: Taylor reveals that she is the younger sister of Peter’s late wife Beth. She hangs out with Peter while Amanda is away on a business trip, and helps him pick out a ring for her. Samantha gives Billy the brush-off after he laughs about Jake and Alison’s problems. She begins dating Craig. Michael learns that Megan is a prostitute. Kimberly is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Michael vows that he will take care of Megan. After Michael leaves Megan’s house, Kimberly arrives to discuss their “arrangement.” Jake confronts Jane and emphasizes that their relationship is over. She realizes that she was taking her anger toward Richard out on him. Matt gives Dan the credit for his improvement at school.

    Farewell Mike’s Concubine: Kimberly orders Megan to stop “servicing” Michael, but he refuses to stay away from her. Michael cuts off Megan’s relationship with her clients. Kimberly tells Megan that she is dying, and asks her to take care of Michael. Michael asks Peter to recommend him for chief-of-staff, but Peter decides to apply for the job. Kyle forbids Taylor from seeing Peter. Alison takes a temporary assignment at D&D, much to Jake’s chagrin. Jake offers to make her a partner in Shooters. Craig tries to move too quickly in his relationship with Samantha. While snooping through his father’s files, he discovers that he holds a controlling interest in D&D. A disoriented Jane decides to go home to Chicago for a few days. Dan suggests that he and Matt slow down their relationship.

    Nice Work if You Can Get It: Craig takes the reins of D&D. Arthur pays Amanda to keep an eye on Craig so that the business can stay afloat until he resumes control. Kimberly pretends to catch Michael with Megan, and tells him she is filing for divorce. Jane learns she is adopted (and Sydney isn’t) after she tries to donate blood before her mother’s gall bladder surgery. She discovers that her birth mother lives in Los Angeles. Sam gives a painting to Craig, and he uses it to taunt Billy. Taylor consoles Peter when the patient in his first surgery since his arrest dies of post-surgery complications. He later freezes in the operating room. Kyle is furious when Taylor continues to spend too much time with Peter. Kyle sleeps with Sydney when she stops by the restaurant at night to deliver a painting. Matt becomes suspicious of Dan’s controlling behavior. Jake is hurt when Alison doesn’t jump at the chance to become his business partner.

    Sole Sister: Kyle rejects Sydney and vows to make his marriage work. Jane also pushes Syd away as she searches for her birth mother. She learns that her mother is a former actress named Sherry (Larson) Doucette. Alison seeks Billy’s advice about her problems with Jake. She decides to serve as Jake’s apprentice for a year before she considers whether to become a partner. Kimberly serves Michael with divorce papers. Arthur tries to legally contest the transfer of Craig’s stock. Craig impresses Sam by renting her a studio to pursue her painting. Peter develops a fear of surgery. Dan is confronted by a former patient and lover during a dinner date with Matt. The man warns that Dan is a control freak.

    Quest for Mother: Kimberly rejects Michael’s final attempt at a reconciliation. He decides to stay with Matt for a while, but Kimberly urges Megan to get Michael back. Dan pressures Matt to move in with him. Peter turns to golf to lift his spirits when he fails to win the chief-of-staff position. Amanda puts up with his behavior, until he loses a large bet over a golf game to Kyle. Taylor convinces Peter to join her in lighting a candle in Beth’s memory on the anniversary of her death. She reveals that she forged the final entry in Beth’s diary so that Peter would be cleared. Arthur calls off his lawsuit when Craig threatens to reveal a family secret. Samantha abandons her studio when she realizes that Craig is expecting something in return. Sydney takes a second job as a hostess at Kyle’s. Sherry meets with Jane at a mansion, and asks that she seek no further contact. Jane later discovers that Sherry actually lives in a small apartment, and tries to reach out to her mother.

    Crazy Love: Sydney resents Jane’s new relationship with her mother. Sherry lies about the identity of Jane’s biological father, but later reveals that he was a producer with whom she had slept to win a part. Amanda and Craig take a business trip to Palm Springs. When Peter arrives to surprise Amanda, he finds her having dinner with Craig and wearing a pearl necklace. Peter refuses to listen to her explanation, and trashes the restaurant. Amanda throws him out of the apartment. Taylor decides to donate one of Samantha’s paintings to a charity auction. Sam (who hasn’t received any money from the sales) tries to buy it back, but Sydney bids on the painting to drive up the price and make Kyle look generous. Sydney is in a bind when she accidentally buys the painting, and hopes that the man who bid against her will take it off her hands. He is actually an employee of computer genius Carter Gallavan, who buys the painting and takes a liking to Syd. Billy retrieves the painting that Sam gave to Craig. Billy and Sam decide they belong together. Kimberly plans to die in a staged accident so that Michael can benefit from her insurance money. Jake and Alison take a Christmas getaway to Park City. Dan showers Matt with gifts in an attempt to gain control of him.

    The Accidental Doctor: Michael tries to reunite Peter and Amanda in the hopes that Peter will again make a contribution at the office. Kyle tries to play matchmaker at his birthday party, but Amanda isn’t ready to talk to Peter. Peter regains his confidence when he witnesses an accident and saves the driver with an emergency tracheotomy. Carter gives Sydney a beautiful sports car, but is too busy to spend time with her. Samantha sleeps with Billy after he secretly buys a bunch of her paintings to try to help her make it to a family reunion. Michael is reluctant to sign the divorce papers. Kimberly convinces Megan to take Michael to Las Vegas in the hopes that he will marry her. Sydney confronts Jane when her sister rejects the Andrews family to spend all her time with Sherry. Sherry’s boyfriend Ed tells Jane that her mother is an alcoholic, and has begun drinking again because of her guilt about giving up Jane. Dan becomes physically abusive toward Matt.

    Escape From L.A.: Michael signs the divorce papers, and marries Megan during their trip to Las Vegas. Peter learns that Kimberly has a brain tumor, and breaks the news to Michael. Jane is robbed at gunpoint at the boutique. Sydney calls her parents, who come to Los Angeles to comfort Jane. Jane decides to go home to Chicago for a while, and agrees to stay in touch with Sherry. Sherry and Ed get engaged. Jane turns the boutique over to Syd, and says goodbye to her sister and friends at the airport. Alison learns that she is pregnant. Amanda gets Craig drunk during an evening out. He reveals that Arthur murdered Craig’s grandfather when Craig was twelve. Matt agrees to move in with Dan. When Jake and Billy become suspicious of Matt’s black eye, Dan accuses Matt of betraying him. He assaults him again. Sydney pushes Carter away when he still cannot find time for her. His assistant, Walter, tries to pay Syd to stay with Carter.

    Eyes of the Storm: Michael insists on spending time with Kimberly after learning of her terminal illness. She reveals to Megan that she will crash her car during the next rainstorm. After it begins to rain, Megan forces Michael to drive her to Mulholland. She tells him the entire story of her relationship with Kimberly. Their car crashes into Kimberly’s and flips into the air. Walter secretly pays a bill for Sydney after Taylor refuses to let Kyle bail her out. Sydney tries to tell Carter about Walter’s behavior, but he interrupts to reveal that he wants a relationship. Amanda uses Craig’s revelation to blackmail him. When Arthur learns that the secret is out, he confronts Craig and Amanda. He agrees to pay them five million dollars, but Craig tries to strangle his father. Arthur suffers a fatal attack. Jake and Alison get engaged. Peter threatens to ruin Dan’s career unless he seeks counseling. Dan confronts Matt, who stops him from driving drunk. Dan apologizes and agrees to seek treatment.

    Better Homes and Condos: Kimberly pulls Michael from the wrecked vehicle while Megan calls for help. Michael experiences internal bleeding, and flatlines. He dreams that Kimberly is a devil trying to lure him into the Melrose pool, while Megan is an angel who wishes to rescue him. Peter revives Michael, who credits Megan with giving him the strength to go on. Megan convinces Michael to support Kimberly in her final days. Sydney stakes a claim on Jane’s old apartment, forcing Samantha to the streets. Sam seeks the legal assistance of her attorney ex-boyfriend, Kenny. Billy is about to ask Sam to move in with him when Kenny arrives and threatens to sue Amanda. Amanda declares that Sam can stay as Sydney’s roommate. Syd spends a romantic weekend with Carter in San Francisco, but it is cut short when Carter discovers how to repair a glitch in one of his computer games. Walter convinces Carter that Syd is extorting money from him. Peter moves into a new house, but seeks to maintain a relationship with Amanda. Taylor is annoyed when Kyle’s boorish marine buddy, Nick, comes to town and moves into their apartment. Jake finds his dream house, but Alison is unsure about moving.

    Great Sex-pectations 1 & 2: Megan becomes concerned by the amount of time Michael is spending with Kimberly. When Megan convinces Michael to ignore a call from Kimberly and spend the night with her, Kimberly suffers a seizure. Taylor discovers that the new chief-of-staff won the job because he is sleeping with Dr. Shulman. Peter uses this information to blackmail Dr. Shulman. Nick becomes suspicious of Taylor’s relationship with Peter. Nick and Kyle are arrested in a barroom brawl at Shooters. Kyle offers to host Jake’s bachelor party to make it up to him. Billy isn’t sure that Jake and Alison are ready for marriage. Craig tries to use his expected inheritance to seduce Amanda. Roommates Syd and Samantha are at each other’s throats. Billy asks Sam to move in with him. Carter continues to reject Sydney.

    Catch Her in the Lie: Megan is furious to learn that Michael has slept with Kimberly. She forgives Michael, but then stakes out the beach house and nearly runs over Kimberly. Kimberly is astonished to learn that her tumor is in remission. Kyle gives Carter a job at the restaurant. Craig pays Nick to produce evidence of Taylor’s affair with Peter. Taylor’s liaison with Peter at the restaurant is interrupted when Kyle returns early from an out-of-town trip. Alison returns to work at D&D. A drunken Jake trashes the office. He leaves town, and decides to visit the home of his ex-girlfriend Colleen and their son, David. Colleen gives him advice about Alison, and he helps David deal with his anger over his adoptive father’s frequent absences. Samantha is unnerved by a tender moment between Billy and Alison.

    Men Are From Melrose: Nick follows Taylor to Peter’s house and witnesses a romantic encounter. He later photographs the couple’s late-night rendezvous at a golf course. Megan discovers that Kimberly’s illness is in remission. Michael reaffirms his decision to stay with Megan; but she is disturbed by a visit from Josh, her former pimp. David tells Jake that he knows that he is his father. Billy disapproves of Sam’s attempt to reunite Alison and Jake. Billy later apologizes to Sam, and Alison takes Jake back. Sydney and Carter are robbed at knifepoint, but Kyle punches the man out and chases him away. Carter asks Sydney to join him on a getaway in Mexico, but overhears her telling a boutique customer that she loves Kyle. When Syd arrives at the airport, Carter tells her that he is returning to his company, and wishes her a nice life.

    Frames `R’ Us: Nick drops hints about the photos to Peter. Taylor drugs Nick while Peter removes the pictures from his apartment. When Kyle arrives home, Taylor pretends that Nick is attacking her. Nick accuses Taylor of having an affair, but cannot produce the photographs. Kyle throws him out of the building. Nick records an illicit phone conversation between Peter and Taylor. Craig drives Amanda to Peter’s house, where she sees him with Taylor. She punches out Taylor and sleeps with Craig as revenge. Josh threatens to publicly expose Megan’s past unless she pays him off. He tells her to meet him at a hotel room, then tricks Michael into believing that she has returned to prostitution. Josh meets with Kimberly, who had arranged his parole. She gets him a job running AV equipment at a hospital party. He threatens to run an X-rated video of Megan unless she turns one last trick for him.

    Screams From a Marriage: Amanda rejects Craig, who seeks a relationship after their night together. Kyle realizes that Taylor has been lying to him. He visits Nick’s motel room and forces him to play the recording. Nick threatens to kill Peter unless Taylor pays him $5000. Nick attacks Peter with brass knuckles. Kyle stops Nick from killing Peter, and helps him skip town. Kyle throws Taylor out of the apartment. Josh plays Megan and Kimberly against each other. Megan is arrested for soliciting an undercover cop. Michael bails her out, but breaks up with her. Matt’s brother Luke dies in a plane crash. Matt is shocked to learn that Luke named him the guardian of his teenage daughter, Chelsea.

    101 Damnations: Michael takes Megan back after learning that she has returned to the streets. A woman sues Sydney after she is injured by a display at the boutique. Kyle’s plans to force Taylor from their partnership are squashed when Sydney accidentally tells Peter that she slept with Kyle. Alison is confined to bed due to complications in her pregnancy. She gets caught up on all the gossip as she overhears arguments in the courtyard. She hears Taylor tell Kyle that Peter was her brother-in-law. Although Jake feels Alison should mind her own business, he shares this detail with Amanda when she tries to blame herself for the failed marriage. Amanda has Craig drive her to Peter’s house to confront the couple. She forces Peter to realize that Taylor’s appearance in the apartment building was no coincidence. Matt finds it impossible to cope with Chelsea’s rebellious behavior. She runs away after overhearing Matt agree to leave her with his mother.

    From Here to Maternity: Kimberly collapses during an argument with Michael. She learns that she has an aneurysm, but refuses to undergo surgery. Megan (who has been hired as Burns/Mancini’s receptionist) tries to use company money to pay for a private nurse. Michael accuses Kimberly of faking her illness, and arrives at the beach house to find her clinging to life. He calls her mother and suggests that she come to L.A. Matt is unable to track down Chelsea, but she later checks into a halfway house. Samantha convinces Chelsea to return home by sharing her own experiences as a runaway. Matt agrees to let Chelsea stay with him, although his mother doesn’t feel that he is a fit parent because he is gay. Sam comes home from a date with Billy to find her father, who says he has been released from prison. Sydney meets Hilda’s sleazy lawyer, Harry Dean, and begins to suspect that Hilda is faking her injuries. Jake is angry when Alison disobeys her doctor’s orders by going back to work for a presentation. She later collapses in pain. Amanda tells Craig that she is taking a vow of celibacy.

    Last Exit to Ohio: Kimberly’s mother and Michael argue when Mrs. Shaw announces her intention to take her daughter back to Cleveland. Michael insists that Kimberly is too weak to travel. Before her departure, Kimberly convinces Megan to take her to see Michael. When her mother tries to stop her, Kimberly collapses in her arms and dies. Michael claims to feel no guilt, but later says his last goodbyes before the body is shipped home via train. Sydney is twice foiled in attempts to prove that Hilda is faking her injuries. Sydney loses all her assets, and Harry tries to convince her to help him stage accidents. Alison loses the baby, and learns that she cannot have children. She proposes to Jake. Billy clashes with Samantha’s father, who manipulates his daughter into giving him money and letting him stay in the apartment. Sam reveals that it was her testimony that helped put her father behind bars after he held up a store. Craig pouts when Amanda invites Kyle along on their “date.” Peter tries to mold Taylor into his late wife’s image. Chelsea’s mother announces that she is returning from Europe to retrieve her daughter.

    The Dead Wives Club: Jake and Alison hit the road in the hopes of finding a place to get married. Their car breaks down in a small town, where they eventually tie the knot. Jake allows Alison to sample some of the champagne provided by the motel manager. Sydney rejects Harry’s overtures and returns to work at Kyle’s. Kyle refuses to get involved with Syd because he is not ready for a relationship. When Sydney sees Amanda making time with Kyle, she decides to participate in one of Harry’s scams to take her down. Syd hurls herself down the stairs at D&D while waitressing at a party. Taylor realizes that Peter is trying to turn her into Beth, but decides to go along with it to make him happy. Kimberly appears to Megan in a dream and warns her that Michael destroys his wives. Megan backs out of Michael’s scam to discredit Peter. Chelsea’s mother, Denise, apologizes for leaving her; she convinces Chelsea to live with her in Europe. Reilly threatens Billy. Samantha learns that her father escaped from prison, but won’t turn him in.

    Deja Vu All Over Again: Sydney suffers broken ribs and a separated shoulder in her fall, but her pain is eased when she learns that she could receive five million dollars. Craig tells Amanda that he will take care of the lawsuit by seducing Sydney. Kyle escorts Amanda to a company function, and shares his dream of owning a jazz club. She offers to invest money to help him start a club, hoping that this will hide her assets from Syd. Sam secretly borrows money from Billy to help her father sneak across the border. Michael’s sister Jennifer comes to town and stays at the beach house. Michael helps her get a job interview at D&D, where she insults Amanda. Megan befriends Jennifer. Matt decides to fight for custody of Chelsea. Colleen visits, and tells Jake that her marriage is in trouble. Alison fears that she can never make Jake happy because she can’t have children. Peter is furious when Taylor “researches” her role as Beth through home movies.

    All Beths Are Off: While having lunch with Megan, Jennifer hears Kyle’s voice. She slaps him. Kyle visits her at the beach house, and apologizes for the way he broke off their Boston affair. Michael throws Jennifer out after learning about the affair, and that she has dropped out of school. Amanda and Kyle find the space for their jazz club, but Amanda isn’t sure she should get involved with him after hearing of his flings with Syd and Jennifer. Sam’s father refuses to leave town, and extorts more money from her. Denise convinces Chelsea to keep a diary as evidence against Matt. She takes notes when a male friend who has just lost his lover to AIDS spends the night on Matt’s couch. Craig and Sydney draw closer. He chases away a private investigator hired by Amanda to spy on Syd. Billy is alarmed to learn that Alison is drinking, but Jake isn’t concerned. Alison gets fired after drinking and causing D&D to lose a client. She and Jake decide to adopt. Michael pledges to help Taylor after learning of Peter’s bizarre behavior.

    Ultimatums and the Single Guy: Amanda and Kyle seek divorces so that their spouses can’t get a cut of the jazz club. Sydney decides to give up her lawsuit for a $50,000 settlement because she doesn’t want to hurt Craig. Harry threatens to turn her in to the cops. Peter becomes increasingly abusive toward Taylor, and nearly hits her. She and Michael plot to knock him off his pedestal. Billy and Sam lie to the police about Reilly’s whereabouts. They are arrested after Amanda tells the cops that Reilly has been staying in the building. Jennifer takes a waitress job at a strip club, although Megan warns that she may be in over her head. Jake and Alison blow a chance at adoption when they are caught drinking heavily. They decide to leave Los Angeles. Matt and Denise bicker over their temporary custody arrangement.

    Going Places: Michael decides to convince Peter that he has a disease called rage epilepsy. He and Taylor drug Peter, then tell him that he struck Taylor during a blackout. Taylor fears that Peter would recognize a make-up job, so she strikes herself in the face with a door! Craig roughs up Harry to get him to stop harassing Syd. Sydney receives a settlement of $50,000 and a consultant position. She sleeps with Craig. Megan tells Kyle about Jennifer’s job situation. He rescues her from the strip club and lets her stay at his apartment. Kyle and Amanda finalize their divorces in the Dominican Republic. They seem interested in each other, but Amanda is put off when she learns that Jen is staying with Kyle. Billy and Sam are questioned by the police. They continue to pay off Reilly, but he refuses to leave the country without his daughter. Jake and Alison decide to sell Shooters and buy a diner in Ojai, California. Alison realizes that Jake is not content with his life. Denise questions Matt’s parental fitness after Chelsea is injured at school.

    Secrets and Lies and More Lies: The jazz club celebrates its grand opening. Amanda pushes Kyle away after he hires Jennifer as a bartender. Sydney undermines Amanda’s authority at D&D. Amanda tries to get back at her by making a play for Craig, who is no longer interested. Michael and Taylor stage more “blackouts” for Peter. Michael diagnoses him with rage epilepsy. Megan becomes suspicious of Michael’s ties to Taylor. Sam finally agrees to go to the police about her father, but he sends a decoy to their scheduled meeting point. Colleen and David pay a visit, as Colleen’s husband has left them. She is taking a job in Hawaii, and wanted Jake to spend a little time with their son. Alison continues to drink heavily. She urges Colleen to stay in town for a few days while she comes up with a plan.

    Who’s Afraid of Amanda Woodward? 1 & 2: Sydney and Craig decide to quit D&D and start their own agency. They steal all of D&D’s clients and employees. Syd and Craig get engaged. A panicked Amanda tries to back out of the jazz club, as she needs the money to keep her agency afloat. Unable to violate doctor-patient confidentiality, Michael has Taylor goad Peter into a public temper tantrum so that Megan will expose his “rage epilepsy.” Michael tricks Peter into turning the chief-of-staff job over to him. Alison mocks Jake’s dream of running the diner. She pushes him into spending more time with Colleen and David. Sam is arrested because the police suspect she tipped off her father. Billy agrees to keep an eye on her and report suspicious activities to the authorities. Denise’s new boyfriend tries to come on to Chelsea while her mother is asleep. Chelsea is unnerved when her diary is used to discredit Matt.

    Season Six

    Brand New Day: Sydney and Reilly die in the accident. Samantha does not face any criminal charges, but Craig vows revenge. Jennifer tries to provide Craig with emotional support. Amanda goes to New York and turns down the job she had begged her former boss, Eric Baines, to create for her. Peter and Taylor plan to get married, but Peter instead uses the ceremony to humiliate her and stress the fact that he knows she is not pregnant. Peter threatens Michael, who is unable to use his hands due to the attack. Michael’s recommendation helps Matt get a job at an AIDS clinic. Matt and Chelsea move to San Francisco. Dr. Brett Cooper visits Kimberly’s grave and promises to get even with Michael. He takes a job at Wilshire Memorial and moves into Matt’s old apartment.

    Trojan Stork: After Kyle overhears Taylor and Peter arguing about her “pregnancy,” Taylor tells Kyle that the baby is his. Michael agrees to arrange a sperm donation. Megan forces Michael and Peter to agree to a truce. Jennifer sleeps with Craig. He later rejects her and says that he only slept with her out of loneliness. Billy asks Amanda to help overthrow Craig and start her own agency. Craig lays in wait outside the building and plans to run over Samantha, but is unable to go through with it.

    No Time for Sperm Banks: Peter is outraged when Michael makes Brett (Coop) a partner without consulting him. Peter and Brett later bond as they discuss ex-wives. Michael and Megan attend counseling, and are told to go 48 hours without lying. Taylor forces Michael to become her “donor” when she cannot gain access to a sperm bank. Megan learns that Brett may be connected to Kimberly. Craig tries to make peace with Billy, then discovers that Billy is trying to destroy his agency. Amanda refuses Peter’s help, but receives financing from Eric.

    The Doctor Is In…Deep: Craig’s ad agency collapses after Eric pressures his investors. Kyle accuses Amanda of being insensitive to Craig’s situation. She offers Craig a job, which he rejects. Billy nearly proposes to Samantha, but backs off. When Sam says that she wants to marry him, he declares that he is not ready for marriage. She leaves him. Kyle is annoyed when Eric decides to move to Los Angeles. Michael accompanies Peter to a medical conference in Santa Barbara to escape Taylor’s demands that he “service” her. He is left completely exhausted when both Taylor and a suddenly conciliatory Megan show up at his hotel. Brett’s ex-wife, Lexi, comes to town to discuss their financial arrangement. She and Peter are instantly drawn to each other. Taylor is certain that Michael has gotten her pregnant. Mrs. Shaw warns Brett to stay away from Michael, but Brett says that he is developing a plan to ruin him.

    Desperately Seeking Samantha: Megan catches Michael and Taylor together. Kyle demands a paternity test. Amanda confronts Eric about his intentions toward her. Eric comes to Megan’s defense when Michael accosts her at the restaurant. Sydney’s father comes to visit Craig, only to find a half-naked Jennifer in his apartment. Jennifer arranges a reconciliation between the two. Mr. Andrews gives all of Syd’s life insurance money to Craig, who decides to live a life of leisure. Billy shows up in Sam’s Maryland hometown and tries to convince her to come home with him. Her mother threatens him with a shotgun when he refuses to leave Sam alone.

    The Light at the End of the Tumble: Michael is jealous when Eric begins pursuing Megan. Kyle and Taylor lose the lease on their Boston restaurant. Taylor learns that she is not pregnant. She slips and falls down the stairs at the jazz club during an argument with Amanda. Michael tells Kyle that Taylor lost the baby. A guilt-ridden Amanda urges Kyle to spend time with Taylor. Michael steals an idea for a cauterizing glove from Brett. Michael and Jennifer stop Craig from leaving on a cruise, and convince him to finance the project. Lexi tells Peter that Brett fell in love with Kimberly while she was in a coma, and later had an affair with her. Peter snoops through Brett’s files to help Lexi’s case in the divorce. Samantha follows Billy back to Los Angeles. He gives her a job at Amanda’s agency, and she and Billy get engaged.

    Secrets and Wives: Kyle and Taylor learn that the same company that took their Boston restaurant has bought the building that houses Kyle’s and the jazz club. They investigate, but are unable to prove that Eric is responsible. Eric agrees to serve as Megan’s mentor, but states that he holds no romantic interest in her. Amanda goads Eric into admitting his feelings for her, then tells him that she doesn’t feel the same way. He vows to destroy her. Michael’s partnership with Craig falls through. Jen sabotages the cauterizer so that all of Michael’s other investors will lose interest. Brett believes that Michael is to blame when Lexi’s lawyers get a hold of his financial records. Mrs. Shaw pays Brett a surprise visit. Peter is distraught to learn that Lexi plans to return to Ohio. He professes his love in the courtyard, much to Brett’s surprise.

    A Shot in the Dark: Eric agrees to cease his takeover of the restaurant and jazz club if Amanda sleeps with him. Megan quits her job after learning of the offer. She shares the news with Taylor, who tries to blackmail Amanda into going through with it. Someone torments Michael by planting items that belonged to Kimberly around his home and office. Peter and Lexi tell him about Brett’s relationship with Kimberly. Michael confronts Brett, who is arrested for punching him. Michael’s stalker fires shots at him at the beach house. Craig gives Jennifer a car as a reward for her success in promoting the cauterizer at a medical supplies convention. Lexi hides a pill addiction from Peter. Sam demands an expensive wedding dress.

    Attack of the Scalpel Woman: Brett learns that Mrs. Shaw tried to shoot Michael. He threatens to turn her in unless she returns to Cleveland and checks into a sanitarium. Michael and Megan catch them at the airport, but Michael agrees to Brett’s plan. Mrs. Shaw escapes during a stopover and returns to Los Angeles. She slips into an operating room and tries to attack Michael with a scalpel. Megan tackles her and is slashed in the stomach. She has complications during surgery and lapses into a coma. Brett holds a bedside vigil. Eric decides to seize control of Amanda’s agency. She finally gives in and agrees to sleep with him. Taylor tells Kyle, who breaks into the hotel room and throws Eric through a glass door. He will only keep him from falling off the balcony if he says that he didn’t sleep with Amanda. Lexi falls apart when she runs out of pills. Brett agrees to refill her prescription. Craig and Billy bond on a bowling date with Sam and Jennifer. Billy asks Craig to be his best man. Craig loses Jennifer by sleeping with the assistant hotel manager after Billy’s bachelor party. Samantha’s best friend Connie arrives to be her maid of honor, but seems to have a chip on her shoulder.

    My Little Coma Girl: Kyle finally saves Eric after he admits that he didn’t sleep with Amanda. Kyle rejects Amanda’s reconciliation attempt, as he feels he can no longer trust her. Eric returns all of the businesses so that Kyle will believe that he slept with Amanda after all. Kyle punches out Eric before he can leave town, then gets drunk and sleeps with Taylor. Michael interrupts Brett’s vigil for Megan, and takes the credit when she recovers. Craig pines for Jennifer. Samantha gets into an argument with Billy’s mother before the wedding. Billy and Sam patch things up after exchanging vows. Brett tips off Peter about Lexi’s pill addiction.

    Everybody Comes to Kyle’s: Taylor tricks Amanda into surrendering her share of the jazz club. Megan learns that Brett cared for her during the coma, while Michael focused on his career. Lexi decides to enter the interior decorating business. She is distraught when her first job (at Field/Mancini) goes by the wayside when Brett sues Michael for stealing his invention. Lexi hits something with her car while under the influence of pills. Peter discovers blood on the bumper. Craig refuses to make a commitment to Jennifer, but she decides to accept a casual relationship. Connie takes a temporary job at Amanda Woodward Advertising. Sam is called away from her honeymoon to take a business trip, and Connie tries to create friction between Billy and her.

    A Bump in the Night: Peter learns that Lexi’s car struck a homeless man named Bob Matthews. Peter arranges for Bob to receive free treatment, and ships him off to a rehab hospital. Lexi discovers Peter’s cover-up. She wishes to turn herself in, but Peter dissuades her. Jennifer overhears their conversation. Megan invites Brett to dinner to thank him for nursing her back to health. Brett provides Craig with proof that Michael stole his invention. Michael convinces Jennifer that Brett’s sketches are forgeries, and persuades her to steal them. Taylor becomes concerned by Kyle’s drinking problem. Connie is hired as Sam’s new assistant. Billy is irritated by her behavior, although Samantha claims she is harmless.

    A Tree Talks in Melrose: Michael pulls out all the stops in an attempt to win back Megan. Brett fears that his plan is succeeding when Megan decides not to serve Michael with divorce papers until after Christmas. He arranges for the papers to be delivered on Christmas Eve. Jennifer blackmails Lexi into freeing Brett of his alimony obligations, then gets him to hand over his “forged” sketches of the cauterizer. A panicked Lexi overdoses. Jennifer severs her ties with Michael after learning that he did steal the idea for the invention. Taylor convinces longtime friend Jon Secada to perform a Christmas Eve concert to help make a balloon payment. After Kyle passes out drunk with the evening’s proceeds beside him, Taylor hides the cash. She pretends that it was stolen, then talks Kyle into coming to Las Vegas with her to win back the money. Billy is forced to decorate with Connie when Sam has to work late. Connie constantly tries to undermine him, and makes a pass at him. Sam takes Connie’s side when Billy orders her to leave.

    To Kill a Whirlybird: Michael is forced to turn over his share of the cauterizing glove company to Brett. He threatens to use his clout as chief-of-staff to have the company blackballed. Brett sends Michael notes on Dr. Shulman’s stationery so that he will make unwanted romantic advances toward her. Peter goes along with the plan, and Michael is stripped of his title. Megan’s relationship with Brett escalates after he assures her that he is not using her to get back at Michael. Taylor pulls out the $25,000 and convinces Kyle that she won it at the casino. They sleep together. A drunken Billy kisses Connie, who immediately phones the out-of-town Sam. A woman named Charlie stops by the apartments and tells Billy that Connie is her ex-girlfriend. She explains that Connie is scheming to win Samantha away from Billy. Amanda and Sam are involved in a helicopter crash. They are left stranded in the wilderness, as Amanda struggles to survive. Bob re-surfaces at Peter and Lexi’s house. Lexi insists on easing her guilt by giving him a job and a place to stay.

    Amanda’s Back: Kyle and Billy accompany the rescue team into the woods and find Amanda and Samantha. Amanda has suffered a broken back. She reconciles with Kyle. Billy convinces Connie to tell Sam that she is in love with her. Connie apologizes for her actions, and Sam asks her to keep in touch. Peter and Megan lash out at Brett when he suggests that Michael be ousted from the practice. Michael falls for a stripper, Amber. Bob develops a crush on Lexi. He later realizes that she is the person who hit him with her car. Jennifer is disgusted that Craig thinks of her as his “emotional leftovers.”

    Kyle of the Desert: Kyle experiences nightmares about Christine, a lover who died in the Gulf War. Taylor snoops through Kyle’s foot locker after Amanda asks her about Christine. Peter warns Kyle that Amanda is trying to have herself transferred to a rehab hospital. Kyle and Amanda get engaged. Taylor calls Nick in search of information about Christine, but he refuses to help. Bob threatens to go to the police unless Peter breaks up with Lexi. Peter pretends that he still has a thing for Amanda, and Lexi slaps him. Lexi manipulates Bob into clearing her of all charges, then reveals that she and Peter had only pretended to break up. They pay off Bob. Lexi’s father arrives, and instantly dislikes Peter. Megan and Jen are wary of Michael’s relationship with Amber. Amber breaks up with Michael after he insults her, but later agrees to move in with him.

    Coop de Grace: Taylor visits Nick in Dallas. Even after they sleep together, he is unwilling to tell her anything about Christine. She convinces him to help her break up Kyle and Amanda by telling him about the jazz club (which Nick had always dreamed of opening with Kyle), and how pathetic Kyle has become. Nick says that Christine didn’t immediately die of her injuries, but convinced him to tell Kyle she was dead so that he would move on. Michael is ousted from the practice after Amber gets drunk and embarrasses him at a company function. Megan breaks up with Brett, who had provided Amber with the liquor. Michael throws Amber out, and she responds by cleaning out his house. Lexi’s father continues to put down Peter and compare him to Brett. He gives Lexi a job managing one of his companies. Billy and Samantha try to convince a hot baseball prospect named Jeff Baylor to become a spokesman for one of their clients. Jennifer learns that Craig has instituted potentially deadly cost-cutting moves at the cauterizer company. Brett fires Craig, who attacks Jennifer. Billy helps her chase him away. Craig steals Jennifer’s car at gunpoint and drives to the desert. He declares that he couldn’t live without Sydney, and commits suicide.

    Mama Mia: Jennifer warns Michael that their mother, Mia, is coming for a visit. Jen has given her the impression that she is engaged to Craig. Michael is arrested for causing a scene at the strip club while searching for Amber. Jennifer is forced to turn to Mia for bail money. Mia mistakenly believes that Billy is Craig, but he refuses to play along. The police inform Jennifer that Craig has killed himself. Billy becomes depressed by the connection between Samantha and Jeff. He gets drunk, and agrees to pose as Craig. Jeff kisses Samantha, and Billy and Jen lock lips after he gets a little too caught up in the charade. Taylor tells Kyle that Christine is alive, and gives him a letter that Christine had supposedly written to him back in Boston. Amanda convinces Kyle to visit Christine in New Mexico, and he asks her to tag along. Sterling makes Lexi and Brett business partners.

    Last Train to Baghdad 1 & 2: Christine tells Kyle to move on with his life. She declines Amanda’s wedding invitation, but later has a change of heart and comes to Los Angeles. Peter shows up in Sterling’s hotel room with a tape recorder in the hopes of proving that Sterling is to blame for their rift. Lexi’s father collapses during the argument and later dies. Megan is jealous when Brett comforts Lexi. A gunshot victim named Spider convinces Michael that he can get rich by starting a clinic in the man’s neighborhood. Michael persuades his family to invest money in the venture. Billy continues to pose as Craig, but Jennifer is forced to tell Mia the “truth” after she catches Billy with Samantha.

    A Swing and a Mrs.: Christine tries to back out of Nick’s scam because she doesn’t feel Kyle deserves such treatment. Taylor threatens her when she tries to leave town. Peter proves that he is not responsible for the death of Lexi’s father, as Sterling had a pre-existing medical condition. Lexi still refuses to take him back. Brett fears that he is losing Megan to Michael. He asks Megan to move in with him. Brett learns he will inherit ten million dollars from Sterling if he remarries Lexi within a year. Billy works on a campaign for a dance studio. He tries to shake Jennifer of her romantic notions about ballroom dancing by taking her to a lesson. Samantha agonizes over the fact that Jeff is about to leave for spring training. She follows Jennifer’s advice by sleeping with him. Billy dances with Jennifer after the dance studio’s photo shoot, and they end up kissing.

    Blunt Drama: Taylor and Nick order Christine to display signs of suicidal behavior so that Peter will check her into the hospital. However, Peter suggests that Kyle stay away from Christine, and orders him to marry Amanda. Taylor forces Christine to write a letter claiming that she slept with Kyle. Amanda realizes that Christine is lying, and dares her to kill herself. Nick and Taylor bust Christine out of the hospital in the hopes of breaking up the wedding. Christine escapes from the duo, and says that she will tell Kyle and Amanda that she is an impostor. Nick accidentally trips her. She hits her head on the bumper of Kyle’s car and is killed instantly. Jeff refuses to report to spring training after Sam rejects him. When he suffers a serious knee injury and comes home, a guilt-ridden Samantha returns to him. The attraction between Billy and Jennifer continues to grow. Spider is killed in a shootout, and leaves Michael a key to a locker filled with cash. Megan talks Michael into donating the money to a church.

    A Christine Runs Through It: Nick and a panicked Taylor send Amanda a note at the hotel where she and Kyle are honeymooning and lead her to believe that Christine is going to commit suicide. They leave “Christine”‘s body on the train tracks, and Kyle and Amanda arrive in time to see her hit by the train. Amanda is wracked with guilt, and pushes Kyle away. Nick tells Taylor that the Christine impostor was Tiffany Hart, a former lover who had been injured in a car accident with a drunken Nick behind the wheel. Nick fears that Taylor is going to turn herself in, so he tries to kill her. He is interrupted by Michael, who treats Taylor at his clinic. He convinces Nick that Taylor has died. Samantha asks Jennifer to accompany Billy to an awards dinner so that she can have a getaway with Jeff. Jennifer and Billy sleep together after the dinner. Brett tells Peter about the inheritance, and suggests that Peter help eliminate temptation by reuniting with Lexi. Lexi admits that she misses Peter and takes him back.

    Too Romantic for Words: Billy dedicates himself to making his marriage work, although he is still drawn to Jennifer. Sam is shocked by Jeff’s impromptu marriage proposal. Taylor hides out at the beach house until Michael ensures that Nick has left town. Nick sends Kyle a note apologizing for Taylor’s death. She laughs it off. Kyle (with Jen’s help) discovers that “Christine” was in contact with Nick. Amanda refuses to have anything to do with Kyle. She seeks Peter’s advice and creates a rift between Peter and Lexi, who have just moved into a new condo. Peter bails on a dinner with Amanda and returns home to apologize to Lexi. Brett suggests that he and Megan get away from their ex-spouses and make a fresh start. He reveals that he is in the running for a position at a research hospital in Philadelphia.

    Four Affairs and a Pregnancy: is put off when Billy begins smothering her with attention. She attends a family reunion with Jeff, and is furious to learn that his family believes they are engaged. Samantha returns home and spies Jennifer and Billy kissing. She promptly seduces Billy. Kyle is outraged when Amanda begins dating Lexi’s sleazy friend Rory Blake. Taylor learns that she is pregnant. Kyle romances Taylor in the hopes of pumping her for information about Christine’s return. Michael plans to torch his failing clinic for the insurance money, but Megan persuades the priest who received Michael’s donation to purchase the facility. Michael is annoyed when Jennifer ensures that all investors receive their money back. Megan says that she is willing to move to Philadelphia with Brett. Michael tries to sabotage Brett’s chances by telling the doctor who is interviewing him half-truths about his past. He claims that Megan is still a hooker.

    M.P. Confidential: Jennifer tries to help Jeff win back Samantha. Sam rejects him, but is jealous when she sees Jen having dinner with Jeff. She confronts Jennifer in the bathroom. Billy tells Jennifer that he wants to be with her, and no longer trusts Samantha. Jennifer discovers that Taylor is pregnant. Kyle pays Michael to give him the results of the paternity test. Michael is the father, but he tells Taylor that it is Nick. Amanda invests money with Rory and later sleeps with him. Michael sues the practice. Peter doesn’t want to face the suit alone, so Lexi tries to goad Brett into staying. Peter submits to counseling after attacking Michael. Brett and Megan fly to Philadelphia for his interview. Dr. Larner, the man in charge of the interview, tells Megan that he will only recommend Brett for the job if she sleeps with him.

    The Nasty Minded Professor: Samantha takes back Jeff after learning that his knee injury has ended his career. Amanda catches Billy and Jennifer making out at the jazz club, and drops hints about Sam’s affair. Billy shows up at a little league game where Jeff is coaching, and sees Sam kiss him. He punches Jeff, and Sam is knocked unconscious during the scuffle. She lets Billy take her home from the hospital, but he refuses to talk to her. Taylor tells Kyle that he is the father of her baby. Amanda learns about the pregnancy, and Michael claims that Kyle is the father. Amanda goads Kyle into signing divorce papers, as she plans to get a quickie divorce in the Dominican Republic. Rory asks Amanda to marry him. Megan and Brett get engaged. Dr. Larner attacks Megan, but Brett comes to the rescue. Larner’s wife tells Megan that her husband is influential, and that Brett is being asked to choose between the job and Megan. Megan tries to leave Philadelphia, but Brett stops her and says he rejected the job. Lexi becomes fed up with Peter. Peter goes to an isolated cabin to clear his head, but Michael follows him. They are left stranded in the woods. Peter suffers a knee injury, and is forced to let Michael back into the practice when he leads him to safety.

    Season Seven

    Divorce Dominican Style: Kyle tries to manipulate Taylor into revealing the truth about her scheme involving Christine. Although Michael warns her to keep quiet, Taylor comes clean after Kyle threatens to break up with her. Kyle insults Taylor and her unborn child, then departs for the Domincan Republic. Amanda and Kyle’s divorce is finalized. She marries Rory, as Kyle arrives at the ceremony seconds too late. Taylor tries to commit suicide through carbon monoxide poisoning. Jennifer tells Billy that she has known about Sam’s affair with Jeff for months. Jennifer reveals her affair with Billy to Jeff and convinces him to tell Samantha. A furious Sam attacks Jennifer, but Billy comes to Jen’s defense. Sam moves out of the apartment. Megan takes a job waitressing at the jazz club after the medical practice lets her go. She learns that Michael cost Brett the Philadelphia job by telling Larner about her past profession. She holds this information over Michael’s head to stop him from making trouble at the practice. Peter realizes that he still loves Amanda.

    A Long Way to Tip-a-Rory: Rory poisons Amanda after she refuses to give him a share of the agency. Kyle discovers the couple’s secret honeymoon location. Rory tries to stab Kyle, but falls on the knife during the scuffle and dies. Amanda recovers from her illness. Lexi learns that her father set her up to take the fall in an embezzlement scheme. She will go to prison unless she can come up with five million dollars. Peter admits his love for Amanda and breaks up with Lexi. He tells Lexi about her father’s secret codicil, and suggests that she marry Brett and split the ten million dollars. Brett refuses to consider her offer, and Lexi is arrested. Taylor is saved from the carbon monoxide poisoning, but not before a dream causes her to suspect that Michael is her baby’s father. Peter discovers the truth and forces Michael to face his responsibility. Taylor decides that Michael and the baby are her reason for living, and Michael reluctantly allows her to move in with him. Sam and Billy file for divorce. Sam becomes bored with Jeff, while Billy and Jen seem closer than ever.

    A Match Made in Hell: Overcome with guilt about Lexi’s plight, Megan convinces Brett to marry Lexi. She is hurt to learn that they must live together with no one else in the house, especially after Lexi suddenly begins to show a romantic interest in Brett. Michael rebuffs Taylor’s attempts to turn him into a responsible father, but softens after delivering a couple’s baby on the side of the highway. Peter begins his pursuit of Amanda, who has remarried Kyle. The “newlyweds” cannot find any time together. Billy moves in with Jennifer. A furious Samantha tries to use Jeff to make Billy jealous. She demands that Amanda fire either her or Billy, but learns that the outcome would not be in her favor.

    Ball `n’ Jane: Michael attends a college reunion in Chicago, where he runs into Jane. They seem to instantly renew their connection, but Jane tells him that she is to marry in a few days. Michael later learns that this is not true, and the two reminisce about the good times in their relationship. After a night of passion, Jane follows Michael back to Los Angeles in the hopes of rekindling their romance. Megan and Brett struggle to find time together in the face of Lexi’s interference. Peter turns to a shady former patient for assistance after his attempts to woo Amanda prove an unqualified failure. Billy and Samantha vie for an Italian client’s in-house advertising position. Jennifer mistakenly believes that Billy plans to leave the country without her. Billy and Jen get engaged–in front of Sam. Samantha launches a plan after overhearing Billy and Amanda discuss Alison’s renewed alcohol problem and failed professional life.

    As Bad as It Gets: Michael has Taylor shipped away in an ambulance, but she and Jane later discover each other. Jane is furious to learn of the pregnancy, and rents an apartment at the complex. Amanda recruits her for a job at AWA. Jane reconciles with Michael, and agrees to help care for Taylor. Taylor decides that she isn’t fit to be a mother and asks Jane and Michael to adopt her baby. Peter is uneasy about the plot he arranged with Mr. Beck. He is unable to call it off, and Amanda is kidnapped. Samantha convinces Jeff to send Billy a fax in which “Alison” expresses her love for him. Billy claims that he only wishes to help Alison, but Jennifer fears that he still holds feelings for her. Lexi continues to taunt Megan about her marriage, and goads Brett into sleeping with her.

    Buona Sera, Mr. Campbell 1 & 2: Beck’s men hold Amanda hostage in a desolate cabin. She escapes, but is quickly re-captured. Kyle is forced to turn to Peter for help when the kidnappers demand a million-dollar ransom. Peter volunteers to leave the money at the drop site after the kidnappers refuse to let Kyle do it himself. Peter arrives at the cabin to find that Amanda is gone. She has escaped again, with one of Beck’s men in hot pursuit. Jen is distraught when Billy insists that he will visit Alison in Atlanta. A disgusted Jeff breaks up with Sam. He accepts a job as a sports radio talk show host in Tampa. Sam tells Jennifer that she sent the fax, but Jen keeps the news from Billy in order to test their relationship. Michael tells Billy the truth, and he breaks up with Jennifer. Lexi orders Brett to stop seeing Megan. She also angers him by purchasing an expensive sailboat. Brett begs Megan to leave the country with him, but she learns that he slept with Lexi. Brett suddenly pretends that he is in love with Lexi, then leaves Megan an ominous message in which he promises to get Lexi out of their lives. He takes Lexi sailing during a terrible rainstorm. Jane and Michael agree to take custody of his and Taylor’s son. Taylor goes into labor at the beach house.

    The World According to Matt: Matt dies in a car accident while on his way to dinner at Kyle’s club. His mother gives Amanda a diary in which he recorded secrets about his friends and neighbors. Jane is amused to learn that Michael worked as a stripper during college; but their new engagement is threatened after she reveals that she slept with an old friend, Alex Bastian, the night before their wedding. Amanda learns from the diary that Kyle has a brother named Ryan. They quarreled after Kyle accused Ryan of making a pass at Taylor. Amanda convinces Kyle to bury the hatchet. Amanda removes an incriminating page from the diary. Beck returns the ransom money to Peter. Amanda tells Peter that the diary revealed that he performed heart surgery on Beck while he was unlicensed. Peter believes that the missing page relates to Amanda’s feelings for him, and snoops in her apartment. Amanda mistakes him for a burglar and shoots him. Lexi decides to branch out into advertising. A distraught Megan throws herself at Michael, then vanishes after he rejects her.

    Where the Hookers Grow: Kyle is jealous of the amount of time Amanda spends with the recuperating Peter. He and Ryan quarrel after Ryan mentions Kyle’s concerns to Amanda. Amanda referees the dispute and gives Ryan a job at her agency. Peter, fearing that he is about to die, confesses his involvement in the kidnapping to Dr. Visconti. Lexi seduces Dr. Visconti to pry the truth from him. Michael follows Megan to her parents’ home, and is stunned to find that the family is wealthy. Megan discovers that her father suffered a crippling stroke years ago, which Mrs. Lewis claims is the result of the strain of learning that Megan was a prostitute. Michael discovers that Megan’s mother is lying to force Megan to stay home out of guilt. Jane takes a job at AWA. She is asked to persuade Alex–now a famous designer–to bring his business to the agency.

    Dr. Jealousy: Peter learns that Lexi has uncovered the truth about his involvement in Amanda’s kidnapping. Peter returns the ransom money to Amanda and Kyle, explaining that Beck pressured the kidnappers. Lexi threatens to expose Peter unless he sleeps with her. Peter decides to call her bluff, and Lexi races to the club to talk to Amanda. Amanda burns the journal–and the missing page–after Kyle continually accuses her of protecting Peter. Ryan tries to make a move on a reluctant Megan. Megan takes a job for Lexi, and winds up vying with Ryan for an account in Arizona. Car problems force the two to spend time together, but Megan says that she is not ready for a relationship. Michael is jealous of Jane’s new working relationship with Alex. He decides to push Jane away to see if she can resist Alex’s advances. Michael spies Alex kissing Jane at a restaurant.

    Not Quite All About Eve: Lexi does not tell Amanda about the kidnapping because she doesn’t want Peter to go to prison. Singer Eve Cleary is struck by a car outside outside the club after Kyle fires her. Peter assists in her recuperation, and Amanda convinces Kyle to give Eve another chance. Amanda is annoyed when Kyle continues to obsess over the missing journal page. Amanda has a clandestine meeting with Eve outside the club. She tells her that she once told a friend their secret, but will not make this mistake again. Amanda fires Ryan because she suspects that he leaked information to Lexi’s agency. She welcomes him back after he proves that her assistant was the actual spy. Megan tells Ryan about her past and explains her reluctance to open up to him. Michael pretends to go out of town, then keeps Jane and Alex under surveillance. Jane fears that Michael is having an affair with Megan, but resists Alex’s persistent advances.

    The Rumor Whisperer: Amanda is nominated for a magazine’s Businesswoman of the Year award, and is considered a strong favorite. Lexi sleeps with Drew MacKenzie, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, in the hopes of convincing him to give her the honor instead. When her plan fails, she starts a rumor that Amanda won the award by sleeping with Drew. Megan learns the truth when she eavesdrops on a conversation between Lexi and Drew. Jane shares the news with Amanda, who humiliates Lexi in her acceptance speech and mockingly presents her with the award. Jane accuses Megan of having an affair with Michael. Michael suggests that he and Jane elope. Michael punches Alex after he claims that Michael’s haste stems from his fear that Jane will sleep with Alex. Jane threatens to call off the wedding unless Michael agrees to trust her. She temporarily moves back to the apartment building. Peter and Eve have their first date (miniature golf). He is touched by her enthusiasm for mundane things such as hot dogs, but she frightens him with an overly passionate kiss. Eve sends Peter a love letter, but is hurt when she hears him sarcastically reading it to Michael. They later decide to make a fresh start. Ryan tells Megan that he is still interested in her.

    The Night the Lights Went Out at Melrose: Lexi decides not to fire Megan for her betrayal because she cannot stand to lose her only friend. Peter sleeps with Eve, but then refuses to return her calls. Amanda goes to Peter’s office to confront him, and the two are trapped in an elevator during a citywide power outage. Peter realizes that he has been cold to Eve because he is afraid of destroying another relationship. Michael is forced to take an apartment due to structural damage at the beach house. Alex threatens to pull his account unless Amanda helps him win over Jane. Michael is mistaken for a looter and arrested. Alex sneaks into Jane’s apartment and makes a pass at her. Megan and Ryan bond over a lost dog and share a rooftop kiss, but she quickly rejects him. Lexi shows up at the building during the blackout, and Ryan ogles her as she swims in the nude.

    Suspicion: Kyle becomes suspicious of Eve after she angrily rejects a record deal. Eve visits the courthouse. Peter catches her in a lie about her whereabouts, but she covers her tracks by giving him a present. He asks her to move in with him. Amanda abruptly sends Jane on a business trip to Chicago, where she works closely with Alex. Alex promises to remain professional, but he and Jane end up kissing passionately. Peter tries to distract Michael by throwing a bachelor party. The evening is spoiled by the distraught stripper, who whines about her ex-boyfriend. Peter drugs Michael to stop him from going to Chicago. Megan and Ryan behave coldly to each other. Ryan ignores his brother’s warning and sleeps with Lexi.

    Fiddling on the Roof: Overcome with guilt after kissing Alex, Jane hides out at a hotel. She fears that she is making a huge mistake by re-marrying Michael. She suffers a panic attack and passes out. Amanda goes to the church to tell a heartbroken Michael that the wedding is off. Jane decides that she wants to marry Michael after all. Michael refuses to talk to her, but Peter ambushes him with a ceremony at the hospital. Michael agrees to marry Jane after hearing her vows. Alex shows up at the reception and leads Michael to believe that he slept with Jane. Michael gets drunk and humiliates Jane with accusations of infidelity. She seeks refuge at Alex’s house, only to discover that he is not using the clothing designed during her trip to Chicago. Alex admits that he had invented a work emergency in the hopes of getting closer to Jane. During the reception, Megan catches Ryan and Lexi in a compromising position in a bathroom. She tries to drink away her sorrow, and finds comfort with Michael. While heavily intoxicated, they break into Ryan’s apartment and gain roof access. Jane visits Amanda’s apartment in search of advice and ice cream. Michael and Megan kiss and become amorous. The roof suddenly collapses, sending the half-naked duo crashing into Amanda’s bedroom–where Amanda, Jane, Ryan and Kyle look on.

    Lethal Wedding 4: Following the roof incident, Ryan insults Megan and gets into a fist fight with Michael. Jane burns her wedding dress on the barbecue. Amanda sues Michael for the roof damages, tries to fire Ryan and Jane, and blames Lexi for everything. Jane sues Michael for divorce, and he responds with a countersuit. Amanda hopes to force the Mancinis to talk things out by locking them in the laundry room overnight. They wind up dredging up the past (and Jane actually says Sydney’s name!). Megan tells Michael to go easy on Jane after learning that she may have breast cancer. Megan quits her job, but returns (as vice president) after Lexi begs for forgiveness. Ryan again repels Megan by gyrating onstage with the musical guest. Peter learns that his father–a spiteful man who struggled as a pro golfer–has died friendless. He hopes to avoid his father’s fate by proposing to Eve. Eve arranges a wedding in her hometown, then sneaks out with Amanda to visit her grandmother. Kyle follows them, and badgers the old woman into revealing that Eve spent 15 years in prison. Lexi, unaware that Peter is about to tie the knot, calls him to profess her love. Kyle harasses Eve before the wedding. Amanda interrupts and confesses that she and Eve once committed a murder.

    When Cheerleaders Attack: Amanda and Eve reveal their secret to Kyle. During high school, Eve’s quarterback boyfriend Kent made a play for Amanda at the football stadium. He tried to rape her when she refused him. Eve saved Amanda by shoving Kent from the bleachers to his death. His family claimed that the act was premeditated, and Eve was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Eve and Amanda beg Kyle not to share the truth with Peter. Peter and Eve are married, and find a naked Lexi waiting in their room. Peter threatens Lexi when she tries to blackmail him with her knowledge of Amanda’s kidnapping. Eve is haunted by nightmares about Kent. Megan and Ryan take Lexi home after she rushes the Upstairs stage in a drunken stupor. After Ryan saves her from falling off her balcony, Lexi decides to turn over a new leaf. She tries to make nice with Amanda, but later admits that this is part of a scheme. Megan considers dating Ryan. Michael learns of Jane’s potential illness and offers to support her. Jane leans on him temporarily, but rejects him after getting a clean bill of health. Amanda is nearly flattened by a delivery truck, and suddenly decides she wants a baby. Amanda and Kyle find oceanfront property for sale, and Kyle gives the owner a sob story to convince him to accept their bid.

    Suddenly Sperm: Michael must sell the beach house to pay off his debts. The voyeuristic real estate agent closes a deal within two days, then sleeps with Michael. Jane and Michael reminisce about their first date, but she tries to move on by going out with a dork from the office. Amanda plans to turn over day-to-day control of her agency to Ryan. A lazy lab technician’s error convinces Kyle that he is sterile. Ryan and Megan’s first date is a disaster, but they later admit their attraction and kiss. Lexi, Amanda and Eve organize a charity Christmas function. They visit a Christmas tree lot, where a former prison guard recognizes Eve. Lexi witnesses an argument between the two and suspects that Eve is hiding something about her past.

    The Usual Santas: Lexi, Amanda and Eve are caught in a bank hold-up involving men in Santa Claus suits. The guys (including Dr. Visconti) plan to play Santa at area elementary schools, but are mistaken for the bank robbers and arrested. They are detained until Lexi, Amanda and Eve clear up the misunderstanding. Amanda begins to worry about Kyle’s drinking. Travis tries to blackmail Eve into sleeping with him, but Kyle pummels him and orders him to leave town. Lexi has an enlightening conversation with Travis, which leads to a fist fight with Eve. Lexi warns Peter that his current and former wives are keeping a secret from him. An eccentric judge orders Michael and Jane to spend the holidays performing community service together. Jane forgives Michael, who then has himself delivered to her apartment in a box. Lexi surprises Megan with a catered Christmas dinner, only to find that she has spent the greater part of three days in bed with Ryan. The teen pop group Hanson performs a charity concert at the club, and Lexi makes an inappropriate remark.

    The Kyle High Club: Kyle continues to abuse alcohol and prescription pills. After a vicious argument with Amanda regarding her baby obsession, he leaves for New York without sharing his plans. He scouts a hard rock band, whose manager holds wild parties in Kyle’s suite and gets him hooked on drugs. When Amanda and Ryan come to Kyle’s rescue, she sees women coming out of his room and assumes that he is cheating on her. She throws him out of the apartment. Lexi gives up on Peter after he wishes her well and urges her to move on with her life. She offers to make Megan a partner in her company if she can find Lexi the perfect mate. Jane and Michael call off the divorce, but face huge legal bills. A patient that Michael saved gives him a sports car and offers him an opportunity at a million-dollar investment (or so he says).

    I Married a Jock Murderer: Eve and Ryan try to reunite Kyle and Amanda. Kyle tells Amanda that her unreasonable expectations have destroyed him. Ryan becomes suspicious of Megan’s irregular hours. He sees her interviewing one of Lexi’s potential dates and assumes that she has returned to prostitution. Michael embezzles $100,000 from the children’s charity fund to invest with Perry. Perry vanishes with the money, and Michael learns that he is a con artist who feigns heart trouble to win the trust of wealthy doctors. Michael covers his tracks by volunteering to serve as the charity’s treasurer. Kyle forces Eve to sing with Rikki G’s band. The group’s disgusting behavior prompts her to quit. A drunken Kyle tells Peter about Eve’s murder conviction and long prison sentence.

    A Fist Full of Secrets: Peter travels to Oakhurst to investigate Eve’s past. He has a run-in with Kent’s parents and the town sheriff, but an old friend of Eve’s tells him the truth about the murder case. Eve comes looking for Peter, and he defends her from the townspeople’s attacks. Ryan intercepts a drug delivery for Kyle and pushes his brother into flushing the pills. Kyle, Eve and Peter separately accuse Amanda of being a tyrant. Overcome with guilt, she takes Kyle back for some reason. Megan conceals the fact that a computer program pinpointed Ryan as Lexi’s perfect mate. Ryan discovers that Megan has her own 800 number. He confronts her with allegations of prostitution, so she comes clean about Lexi’s search for Mr. Right. Temporary chief-of-staff Michael promotes Amy to head nurse. A wacko nurse whom Michael had just met claims that he promised her the job in exchange for sex. Peter suspends Michael.

    The Younger Son Also Rises: Kyle and Ryan’s overbearing father, Mack, surprises his sons with a visit. Mack enrages Ryan with his demeaning and hateful comments, then turns on Kyle after learning that he cannot have children. Unable to cope with the pressure, Ryan and Kyle flee Kyle’s birthday party and get into a fight that ends in the pool. Kyle attacks his father after he belittles him and reveals his condition to Ryan. Amanda mends her relationships with Eve and Peter. Lexi jumps to conclusions when she sees Amanda and Peter at a hotel while Eve is out of town for a gig. Audrey sues Michael for sexual harassment, and the hospital refuses to support him. Jane shuns Michael following a surprising meeting with Audrey. Michael and Audrey have a secret rendezvous. Lexi sabotages a Valentine’s Day date with one of her love candidates. Megan resigns from the project. Lexi gains access to Megan’s records and discovers that Ryan is her perfect mate.

    Saving Ryan’s Privates: Kyle flies into a drug-induced rage and burns down his and Amanda’s dream house. He tells Amanda that he is sterile and disappears. Ryan finds him drinking at the basketball courts and brings him home. Kyle injures himself while Amanda is out, and Peter recommends that he check into a rehab center. Amanda fires Rikki G and the band, prompting a furious Eve to quit. Rikki G tries to rape Amanda, but Peter comes to the rescue. Audrey’s sexual harassment allegations are part of a scam engineered by Michael. She is to recant her story in exchange for a share of his winnings in a countersuit against the hospital. Audrey refuses to follow through until Michael agrees to a sexual relationship. She secretly videotapes their encounters. Lexi pursues Jane and Ryan to a Mexican resort, where they are trying to land an account. Jane sprains her ankle and returns home to reunite with the “innocent” Michael. Lexi impulsively kisses Ryan, but apologizes for acting rashly.

    They Shoot Blanks, Don’t They?: Eve is jealous of the amount of time Peter is spending with Amanda. She skips a meeting with her parole officer, and is arrested for performing at an illegal after-hours club. Ryan catches Peter and Amanda in an embrace, and learns of their supposed hotel rendezvous from Lexi. Amanda tells Peter that she is pregnant. Eve overhears this, and races to the rehab clinic to tell Kyle. Kyle breaks out of rehab and goes ballistic, destroying everything in sight and trying to kill Peter. When Amanda tries to stop him, he accidentally throws her through a second-story window. Michael receives a two-million-dollar settlement from the hospital. He insults Audrey on television, so she decides to send her illicit videos to Peter. Ryan and Lexi collaborate on an ad campaign, and hold a drinking contest to determine who will use it. They end up having sex in a closet, and miss their deadline. Dr. Visconti advises Lexi to be less aggressive in her pursuit of men.

    How Amanda Got Her Groove Back: Amanda is not seriously injured, but loses the baby. Kyle refuses to acknowledge that the child was his, and leaves Peter to break the news. Eve vanishes, and her parole officer warns Peter that she could be arrested unless she resurfaces. Eve stays on the boat of her former cellmate, Jackie. They plan to sail away to Mexico, but Jackie tips off Peter, who convinces Eve to return home. Kyle decides to run away to Boston. Peter discovers that Kyle is not sterile. He has Amanda flown to the airport in a chopper so that she can stop Kyle from leaving. Peter and Jane see the tapes of Michael with Audrey. Jane dumps him again, and buys the beach house with a loan from her father. Peter takes pity on his partner and lets him keep his job. Lexi learns that Ryan has been engaged three times. She pressures Megan to propose in the hopes of exploiting Ryan’s fear of commitment.

    Unpleasantville: Kyle and Amanda are anxious to speed up the construction on their house, but learn that it will cost them. Amanda cannot afford to bring the apartment building up to code, so she decides to sell it. Kyle joins the construction crew for the house and offers to help Jane fix up the beach house. He helps her chase away a persistent but dorky neighbor. Dr. Shulman and the hospital’s new corporate ownership try to stop Michael and Peter from treating uninsured patients. Jackie is assaulted by her boss. Dr. Shulman overhears Eve discussing her prison background with Jackie. She vows to use Eve’s past to destroy Peter’s reputation. Jackie holds Dr. Shulman at gunpoint, but Peter stops her from killing her. Jackie steals Dr. Shulman’s car, then turns herself in, as she cannot handle life on the outside. Michael begins pursuing Megan. Lexi tries to goad Megan into popping the question to Ryan, but he beats her to the punch. He suddenly leaves town. Ryan goes to a boarding house in Poughkeepsie to visit his young daughter, Sarah.

    Ryan’s Choice: Ryan visits with his daughter; but Terry O’Brien, her aunt and legal guardian, cuts short their time together. Ryan heads home and immediately tells Megan that he slept with Lexi in Mexico. He purposely drives her away, and also alienates Lexi with his bizarre behavior. Megan confronts Lexi and quits her job. Michael agrees to team up with Lexi after his ploy to win back Megan fails. Ryan vanishes for several days before Kyle finds him at the blacktop courts. Ryan reveals that he was married as an 18 year old. His family was in a car accident; he pulled his infant daughter to safety, but the car erupted in flames and killed his wife. He is still wracked with guilt, and has kept a promise to Sarah by never remarrying. The parole board plans to send Eve back to prison for fraternizing with Jackie, but Amanda comes to her rescue. Peter and Eve fly to Texas to consider a bid on his father’s old land. He returns home to defend himself against Dr. Shulman’s attacks, but winds up resigning. Eve discovers that oil was found on Mr. Howell’s property, and leases it to an oil company for millions. Despite his new windfall, Peter decides to stay at the hospital to protect the interests of patients and staff. Amanda neglects Kyle to spend all her time at the office. A storm washes out the road and forces him to sleep over at Jane’s house. They have a candlelight dinner during a power outage.

    McBride’s Head Revisited: Lexi buys the apartment building, using a front so that Amanda will unwittingly accept her offer. She takes over as landlord, prompting Amanda and Kyle to move in with Jane temporarily. Michael and Lexi drug Ryan, then snoop in his apartment and find information about his trip to New York. They pose as a priest and nun to gain entry to the boarding school and meet Sarah. Lexi, claiming to be Megan, convinces Sarah to give Ryan permission to remarry. Megan goes to work at AWA and steals Lexi’s clients. Michael stops Lexi from attacking Megan, so she agrees to join him for drinks. Ryan comes to Megan’s apartment to tell him about Sarah, only to find a naked Michael hiding in the closet. Peter and Eve agree not to spend their money, but she accepts an offer to buy half of Kyle’s club. Eve bitch-slaps Dr. Shulman when she continues to make trouble at the hospital. Peter buys the hospital and implements more patient-friendly policies. He allows Dr. Shulman to purchase a seat on the board of directors because he enjoys having an adversary. Jane sleeps with a prospective client, but he freaks her out by proposing marriage the next day. When he pulls his account, Amanda lashes out at Jane, who finds an ally in Kyle.

    The Daughterboy: Michael and Ryan get into a scuffle, and Megan cracks Ryan over the head with a lamp. Lexi tends to Ryan’s wounds and convinces him to sleep with her. Megan finally learns that Ryan has a daughter. Sarah overhears Terry threatening to keep her away from Ryan forever. Ryan decides to have Sarah come live with him. He and Lexi try to visit her, but discover that she has run away. Sarah turns up on Megan’s doorstep. Amanda devotes all her time to landing the account of millionaire Tony Marlin. When Eve joins Amanda and Tony for an evening out, drunken college guys trash the club. Tony hints that he will only sign with AWA if Amanda helps him land Eve. Kyle and Jane nearly kiss and later dine together. Dr. Shulman stops interfering with hospital business after she and Dr. Visconti fall for each other.

    Bitter Homes and Guardians: Ryan learns Sarah’s whereabouts and sends her to the beach house to stay with Kyle. Lexi tries to win Sarah’s favor through bribery. Sarah encourages Ryan to repair his relationship with Megan. He decides to fight for custody of Sarah. After being rejected by Megan and Ryan, Michael and Lexi have sex in the laundry room. In order to please Tony, Amanda makes Eve the spokesperson for the cruise line. Peter is angry because the commercial conflicts with their Hawaiian vacation, but Eve appeases him by asking him to come along on the cruise. Amanda must fire half of her staff to finance the commercial. When Kyle discovers that Jane is among the casualties, he accuses Amanda of being heartless and threatens to end their marriage. Amanda and Jane quarrel over Kyle. Amanda walks out on Kyle because she believes he is trying to control her. He sells the other half of the club to Eve so that he can buy Amanda’s stake in their house. Amanda comes to the club to seek Kyle’s forgiveness, but they break up for good.

    Floral Knowledge: Tony orders Amanda to distract Peter throughout the cruise so that he can put the moves on Eve. Amanda accompanies Peter on a day trip to an island and ensures that they miss the boat. Tony tells Eve that Amanda promised her to him as part of their deal. Eve causes him great pain, and later ends her friendship with Amanda. Peter and Amanda sleep together and confess that they have never gotten over each other. Lexi decides to seduce Tony to steal his account, much to Michael’s dismay. Ignoring a threat from Tony’s unstable wife, she destroys the film from Amanda’s commercial, before coming on to Tony and asking him to keep her in mind as a second choice. Terry has a social worker take Sarah away from Ryan. Ryan defends Terry against allegations of child abuse. Terry allows Ryan to have custody of Sarah, but will stay with them for the summer. Megan notices that Terry seems a bit too affectionate toward Ryan. Kyle and Jane move very quickly in their relationship.

    Lexi Gets Stiffed: Amanda loses Tony’s account because the commercial footage was destroyed. She decides to shut down her agency. Peter ends his marriage so that he can be with Amanda. Jane and Kyle nearly split up because of his insistence on consoling Amanda. He catches Amanda and Peter sharing a hotel room, and Eve overhears this information. Eve beds Travis, the ex-prison guard who harassed her, but he refuses to do her dirty work. She goes totally psycho and plots revenge against everyone. A jealous Michael tries to stop Lexi from sleeping with Tony. He helps her escape a potential confrontation with Mrs. Marlin. Tony comes to Lexi’s apartment to close the deal, but dies in her bed. Terry lusts after Ryan, who is initially oblivious to her advances. He finally tells her that he is not interested and proposes to Megan.

    Dead Men Don’t Shut Up: Lexi fears that the police will accuse her of killing Tony and forging his signature on the contracts. Michael helps her dodge suspicion by returning the body to Tony’s mansion. Michael asks Lexi to marry him. Lexi befriends Eve in the hopes of gathering dirt on Amanda. Eve experiences flashbacks about high school, and recalls that Amanda and Kent were lovers. Dr. Visconti puts her under hypnosis to trigger her memories. Lexi takes Eve to the murder site, where she realizes that Kent did not die from his fall; Amanda beat him to death and tricked her into accepting blame. Megan catches a naked Terry kissing Ryan. She wants to call off the engagement, but Terry apologizes and admits that she caught Ryan by surprise. Terry pretends to leave town, and Ryan and Megan get married. Terry kidnaps Sarah and crashes her car into a utility pole. Jane discovers that she is pregnant, but doesn’t tell Kyle.

    Asses to Ashes: Sarah and Terry escape serious injury because of the airbags, and Kyle and Ryan pull them to safety. Terry apologizes and grants Ryan and Megan permission to raise Sarah. Amanda tells Peter that she killed Kent, but claims that it was self defense. Lexi wants to go to the police with Eve’s revelations about Amanda. Eve hits her over the head and leaves her bound and gagged in the bathtub (in her underwear). She reveals that she plans to murder Amanda and Peter. Eve tries to deflect suspicion by pretending that she is over Peter and insisting that her repressed memories were just fantasies. Dr. Shulman has Peter investigated for fraud and embezzlement, as his efforts to cover for Michael left him holding the evidence. He and Amanda plan to flee the country to escape prosecution. Kyle is thrilled to learn of Jane’s pregnancy, but she discovers that Michael is the father. She tells Megan that she is leaving town. Amanda overhears this from a bathroom stall and warns Kyle as she stops by to say goodbye. Kyle stops Jane from leaving, and they agree to raise the baby as their own. Eve, posing as Lexi, knocks out Michael and leaves him in the bathtub with Lexi. She tries to run over Amanda and Peter. Lexi is arrested, and Michael joins her out of sympathy. She identifies Eve as the culprit, and Amanda confesses to Kent’s murder. Dr. Visconti agrees to give Peter and Amanda the use of his cabin. Michael tries to wed Lexi in the pool. She calls it off because she fears she would cheat on him in a few months (as if Michael’s marriages usually last much longer than that). Shulman and the police force Visconti to reveal Peter and Amanda’s location. As Michael approaches the cabin to negotiate, it explodes. Kyle notices that a necklace he had given Amanda (which she never removed) was not among her personal effects. Eve shows up at the funeral and talks about how Amanda and Peter ruined her life. When Lexi objects, Eve dumps Peter’s ashes over her and gets arrested. Michael is appointed chief-of-staff through a clause in Peter’s will. He also mentions that he has come into a lot of money. Kyle receives the necklace anonymously through the mail; Amanda had promised to return it as a gift for his daughter. Peter and Amanda tie the knot in an island ceremony. They paid Michael one million dollars to help with their plan, which included placing cadavers from the medical school in the cabin and switching dental records.

  • DVD review: “Caroline in the City” (1995-1999)

    “Caroline in the City” (1995-1999) 

    Television

    Ninety Seven Episodes

    Developed by: Fred Barron, Dottie Dartland and Marco Pennette

    Featuring: Lea Thompson, Eric Lutes, Malcolm Gets, Amy Pietz and Andy Lauer

    Richard: “So, Donna, do you miss Rome?”

    Donna: “Oh, no. All that traffic and noise and pollution, and rude people.”

    Richard: “Oh, I can see why you moved to New York.”

    Released recently on DVD is the late 1990s television series “Caroline in the City” (1995-1999) a comedy that really reflects the type of comedies produced at the time, set in one or two locations with a very white and upwardly mobile cast, that face problems each week with narratives that seem a little bigger than real life and more importance placed on the jokes than the plot or the narrative. Upon looking back after over twenty years the biggest difference between comedies made then to now is the almost complete lack of any non white within the cast, everything is very vanilla which is the biggest element that shows the passage of time.

    “Caroline in the City” is based around Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson), a cartoonist who lives in Manhattan, spends a lot of time with dates and lovers, and meddles in the lives of her friends and neighbors. In the pilot episode, she has broken up with Del Cassidy (Eric Lutes), who quickly finds another date. She hires Richard Karinsky (Malcolm Gets) to be her new colorist, and he pretends to be her new boyfriend during a dinner to prevent her from being embarrassed over Del’s moving on. During the first season, Richard develops feelings for Caroline. Towards the end of season one, Del proposes to Caroline. Richard is distressed by this, and searches for a new job. Although Richard has kept his feelings secret, their friends Annie (Amy Pietz) and Remo (Tom La Grua) figure out that he loves Caroline. The day before the wedding, Richard writes her a love letter where he asks Caroline to meet him at Remo’s if she loves him. He leaves the letter in a pile of wedding thank-you cards. Caroline arrives at Remo’s but does not mention the letter, and continues with the wedding plans. Richard decides to leave Manhattan. When Caroline and Del call off the wedding, Caroline visits Richard’s apartment but he has left.

    In the second season, Richard returns to Manhattan after having been in Paris where he had tried to sell paintings. Caroline gives the thank-you cards to a friend; Richard tries to find and destroy the love letter; he tosses it out of the window, only to have Annie find it. He resumes his old job as Caroline’s colorist. Later, Caroline discovers that she has feelings for Richard; however, Richard has reunited with his former girlfriend Julia, whom he met in Manhattan. Caroline leaves a message on his answering machine telling him that she loves him, but Julia discovers it and erases it. Richard and Julia get married which prompts a bitter love triangle among the three. Richard eventually splits with Julia. Caroline and Richard eventually become a couple. However, they split after arguing over whether to have children; Richard learned that Julia had a child. In the final episode, which ends on an unresolved cliffhanger, Annie and Del are now in a new relationship, while Caroline is about to marry another man – her childhood friend Randy – when Richard shows up at the wedding.

    “Caroline in the City” is not a bad show at all, in fact sits nicely alongside the other main female lead comedies of the time in “Suddenly Susan” (1996-2000) and “The Naked Truth” (1995-1996) which, again, were not bad, although looking back I think “The Naked Truth” is the best of the three with a lead in Téa Leoni who is undeniably unforgettable in the role and it is a pity it never lasted more than two seasons. What is a strength of “Caroline in the City” is that it is easily watched and consumed, it is effective and not really offensive so it is easy to see why it has been released on DVD, go and find out for yourself.

    Episodes

    Season One

    Pilot: Caroline advertises for a colourist and employs Richard. Her former boyfriend, Del, has moved on and Caroline is under pressure to also get a date. Richard steps in at the last moment to allow Caroline to save face in front of Del.

    Caroline and the Mugger: Richard is mugged and Caroline helps him by buying him a new wallet. On the return journey, he and Caroline catch the mugger and he is arrested. The mugger turns out to be a small guy and Richard thinks of himself as a bit of a wimp.

    Caroline and the Gay Art Show: Caroline manages to get Richard’s work displayed at an art gallery. They later find out it only shows works by gay artists. When Richard hears that the painting could sell for $20 000, he pretends that he is gay.

    Caroline and the Bad Back: Caroline injures her back playing racquetball and takes some of Annie’s pain killers that knock her out. She has a deadline for the next cartoon looming so Del and Richard collaborate to finish it.

    Caroline and the ATM: Caroline picks at her nose in front of the camera at a malfunctioning ATM and is embarrassed to ask the manager for the money it didn’t dispense. Richard is having a lot of difficulty breaking up with his girlfriend, Shelly.

    Caroline and the Folks: Caroline finally agrees to meet Del’s mother whom she’s been avoiding because she thinks that his mother is a difficult person. She arrives at Remo’s Ristaurante, but Del is stuck on the subway and hasn’t yet arrived. Caroline spots a haggish woman and mistakes her for Del’s mom. Intimidated, she hides out in the kitchen until Del arrives. Annie discovers that Richard is spending his birthday alone and she tries to help him celebrate.

    Caroline and the Opera: Caroline’s auntie, Mary, arrives for a visit and sets her up with a date. Caroline takes him to the opera when Del doesn’t want to go, which makes Del very jealous. He resorts to extreme actions to win her back.

    Caroline and the Balloon: All the gang get together to walk a ‘Caroline in the City’ balloon in the Thanksgiving Day parade. Unfortunately, Shelly’s actions result in the balloon being released and subsequently causing havoc.

    Caroline and the Convict: Caroline’s apartment is broken into and her suspicion falls on Annie’s new boyfriend, who has just been released from prison. Annie is upset at Caroline but they have to find out who is correct.

    Caroline and the Christmas Break: Caroline and Del are try going for a holiday vacation together but all they do is break up. Caroline wants revenge. Richard tries to break up with Shelly by getting Charlie to take her out. Things don’t go as planned.

    Caroline and the Gift: Richard starts a second job painting portraits. Caroline tries to return earrings that Del gave her for Christmas but it leaves her with a dilemma. At a party, Annie makes a date with a man but can’t remember what he looks like.

    Caroline and the Married Man: Richard is a finalist to paint a mural. The person who makes the decision is very interested in Caroline and Richard sets them up on a date. However, Richard finds out some further information that puts him in an ethical dilemma.

    Caroline and the Twenty-Eight-Pound Walleye: Caroline returns to home her town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin after it decides to dedicate a park to her and there is some sibling rivalry with her brother. Annie gives her role to her understudy so that she can dance in front of her parents.

    Caroline and the Watch: Caroline buys an old desk and finds an engraved watch in a locked drawer. She sets out to find the secret of the watch. One of Del’s employees dies and he finds out some unpleasant facts about him.

    Caroline and the Bad Date: Caroline picks up a man she met in a clothes store and their date is a disaster. Del and Richard have a date with models and they don’t turn up.

    Caroline and the Proposal: Del has proposed to Caroline but she is unsure about whether to accept. Richard looks for a new job and is seduced by the employment counsellor. Caroline finds them together, which changes everything.

    Caroline and the Kid: For charity, Caroline offered to paint a Caroline mural and it turns out to be for a self-indulgent 10 year-old boy. Del has trouble coping when one of Caroline’s old boyfriends from Italy pays a visit.

    Caroline and the Ex-Wife: Caroline and Del go to Del’s country house only to find his second ex-wife is staying there with her new boyfriend. Annie’s brother is employed to repair Richard’s light switch and it starts a family feud.

    Caroline and the Movie: Del’s car is impounded but he has difficulties getting it out of the impound yard. A movie is being shot outside Caroline’s apartment. Annie, Caroline and Richard volunteer to be extras but the results do not turn out well.

    Caroline and the Cereal: A cereal company wants to produce ‘Sweet Caroline’ breakfast cereal. However the shape turns out looking like a part of the female human body. Del wants to learn to dance for his wedding with Caroline and asks Annie to teach him.

    Caroline and Richard’s Mom: Richard’s mother arrives for a visit with a few stories to tell, causing Richard a lot of embarrassment. She also has a tendency to exaggerate her life. After a lot of prompting, Del decides to have a pedicure and ends up addicted.

    Caroline and the Bridesmaids: Both Caroline and Del are organising their respective attendants for the wedding but it is not going smoothly. Annie, especially, is having trouble coping with her maid of honour responsibilities.

    Caroline and the Wedding: Preparations are speeding up with the wedding only days away. Richard writes a love letter to Caroline and puts it in her apartment but she doesn’t receive it. He unsuccessfully tries to retrieve it so he suddenly leaves.

    Caroline and the Condom: Caroline has writer’s block so this episode has Richard and Caroline looking back on some of the events in Season 1. This includes the time Caroline was caught shop lifting some condoms.

    Season Two

    Caroline and the Younger Man: Three months after Caroline had pulled out of her wedding, Richard is in France painting. He is unsuccessful, returns home and starts work in an ice cream parlour. When Salty is injured, Caroline ends up dating the much younger vet.

    Caroline and the Letter: Richard finds out that Caroline didn’t read the letter he left her so he conspires to get it back. He finds out that it is at Vicki’s place. When Richard is there getting the letter, Vicki goes into labour and he helps with the birth.

    Caroline and the Cat Dancer: Caroline and Joe are getting on and Del is envious. Annie is audited by the IRS. When the auditor finds out she is in Cats he offers to go easy on her if Annie gets him an audition for Cats.

    Caroline and the Guy Who Gets There Too Soon: Joe declares his love for Caroline, which stuns her and leaves her unsure about what to do. Richard inherits a car but has to admit that he can’t drive. They all decide to help him get his licence.

    Caroline and the Dreamers: Del stands up to his father and ends up being fired. He decides to set up his own company and convinces Caroline to join him. Richard is commissioned to paint a mural in the South Bronx but the locals don’t want it.

    Caroline and the Nice Jewish Boy: Del lies about being Jewish in order to date a woman and asks Richard for help when he goes to her place for dinner. Caroline wins a cartooning award but Joe refuses to attend because it is sponsored by a company that makes furs.

    Caroline and Victor/Victoria: Annie wants to be Julie Andrew’s understudy in Victor/Victoria and ‘kidnaps’ her in order to get an audition. She then practises being a man to get the part. Richard very reluctantly has to go hospital to get a polyp removed.

    Caroline and the Comic: An old friend of Richard’s father, Ben, appears. Ben was a struggling stand-up comedian and they now want him for a benefit. Richard has issues with his father so Caroline intervenes to get them together.

    Caroline and the Therapist: When Caroline’s cat starts acting oddly, Joe recommends that it should see a cat therapist. The therapist decides that Richard is the problem as he has issues with animals. Annie goes on a blind date organised by her mother.

    Caroline and the Red Sauce: It’s Christmas time and Caroline and Richard have different approaches to it. Annie’s mother moves in with her because she has separated from her husband. Charlie hires a new secretary for Del. However, he hadn’t checked out her past.

    Caroline and the Freight King: Del hires an unsuccessful stripper-gram girl as a receptionist and Charlie is jealous. He also tries to convince Richard to draw some Christmas cards. Caroline is accidentally locked in her building’s laundry overnight with a homeless man.

    Caroline and the Perfect Record: Caroline’s romance hits a snag when Joe’s ex-girlfriend turns up and wants to move into his spare bedroom. Caroline decides to let him move in with her. Richard is given a large piece of marble to sculpt and stores it at Caroline’s place.

    Caroline and the Singer: Annie’s sister, Donna, is a singer and is visiting. She finds Richard’s letter and wants to use it as inspiration for a new song. Caroline has left her black pumps at Joe’s place but she is reluctant to go to his place since the break-up.

    Caroline and the Kept Man: Del arranges to exhibit one of Richard’s paintings at his club. A wealthy woman there takes an interest in Richard, but not for his art. She wants him to quit working for Caroline. Caroline volunteers to read to the elderly.

    Caroline and the Long Shot: Richard and Caroline go to an NBA basketball match but he only goes to hear the singer of the national anthem. He wins the chance to win a $100 000 basketball three point throw. Unfortunately, Richard has no idea about how to do this.

    Caroline and the Dearly Departed: Richard is trying to get his artwork reviewed by a famous artist. To help sell one of his paintings Caroline says that he is dead. When she is successful, Richard decides to tell everyone that he is dead. Then, he has to have a funeral.

    Caroline and the Getaway: After blowing off Caroline a few times, Annie decides to go with her on a girls’ weekend to the snow. However, as neither can ski, they have to find something else to do, which means men. Richard dates a woman he met at a bookstore.

    Caroline and the Monkeys: For the first time, Caroline decides to go to a restaurant to dine alone and it doesn’t go well. Then she goes solo to a movie. Del tries to date Annie’s friend, who is a convicted pyromaniac. Charlie sees monkeys all over the city.

    Caroline and the Buyer: Annie’s mother is driving her crazy. Caroline finds out that some stores are no longer stocking her cards. Del works out a plan and takes the store owner out for a dinner with Caroline, but he misinterprets what she is offering.

    Caroline and the New Neighbour: Caroline helps an elderly neighbour but the lady starts taking advantage of her. Things come to a head when she asks Caroline and Annie to help her take her naked dead husband to a funeral home.

    Caroline and the Critics: Caroline is obsessive about being liked by everyone and becomes upset when an obscure newspaper stops running her cartoon. She takes Richard on a road trip to the newspaper. Annie plots revenge on a critic who panned her performance.

    Caroline and the Ombudsman: Caroline is having trouble getting the building superintendent to fix her shower so she hires an ‘ombudsman’ to intervene. Annie saves the life of a man in the audience of Cats and tries to use him to advance her career.

    Caroline and the Bad Trip: Caroline is to appear on The Tonight Show to publicise her new book. She accidentally takes some drugs before going on. Talk of who Richard’s father is means Charlie goes looking for his. Del tries to give Richard some dating tips.

    Caroline and Richard & Julia: Julia, Richard’s old girlfriend, has returned with the news that she is getting married. He tries to impress her by asking Caroline to act as his wife. Then it becomes a game of oneupmanship between Julia and Richard.

    Caroline and the Wayward Husband: Sofia breaks off her engagement, stays over and forces Caroline and Richard to sleep in the same bed. However, Sofia has an ulterior motive. Caroline expresses her true feelings. Annie’s role in a soap opera doesn’t quite go as expected.

    Season Three

    Caroline and the Reception: After her message of love to Richard, Caroline becomes anxious when he doesn’t return her call. Then Richard stuns everybody when he announces that he has married Julia. Annie causes Del to become worried about his new girlfriend.

    Caroline and the Kink: Annie is unable to get her job back in Cats and struggles to cope with all the free time. Julia and Richard split up when he objects to the clothes she dresses him in. Richard and Charlie’s work partnership is going slowly.

    Caroline and the Novelist: Caroline meets a novelist at her book signing and goes out on a date with him. However, she then tries to read his book first. To make some money, Julia gets a job at Remo’s. She is unused to working and it doesn’t go well.

    Caroline and the Free Cable: It’s Richard’s birthday and he’s upset when Julia throws a surprise birthday party for him. It becomes worse when she invites many people from his past. Unknowingly, Caroline has been stealing cable TV for three years.

    Caroline and the Blind Date: Annie is going to her 10 year high school reunion intent on revenge. When her date falls through she goes with Del, complete with an elaborate story. Julia sets up Caroline on a blind date but she doesn’t want to go, until she sees him.

    Caroline and the Egg: Richard’s predecessor has come for a visit. She is trying to become pregnant and wants Caroline to donate an egg to her. Annie uses the occasion to mess with Richard. Del becomes nostalgic when he sees his old Porsche on the street.

    Caroline and the Desperate Cat: Annie’s old music teacher is coming to town expecting to see her in Cats. She decides to crawl to her former boss to get her job back. Charlie and Richard volunteer to go on a drug trial for the money, but there are some side effects.

    Caroline and the Cold Sesame Noodles: Del comes up with a novel way to improve sales of Caroline in the City cards. Annie is romantically pursued by her piano accompanist. Richard buys a belated wedding ring for Julia but he suspects that a delivery boy stole it.

    Caroline and the Bitter Beast: When cleaning up his apartment, it comes out that Richard is a music composer. He was taught by Marvin Hamlisch and it appears that Marvin stole one of Richard’s tunes. Caroline meets an old boyfriend, but then there is the dog.

    Caroline and the Councilman: Annie’s cousin comes to town and wants to drop out of school to become an actress. Annie wants stop her. Del wants Caroline to endorse a councilman with her cartoon character but she is reluctant to enter the political arena.

    Caroline and the Used Car Salesman: It’s Christmas and Caroline’s family is coming to her. To earn money, Richard gets a second job as a car salesman without telling Julia. He’s unsuccessful at it and all he does is make everybody think that he is having an affair.

    Caroline and the Decanter: It’s Christmas holidays and Richard and Julia are off to Hawaii on a belated honeymoon only to be snowed in. Caroline visits the Cassidy’s for Christmas dinner but it doesn’t go well. Charlie’s father comes to visit him.

    Caroline and the Love That Dares Not Speak Its Name: It’s the start of the new year and Annie blurts out about the feelings Caroline had for Richard. Del and Charlie go a greeting card convention to sell Caroline in the City cards. They have to come up with something special.

    Caroline and the Quiz Show: The parents of Annie’s new boyfriend, Seth, run a radio quiz show. They convince Caroline to go on as a contestant. However, she has second thoughts. Annie’s having trouble coming to terms with how close Seth’s family is.

    Caroline and the Reluctant Father: One of Del’s old girlfriends turns up and tells him that he has ten year-old daughter. However, he has a lot of difficulty knowing what to do. Annie wants Richard to appraise her brother’s art so he makes the most of it.

    Caroline and the Outer Limits: It’s a busy time and Richard and Caroline are working overtime. Julia is upset at Richard’s absence and tells Caroline she should walk “a mile in my shoes”. In a scene reminiscent of The Outer Limits, Caroline and Julia exchange places.

    Caroline and the Toothbrush: Trevor has left a toothbrush at Caroline’s and she is worried about the implications – long term commitment. Annie is happy as her mother is finally leaving. Del and Charlie come up with a publicity stunt using a groundhog and a cape.

    Caroline and the Cabbie: Del decides to sell celebrity hair when Annie gets a hairdressing appointment at a celebrity hairdressers. Caroline reports a rude cabbie but Richard fails to turn up as a witness when he becomes addicted to a computer bulletin board.

    Caroline and the Visit from Mom: Caroline’s mother comes to visit and Annie can’t believe how well Caroline and her mother get on together. However, this only on the surface. Richard goes on a gambling tour hoping to cash in the $100 bus voucher, and to read a book.

    Caroline and the Little White Lies: Del and Charlie pose as a gay couple so as to get cheaper health insurance. Things get difficult when they are invited to a gay party and Del meets a beautiful woman. Richard wants to get on a jury but is having trouble getting selected.

    Caroline and the Killer Dad: Annie new boyfriend was a priest and has never been with a woman. Del changes Caroline’s cartoon without telling her but nobody thinks his change is funny. Julia’s father is in town and wants to meet Richard supposedly to make up.

    Caroline and the Sandwich: New York’s Stage Deli decides to change the Jo Anne Worley Club to the Caroline in the City Club. Jo Anne starts a very popular campaign to get it changed back. This upsets Caroline as she now feels everybody hates her.

    Caroline and the Marriage Counselor: Part 1 & 2: Julia wants Richard to quit working for Caroline but he has trouble doing so. Julia suggests that they go to a counsellor. After hearing their story, the counsellor insists that Richard quit and he then applies for Richard’s job.

    Caroline and the Secret Bullfighter: Part 1 & 2: Richard and Julia are heading to Europe for the holidays and throw a going away party. The party is a bore but it becomes interesting when Caroline and Annie discover Julia having an affair with an unidentified man.

    Season Four

    Caroline and the Guys in the Bathroom: Richard and Caroline finally realise that they love each other. However, before they manage to go to bed together there are doubts and interruptions. Then there is the news that Eagle Greeting Cards has been taken over.

    Caroline and the Office: Caroline refuses to work in the new office Del has organised. Julia’s father takes all Richard’s possessions but he refuses Caroline’s help. He is broke and homeless, and ends up staying in Caroline’s office.

    Caroline and the Rotten Plum: It’s Caroline’s and Richard’s first day in the office and there is a period of adjustment as they get used to all the other workers. Annie has trouble getting the romantic eye of her physical trainer.

    Caroline and the Drycleaner: Caroline is wary about attending a focus group on Caroline in the City cards and with good reason. Annie is fired from Cats and is then dropped by her agent. Annie’s dry cleaner keeps asking her out and she finally accepts.

    Caroline and the First Date: It’s Halloween and Del is put in charge of the firm’s Halloween party, only to find out that it is a sure-fire way to be sacked. Caroline and Richard go on their first date together but they have different ideas about what they should do.

    Caroline and the Paper Chase: Del wants to produce an animation on female sexuality. When Caroline finds Richard’s divorce papers, her curiosity about their content causes problems when they are misplaced. Then she finds out that Richard is still married.

    Caroline and the Big Night: Caroline is particularly excited as she and Richard are going away for their first weekend together. It starts off badly when they get the wrong room because it has two single beds and no bathroom. Caroline tries to change their rooms.

    Caroline and the Diva: Now that Caroline and Richard are together, Annie feels on the outer. It ends up with all three going to a concert together, which doesn’t end well. Del has to tread a diplomatic line when asked to do something that he doesn’t want to.

    Caroline and the Booby Trap: Annie is tired of missing out of acting roles and decides that she needs to have her breasts enlarge. When Richard says he would like Caroline to have bigger breasts, she decides to investigate breast enlargement as well.

    Caroline and the Bar Mitzvah: Richard’s aunt visits him and wants him to do his Bar Mitzvah. To make him interested, she offers him $5000 to do it. Caroline is unhappy he is taking the money. Del is worried about his image so he keeps buying suits that are too small.

    Caroline and the Fright Before Christmas: It’s Christmas and people are becoming jaded. When Caroline decides not to celebrate Christmas, the others set out to change her mind, only to find out that she is one step ahead of them. But it doesn’t quite go as expected.

    Caroline and the Big Bad Bed: Annie and Del have a pact to go to the gym to help each other find a paramour. A workmate needs a place to stay so Richard offers to let him use his apartment. When he tidies the place up, Richard is happy and Caroline becomes unhappy.

    Caroline and the Horny Kid: Caroline mentors a young teenager for a week. Things become complicated when he gets a crush on her. Del also has a teenage assistant but uses him to pick up his mother. Richard becomes determined to sell one of his paintings.

    Caroline and the Firing Squad: Richard gets Annie a job as a model for a cartoonist but the work doesn’t quite live up to expectations. Charlie is bored with his special assignment at work and he becomes concerned about having a purpose for his life.

    Caroline and the 2000th Strip: There is big party to celebrate Caroline’s 2000th cartoon strip. However, Caroline has a mental block and is unable to draw anything. Her friends give her plenty of bad suggestions, so she contemplates retirement and trying something else.

    Caroline and the Ancestral Home: Caroline and Richard going home for her parents fortieth wedding anniversary. Caroline is then very upset when she hears the news that her parents are selling their home, so she is determined to buy it.

    Caroline and the Sudsy Guy: Caroline has to make a quick return home. Her parents have moved house but her grandmother is staying put and doesn’t want to move out. This leaves Richard in charge of a sick Annie and a depressed Del, and having to make a speech.

    Caroline and the Return of the Sudsy Guy: An old friend of Caroline from Peshtigo drops in, but does Caroline have feelings for him? After the death of an artist, Richard is given the opportunity to replace him at an exhibition, as long as he makes his paintings more depressing.

    Caroline and the Ultimatum: With feelings for Randy, Caroline is confused about her relationship with Richard and wonders where it is heading. Richard is involved in a robbery at the video store and is locked in a storeroom, where he reflects on his relationship.

    Caroline and El Niño: Caroline accepts Richards marriage proposal. However, they have very different ideas about how the wedding will go. Richard drops a bombshell when he reveals that he has a son from his brief marriage to Julia. They decide to go to Italy.

    Caroline and the Big Move: Richard needs to be closer to his son and wants to go to Italy. However, the issue of having children splits up Caroline and Richard. Then Randy turns up in New York. Meanwhile, the romance between Annie and Del heats up.

    Caroline and Joanie and the Stick: Caroline and Richard are just about to leave for Boston when an old classmate of hers drops in unexpectedly. Caroline feels guilty because she used to bully her. Annie becomes attached to a macaw that she is looking after.

  • Blu-ray review: “Ginger Snaps Trilogy” (2000 – 2004)

    “Ginger Snaps Trilogy” (2000 – 2004)

    “Ginger Snaps” (2000)

    Horror

    Running Time: 108 minutes

    Written by: Karen Walton

    Directed by: John Fawcett

    Featuring: Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, Peter Keleghan and Mimi Rogers

    Brigitte: “People don’t leave their dogs out alone anymore.”

    Ginger: “Then you’ll just have to distract her while I nab the pooch and make with the gore.”

    Brigitte: “I can’t distract her.”

    Ginger: “The fuck, Bee. This is your idea. If you don’t like your ideas, stop having them.”

    Released recently on DVD and Blu-ray is the complete series of werewolf movies “Ginger Snaps Trilogy” (2000 – 2004) which sees one of the more successful turn of the millennium horror movies that was directly influenced by the Joss Whedon created “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003) which at its heart had a female protagonist as well as a multitude of different types of antagonists. The first “Ginger Snaps” (2002) was part of a wave of female centric horror movies which has lasted until today, many have switched their setting from High School to College to make the horror more palatable. In fact “Ginger Snaps” has quite a number of horrific scenes involving blood which of course is a part of female maturation, there is a close link made in the movie, not is no coincidence as the main writer is female.

    “Ginger Snaps” in its narrative attempts to do something different within the expected nature of a ‘werewolf’ movie, the filmmakers have attempted to do away with the familiar periodic full moon transformation mythology. What we witness throughout the movie is Ginger gradually shape-shifts into a large dog form. Along the way, symptoms develop, such as sharper teeth and nails, increased hairiness, becoming white streaks in her mane, and hormone-driven instincts that tear her between desires for animalistic sex and bloody carnage. Of course the parallel’s between this and puberty are obvious, in fact we witness them talking about their menstrual cycle with a teacher after they discover what is happening to Ginger.

    “Ginger Snaps” concerns fifteen-year-old Brigitte Fitzgerald (Emily Perkins) and her nearly sixteen-year-old sister Ginger (Katharine Isabelle), are a team — best friends and self-styled outcasts. Obsessed with dying and bound by a childhood pact to stay together forever, they loathe their mind-numbing existence in the suburb of Bailey Downs. One night, the two girls are heading through the woods when Ginger is savagely attacked by a wild creature. Ginger survives as her horrible wounds miraculously heal over, but something is not quite right. Ginger is irritable and in denial. But to Brigitte it is obvious that a terrifying force has taken hold of her sister. She’s convinced that the insatiable craving her sister is experiencing can mean only one thing — Ginger is becoming something unspeakable and monstrous.

    Co-written by Karen Walton whose sharp screenplay is especially stronger in the family scenes, allowing performances of very surreal fantasy from the young leads, and a very funny turn from Mimi Rogers as their perkily callous Mom. Walton explores the relationships between the sisters and their classmates, their parents and each other before the horror narrative really kicks in which in genre terms is the best way to explore this story. It enables an audience to understand how the world works as well as how characters relate to each other. Of course one of the ways to understand the sisters is through their enactments of their own possible suicides which sets them up as real girls, whether you want to admit it or not. When the horror element of the movie takes over the narrative becomes super efficient because we already know most of the motivations driving everyone. To be fair as you watch this movie twenty years on the only real letdown is the obvious small budget which means the full werewolf itself is a little disappointing and can be distracting.

    Of course “Ginger Snaps” has at its core the performances of Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle as the sisters who are put upon by their classmates as well as an ancient curse that threatens to break their bond and cease chaos in their small corner of the world. I actually believe that it is the one, two punch of both actresses in these roles that makes “Ginger Snaps” the movie it is and where they are willing to go with their performances that makes this movie so good, watchable and timeless. The other performance which anchors the family emotionally is the small but pivotal role of their mother played expertly by Mimi Rogers.

    As this is a horror movie and more specifically a werewolf movie there are some special effects involved which are from what I can tell are mostly physical, so we have Ginger slowly transforming into what is essentially a giant dog. The slow transformation of Ginger still looks and works fine, mainly because of Isabelle’s performance under the pretty heavy prosthetics, however the main issue is the full animatronic dog form at the conclusion of the movie which is clunky to say the least. Ever since the production of horror movies there have been decisions made how to show monsters onscreen from not at all to taking centre stage, an example of each are “Cat People” (1942) where the antagonists are never seen to “An American Werewolf in London” (1982) where the monster is seen front and centre in the third act where all hell breaks loose. In terms of “Ginger Snaps” the decision should have been made by a producer to not show the full form in its entirety as this is where the issue is, maybe quick cutting or silhouettes used to hide the giant do may have worked but what is onscreen certainly does not work well.

    Ultimately “Ginger Snaps” works very well and is a highlight of early millennium horror movies as well as a debut movie from director John Fawcett who is now a well regarded TV genre director and has a large body of work behind him. “Ginger Snaps” is definitely worth a watch as are its two sequels which act as a nicely rounded trilogy with the two main actresses as both protagonist and antagonist, the performances are excellent and their is enough originality that drives the narrative through the trilogy.

    Special Features

    • Deleted Scenes
    • Cast Auditions and Rehearsals
    • Being John Fawcett – featurette
    • Making Of – featurette
    • Creation of the Beast – featurette
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • TV Spots

    “Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed” (2004)

    Horror

    Running Time: 94 minutes

    Written by: Megan Martin

    Directed by: Brett Sullivan

    Featuring: Emily Perkins, Tatiana Maslany, Eric Johnson, Janet Kidder, Katharine Isabelle and Brendan Fletcher

    Ginger: “We can’t fight what’s in us, B.”

    Brigitte: “I’m not like you, Ginger… I’m stronger.”

    Ginger: [laughs] “Oh really? That’s not how I remember you the first fifteen years of your life.”

    Brigitte: “It’s how I remember the last fifteen minutes of yours.”


    As part of this set is the sequel “Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed” (2004) which sees Bridgette return and dealing with the aftermath of the first movie, she is fighting her transformation and in doing so is mistaken for a drug addict. The main narrative is now firmly set around Bridgette (Emily Perkins) as Ginger is no longer around, although she does make numerous appearances which is kind of fun as she is still a caustic sister, in fact think about the Jack character (Griffin Dunne) in “An American Werewolf in London” (1982), and his role which is emblematic of Ginger in this movie. I am not going to spoil this movie as the surprises and left turns are very well done as is the continuing growth of Bridgette.

    “Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed” is directed by Brett Sullivan and written by Megan Martin, this movie is the first for both of them and in parts it shows but for most of it this is a very well made movie. Interestingly some of the same themes from the first film are present here. More so though we see Bridgette locked away in an asylum with other women (not girls) who are not conforming for one reason or another. We also see the patients treated terribly by the guards as well as pitted against each other by the people in charge. Of course this is still a werewolf movie and also shows the aftermath of the first movie through Bridgettte’s issues that are now even more complex.

    Following the events of the first film, Brigitte flees the suburbs of Bailey Downs, away from a fierce lycanthropic creature stalking her, to a drug rehabilitation clinic run by Alice Seversen (Janet Kidder), a street-smart former addict. There, she meets the handsome but immoral orderly Tyler (Eric Johnson), and 14-year-old Miranda (Tatiana Maslany), known to all as Ghost. When people start to die in the clinic, she knows the creature has found her again.

    As with the first movie the performances are key, this time the main new actor introduced is the now familiar Tatiana Maslany who is quite young but the strength of her performance is evident and it is easy to see why she has had such a long and successful career to this date.

    “Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed” is a very good sequel and carries on the story of the first movie in a way that is different but a spiritual successor to the first one.

    Special Features

    • Production Audio Commentary with director Brett Sullivan, executive producers John Fawcett & Noah Segal, and producer Paula Devonshire
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Deleted Scenes
    • Screen Tests
    • Storyboards
    • Theatrical Trailer

    “Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning” (2004)

    Horror

    Running Time: 94 minutes

    Written by: Stephen Massicotte and Christina Ray

    Directed by: Grant Harvey

    Featuring: Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle

    Brigitte: “Our parents drowned?”

    Ginger: “Yes, but they didn’t feel any pain. It was quite peaceful.”

    “Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning” takes place in the 19th century where the Fitzgerald sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, take refuge at Fort Bailey, home of the Northern Legion Trading Company. But the ground is cursed, and no one leaves for fear of the monstrous beasts lurking in the area. Now, Ginger and Brigitte’s vow to stay “together, forever” gets tested as one of the sisters slowly slips into a darkening fate.

    Special Features

    • Audio Commentary with director Grant Harvey, writer Stephen Massicotte and editor Ken Filewych
    • Deleted Scenes
    • Grant Harvey’s Video Diary
    • Wolf Boy – featurette
    • Blood Guts & Fire – featurette
    • Production Design Walk Through – featurette
    • Fun On Set – featurette
    • Costume Design – featurette
    • Photo Gallery
    • Theatrical Trailer

  • 4K Blu-ray review: “The Blues Brothers” (1970)

    “The Blues Brothers” (1970)

    Comedy/Musical

    Running Time: 133/148 minutes

    Written by: Dan Aykroyd and John Landis

    Directed by: John Landis

    Featuring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin and Henry Gibson

    Elwood: “We’re on a mission from God.”

    Critical Commentary 

    “The Blues Brothers” (1970) was recently released on to 4K blu-ray with a brand new transfer as well as an upgrade on the audio side. This is a movie that has been around for over fifty years and has retained its popularity because of a few basic elements, it is funny, it has a great cast from the main actors right through to the small cameos and it also has some great music from legendary performers, almost all who are no longer with us.

    “The Blues Brothers” is based on the stars’ original ‘Saturday Night Live’ characters, Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) are two blues performing brothers who embark on a holy mission to put their band back together. Their noble goal is to raise enough money from gigs to save the orphanage they grew up in. Along the way they encounter various obstacles and gradually gather an eclectic mix of pursuing enemies, all while taking numerous detours into some great musical performances.

    Co-written by Dan Aykroyd and John Landis as well as being directed by Landis “The Blues Brothers” is an example of their very early work, and is a good indicator of how their own individual careers would progress, they are able to imbue this script with some great comedy as well as emotion which makes this movie work so well. Whilst the plot is relatively simple, in fact it takes a backseat to almost everything else, which works so well especially with the narrative that is the old standby, a road movie. “The Blues Brothers” is set within some kind of magical version of Earth, where the rules of gravity do not apply and the kind of people encountered are absurdist to the extreme, everything is treated this way, Religion, Law and Order and almost anything else. The movie could be set in a modernist Oz, one with dirt, oil and grease instead of a clean fantasy, and a yellow brick road.

    Only a write and director in this early stage in his career such as John Landis could create a movie like “The Blues Brothers”, there is no fear of anything, in fact this is all before people would start to say ‘No’ to him, before any box office bombs and before the tragedy in “The Twilight Zone” (1986). It seems at times that this is a musical in total, with not only the people singing and dancing but Landis uses the vehicles as dancers as well, considering this movie was well before CGI it is a testament to in camera stunts and effects, everything is onscreen.

    With such a large supporting cast there is the possibility that some performances could be lost or swallowed up, however it is these supporting characters that steal the show, or at least threaten to. Some of R&B’s greatest icons make appearances, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Cab Calloway, and they all light up the screen with class and high energy. Landis injects some fun choreography and bits of humor into these numbers, and seeing the brothers and their band, as well as the various, famous performers doing what they do best, is a real treat.

    ‘The Blues Brothers’ is a truly unique and funny film, whose creative mishmash of sensibilities and genres has yet to be successfully emulated. Belushi and Aykroyd create enduring, iconic characters and Landis brings all the colliding ideas into a mostly cohesive, but still intentionally manic car crash of melodic, cartoonish antics and deadpan sincerity. Sure, the plot is a little happenstance, and real character development is essentially nonexistent, but there is no denying the lasting impact of the film, making this a comedy classic that continues to entertain.

    Technical Commentary 

    Video

    “The Blues Brothers” arrives on Ultra HD with a very good looking HEVC H.265 encode, this is a step up from the previous blu-ray releases. Coming from a reportedly new 4K remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives, this UHD edition has sharper definition in the clothing, the vehicles, the buildings and the various city streets. Presented in its original 1.85:1 image, the video also comes with enhanced contrast, offering the action with clearer whites. The improved brightness levels give nighttime sequences better looking shadows that never ruin the finer details in the background. The best aspect in this HDR10 presentation is the richer color palette, showing much of the movie with bolder colours. Compared to its HD SDR counterpart, the difference may not be leaps and bounds, but for sure, it’s a notable step up while skin tones benefit the most, appearing more natural and accurate than before and complexions are highly revealing.

    Audio

    “The Blues Brothers” has an excellent DTS:X soundtrack. Likely struck from the original 4-track magnetic stereo print, the object-based track almost immediately opens with background activity spreading evenly and convincingly across the three front channels, and impressively remains consistent through to the end of the film.

    Special Features

    • Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers (SD, 56 min)
    • Transposing the Music (SD, 15 min)
    • Remembering John (SD, 10 min)
    • Trailer (SD)
  • DVD review: “Wellington Paranormal” (2018 – 2022) 

    “Wellington Paranormal” (2018-2022) 

    Television

    Twenty-Four Episodes

    Developed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Paul Yates

    Featuring: Mike Minogue, Karen O’Leary and Maaka Pohatu

    Officer Minogue: “You’re always saying ‘don’t tase stuff’.”

    Released on DVD recently is the horror/comedy television series “Wellington Paranormal” (2018 – 2022) from the minds of Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Paul Yates. The series is a spin-off of the 2014 film “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014) and first television series in the franchise, and its lead characters—Officers Minogue and O’Leary—first appeared in the film as a pair of incurious police officers.

    It’s curious to think that the movie “What We Do in the Shadows” could have spawned not one but two television series that are all quite alike in subject as well as tone. Not only that but the style of the movie which was semi unique and owed much to Christopher Guest and his compatriots would be able to keep audiences interested which is has for the past four years or so.

     “Wellington Paranormal”, like say “The X-Files” (1993-2018), is built around the two police officers from the aforementioned movie, but unlike Mulder and Scully they were not memorable much at all, in fact you may have even forgotten about them once the movies was over. In its note-perfect emulation of the feature’s dryness, however, there are a lot of very real laughs, as well as enough supernatural ridiculousness that if you have general reservations about law enforcement comedy, they won’t stick around for long.

    The series stars Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary as officers Minogue and O’Leary of the Wellington police department. In the first episode, they encounter a young woman projectile vomiting and claiming to be inhabited by the demon Bazu’aal. Naturally, Minogue and O’Leary arrest her for public intoxication and they’re oddly unfazed when she starts spider-walking up walls and escapes the precinct. It’s here that Sergeant Ruawai Maaka (Maaka Pohatu) takes Minogue and O’Leary behind the comically secretive doors of the police department’s Paranormal Unit. The core joke of the series is that Wellington is a city with only limited crime, but nearly unlimited oddness, so much of which is human in nature that nobody exactly freaks out when blood bags go missing from the local hospital, a cow ends up in a tree or a pizza delivery man is robbed by what he identifies as a dog wearing jeans.

    Of course “Wellington Paranormal” is shot in a new style, documentary like method, it looks and feels quite cheap, like an episode of “Cops” but even more basic looking. I can assume this was done for the mis-en-scene but also to limit the budget to keep it as profitable as possible. It is also adds an air of authenticity to a series that is mostly ridiculous as well as attempting to keep it as serious within the genre as possible. The characters are only ever seen at work so as an audience we never learn anything really that personal and this coupled with the standalone nature of each episode makes it a tight twenty minute watch, which is a positive as it is a fairly easy watch.

    Like much of Taika Waititi’s work he operates on laughs to undercut almost anything else and if you are viewing this at a later date some of the jokes can feel weirdly out of date, so that may be a negative. Also the characters are a little one note, again something often found in the creators work.

    Episodes

    Series One

    Demon Girl: Officers Minogue and O’Leary bring in what appears to be a projectile-vomiting drunk teenager. Sergeant Maaka delves deeper and invites the officers to join his Paranormal Unit.

    Cop Circles: Sergeant Maaka sends Officers Minogue and O’Leary to investigate the report of a cow stranded on top of a tree at a remote farm. Maaka believes that aliens did it, but Minogue and O’Leary are skeptical – until they meet the farm’s owner.

    Ghost: Sergeant Maaka assists Officers Minogue and O’Leary as they investigate an abandoned house haunted by a group of ghosts straight out of the 1970s, and some of them love to party.

    She-Wolf: Officers Minogue and O’Leary must protect a dazed and confused woman from what may or may not be a werewolf. They realize too late that the monster is closer than they think – and it’s in heat.

    Vampire: Over the course of a single night, Officers Minogue and O’Leary encounter a series of incidents including a suspicious plastic bag, a gang of creepy clowns, a human sacrifice ritual, and a theft from the hospital blood bank.

    Zombie Cops: Fellow officers Donovan and Laupepe become infected by a zombie. Minogue and O’Leary must catch them before they get to Courtenay Place on a Friday night and start the zombie apocalypse.

    Series Two

    Taniwha: Minogue and O’Leary head for the ocean when ten anglers disappear from around Wellington Harbour in mysterious circumstances.

    Fear the Briannas: Minogue and O’Leary go to a local girls’ high school, where three teen witches start threatening students.

    Mt Vic Hooters: Minogue and O’Leary unwittingly free the ghost of a cop from the 1930s, and he’s out to shut down pubs for being open past 6.oo pm.

    Copy Cops: The discovery of a dead policeman that looks exactly like Minogue leads the cops to a creepy motel.

    The Haunting of the ’85 Nissan 300ZX ZR Turbo: Minogue and O’Leary pull over a driverless 80s boy racer car only to discover it’s haunted by the original owner.

    Robots: All of the out of date phones start forming into robots and terrorizing the neighbourhood. Game of snake anyone?

    Christmas Special: In this spooky festive special, Minogue and O’Leary attend to a number of different paranormal events on a busy Christmas Eve patrol.

    Series Three

    The Invisible Fiend: Minogue and O’Leary go after a monstrous invisible force.

    Te Maero: After finding footage of a camper being abducted by a large hairy creature, the cops decide to head for the bush. Sarge believes it to be a Maero or Sasquatch-type creature from Maori mythology.

    Fear Factory: While out on patrol, Minogue and O’Leary encounter a series of people who’ve been attacked by their worst nightmares. All the victims were at the same scary amusement house. The Fear Factory.

    The Sevens Ghosts: Minogue and O’Leary go searching for a group of ghostly rugby fans dressed as Where’s Wally, but why are they abducting people dressed the same as them?

    The Revengers: A Meteor strike gives super powers to a Neighbourhood Watch group, who soon decide to take the law into their own hands. It’s now up to Minogue and O’Leary to take the law back.

    Fatberg: When a large, congealed blob of fat in the Wellington sewers becomes sentient, Minogue and O’Leary go underground to confront the monster.

    Series Four

    Bird Woman: Minogue and O’Leary tackle a half-bird, half-human that’s been stealing shiny objects from around Wellington, including the ‘W’ from the Wellington sign.

    The Wicked Man: When a not-so-young ‘girl’ goes missing, O’Leary and Minogue search for her on the mysterious Sales Island run by a weird, goat-worshipping cult.

    The Coolening: After giving a talk at a high school, Minogue and O’Leary confiscate a haunted leather jacket that makes whoever wears it cool – something neither Minogue nor O’Leary are used to.

    Skeleton Crew: When workmen disturb a Pakeha burial ground underneath the police station, an annoying old Caucasian ghost possesses Sarge, who then menaces his own officers.

    Who the Hell: On a typical night patrol, Minogue and O’Leary get to the bottom of a series of mysterious curses while Officer Parker gets a new partner.

    Time Cop: Not the Jean-Claude Van Damme One: Minogue and O’Leary go back in time to the 90s but on returning, discover they’ve created an apocalyptic new timeline where Sarge was never a cop.

  • Blu-ray review: “The Molly Maguires” (1970)

    “The Molly Maguires” (1970)

    Drama

    Running Time: 124 minutes

    Written by: Walter Bernstein based on Lament for the Molly Maguires by Arthur H. Lewis

    Directed by: Martin Ritt

    Featuring: Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar and Frank Finlay

    [Davies has given McParlan a beating, as part of his cover]

    Davies: “They’ll respect you now. It’s about the only thing they do respect round here, a blow and a hard head.”

    Recently released on blu-ray, on the imprint label, is the drama “The Molly Maguires” (1970) featuring screen legends Sean Connery and Richard Harris, in roles as antagonist and protagonist respectively in a story about miners set in Pennsylvania in the late 1800s. It is primarily about a group called the Molly Maguires, who were an Irish 19th-century secret society active in Ireland, Liverpool and parts of the Eastern United States, best known for their activism among Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania.

    When talking about older films, especially those that were made over fifty years ago were period pieces then it cab be difficult to place them even in terms of good and bad. When “The Molly Maguires” was released it was a flop at the box office, even with established actors as well as relatively new ones, it was an expensive film, obviously because of the leads in Sean Connery and Richard Harris who take their own roles very seriously as one would expect. However the issue with the movie has more to do with the script as well as the general narrative that unfolds, they seem not to be thought out completely and many of the situations feel paint by numbers, especially in terms of the Richard Harris character, the Pinkerton James McParlan.

    “The Molly Maguires” begins in a coalmine in Pennsylvania in the 1876. Coal is still dug by hand and taken out on rails in wagons pulled by ponies. Pit props are improvised with timber. Conditions are always dirty, often cramped and generally unhealthy. Miners are shown with naked flames on their hats as their only light source. Men are shown planting charges. This appears to be work-related but all men leave the mine and the resultant explosion destroys the mine. Pinkerton sends James McParlan (Richard Harris) to investigate. He arrives by train in the late evening and goes to a local bar and orders a beer, while Kehoe (Sean Connery) observes and motions for Dougherty and Frazier to deal with the matter. McParlan joins Dougherty and Frazier at a card table and says he is looking for work in the mine. They are suspicious and see his hands have never dug coal. They accuse him of cheating and deliberately start a fight. Police Captain Davies (Frank Finlay) breaks up the fight and arrests McParlan. However this is just a ploy as the police know McParlan’s role. Davies explains to McParlan the problem of the Molly Maguires – and that they are named after a gang in Ireland. They need an inside man to infiltrate the pit which sets up the rest of the movie.

    “The Molly Maguires” is not a bad film at all, however it is not great and I believe that comes down to the way the narrative has been constructed which is not out and out bad but the way the characters are written as to be archetypical and drawn too broadly. A good example is the head policeman, Captain Davies who is always in black and appears out of nowhere in the most improbable places to make contact with his agent, McParlan, it becomes a bit of a joke in the end it happens so often. Speaking of McParlan this is an undercover agent with all the tropes one might expect, he is supposed to be gathering proof of the Molly Maguires but struggles with the fact that he makes friends and has to turn them in, he is looking for a better life, maybe a promotion or something ti being him status and complain. That is the major problem with the “The Molly Maguires” it is trope laden as well as many of the characters being archetypes but not in a good way.

    Directed by Martin Ritt who I am a huge fan of and here with “The Molly Maguires” is about mid career, he had made a few movies with Paul Newman which were extremely well received, however maybe he had too much ego with Sean Connery who was James Bond at the time and Richard Harris who was at his most popular, he had was coming off the popular “Excalibur” (1967). Ritt would direct a few socially relevant movies and would later direct Sally Field to an Oscar with “Norma Rae” (1979) it would be nominated for four Oscars, winning two. Ritt is a very good director but this is a misstep in terms of direction, it feels like a constant setup and hang wringing from everyone involved which inhibits everything going on and detracts from the overall of what could have been a very good socially conscious film. Also in trying to give two sides to a story, maybe even attempting to understand both sides weakens both and it becomes a chore, it is also means that both sides come out on the negative side.

    Even though “The Molly Maguires” seems to have a lot going against it this is still a high budget film with some serious people in front of and behind the camera, for that alone I think its worth the watch.

    Special Features

    • 1080p High-definition presentation by Paramount Pictures on Blu-ray
    • Audio commentary by film historian Howard S. Berger
    • Audio commentary by author/producer and film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer
    • A Complicated Film: Anthony Zerbe on The Molly Maguires
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
    • Audio English DTS-HD 5.1 + LPCM 2.0 Mono
  • Blu-ray review: “Save the Tiger” (1973)

    “Save the Tiger” (1973)

    Drama

    Running Time: 100 minutes

    Written by: Steve Shagan based on his own novel

    Directed by: John G. Avildsen

    Featuring: Jack Lemmon, Jack Gilford, Laurie Heineman, Thayer David, Lara Parker and Liv Lindeland

    Myra: “Are you OK? Do you want something?”

    Harry Stoner: “Yes. I want that girl in a Cole Porter song. I wanna see Lena Horne at the Cotton Club – hear Billie Holiday sing fine and mellow – walk in that kind of rain that never washes perfume away. I wanna be in love with something. Anything. Just the idea. A dog, a cat. Anything. Just something.”

    Released recently on Blu-ray by the Imprint Label is the Oscar winning film “Save the Tiger” (1973) featuring Jack Lemmon in a career defining performance that also takes place in Los Angeles which itself plays a kind of role, especially looking back fifty years a kind pf time capsule as parts are filmed on external locations.

    “Save the Tiger” is a character driven film that has a small plot contained within a fairly straight forward narrative, it has a man lying about his age, lying about his position in the community, unable to reconcile his present with his past, including his own experiences in World War II which relates to the Vietnam War carrying on in the background of the narrative. There is no doubt that Lemmon portraying Harry Stoner (whose name is itself not only a pun but reflective of his attitude) is a complex individual who for much of the running time is a lost in a milieu or friends, associates and family who do not understand him at all. This is a film that is of a time and place that we can never know fully but it does point to the future of how the world be shaped as well as the outcome of this period in US history.

    The film itself is based around Harry Stoner (Jack Lemmon) the owner of a struggling Los Angeles apparel company. He and his partner Phil Greene (Jack Gilford), have kept it from collapsing by fraudulent accounting. While driving to work he picks up a young free-spirited hitchhiker on Sunset strip, Myra. She offers to have sex with him but he declines. With no legal way to keep the company from going under, Stoner considers torching his warehouse for the insurance settlement. Through it all, Harry drinks, laments the state of the world, and tries his best to keep the business rolling as usual.

    Directed by John G. Avildsen who would become known later in his career as a director of sports movies such as “Rocky” (1976), “The Karate Kid” (1984), “The Karate Kid II” (1986), “The Karate Kid III” (1989) and “8 Seconds” (1994). However before these movies Avildsen directed some of the best counter culture movies including the Peter Boyle feature “Joe” (1970) and “Save the Tiger” fits in with this aspect of his career.

    Harry Stoner is a man who, according to his own insights , is a good citizen. He employs something like 40 people, he contributes to the economy, he cares about his family, and he takes care of his business, although this last element is in dispute. That might be true although the 40 people he has on his machines are immigrants working for probably below the minimum wage, and he is an entitled white man who would not be looked at twice in the times we now live in. However even thought that is the case there are still elements of this story that resonate in today’s world, the idea of fighting for your county and the scars that leaves as well as survivors guilt and what loss actually means to a person. It also asks what it means to be a man in the early 1970s, the lengths that a person will go to just to keep the status quo and defy stepping into the unknown especially when the last time you did that you ended up in a war.

    There is no doubt this is a flawed film, especially looking back to a time that seems quaint, although times have not changed that much and this is proven in Harry’s actions throughout “Save the Tiger”, which is apparent from the start. He speaks Spanish to his housekeeper, he gives a girl a ride in the city, when he is propositioned he declines her, we think he is an ok if not a little depressed middle aged man, we even laugh when tells Myra, the girl he gives a lift to, that he is in his early 30s. Once Harry gets to work things take a little turn when he has an argument with his designer and we find out that he is seriously in trouble with the IRS, his bank and with his customers. Harry not only organises someone to burn a warehouse of his to the ground for the insurance money, but also gets one of his customers a Hotel room with a couple of escorts. All of this speaks to a lot about the human condition, the most obvious thing is that as human beings we are able to more than one thing at any one time, even when these elements conflict with one another. Within the narrative of “Save the Tiger” it is the idea that historic trauma is real and can physically manifest itself when we least expect it, the film also illustrates how a life can be altered fundamentally from an event. All of this is told through Jack Lemmon’s performance which is excellent, it also shows an actor who is changing with the times, it is also an echo of his performance as Shelly in the amazing Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), one of Lemmon’s greatest along with “Save the Tiger”.

    I recommend this highly as a true classic and an important film in terms of Jack Lemmon but also as a snapshot of how times were and how they really have not changed a whole lot.

    Special Features

    • 1080p High-definition presentation by Paramount Pictures on Blu-ray
    • Audio commentary by director John G. Avildsen and producer/writer Steve Shagan
    • Audio commentary by film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer
    • Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky – video essay by film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer
    • Interview with film director Lloyd Kauffman
    • It’s All Just Good Acting – interview with actress Laurie Heineman
    • Vintage Interview with Jack Lemmon (1973)
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
  • Blu-ray review: “Whale Rider” (2002)

    “Whale Rider” (2002)

    Drama

    Running Time: 101 minutes

    Written by: Niki Caro based on The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

    Directed by: Niki Caro

    Featuring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton and Cliff Curtis

    Rawiri: “Man might carve his mark on the earth, but unless he’s vigilant, Nature will take it all back.”

    The 20th anniversary blu-ray of the New Zealand film “Whale Rider” (2002) was recently released and the one element of this film that stands out immediately is that it has aged extremely well, surely that is the most important thing when it comes to a story that is so important and it invites audiences to look back and remember just how good “Whale Rider” is.

    The film’s plot follows the story of Paikea Apirana (“Pai”). The village leader should be the first-born son, a direct patrilineal descendant of Paikea, the Whale Rider, he who rode on top of a whale (Tohora) from Hawaiki. Pai is originally born a twin, but her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. Pai is female and so technically cannot inherit the leadership. While her grandfather, Koro, later forms an affectionate bond with his granddaughter, carrying her to school every day on his bicycle, he also condemns her and blames her for conflicts within the tribe.

    After viewing “Whale Rider” in 2022 the first element that struck me was how the film has not really aged at all, in my mind it could have been filmed this year, a large portion of this is where the film was produced and set in the small East Coast town of Whangara. Not only that but because it is a story that only involves a literal handful of people with little outside influence the idea of technology or fashion and the media are all excluded making this a truly timeless New Zealand film that while it does centre on a Māori community the themes and ideas transcend the story so that any community can identify with what is occurring to these people we are invited to witness. This also helps to explain why the film was embraced internationally at the time it was produced.

    There is no doubt that the performances in “Whale Rider” are what hold the narrative together and at the centre is Keisha Castle-Hughes who carries this film on her back without even knowing it. Whilst her voice and actions are quiet, especially with the performances of the other actors, Castle-Hughes at such a young age and in her very first role seems to know how to use her expressions to bring us into her world, in this role she is a joy to watch. The second lead is the character Koro portrayed by Rawiri Paratene who shines here in a role that he embraces and shines and proves why he was such a great stage actor. At times I felt sorry for Keisha Castle-Hughes who more than once is berated or ignored by Paratene.

    Directed and adapted by Niki Caro “Whale Rider” is competently constricted and it shows that this is relatively early in her career, it is not a showy film and Caro leans on the discovery of Keisha Castle-Hughes who really makes this entire film. There are scenes that are not correctly focused or are rushed but this ultimately does not matter as the themes and narrative are enough to cover any onscreen mistakes. There are some great moments that are captured lovingly by Caro who films a majority on location and in the outdoors which must have been challenging. The director captures some truly magical moments in widescreen images that you can almost see the relationship between the people, the land and the ocean.

    Of course the dogmatic idea of blindly following tradition is something that has been fought against since there were people on the Earth. It is something that we are fighting against today, it is not easy and this film proves that. It illustrates quite clearly that these battles are being waged not only on grand world stages but in small villages in small countries. These fights are old versus young, female versus male, rural versus urban and on and on.

    Of course I recommend this film and looking back over the past twenty years I would say this is the most important New Zealand film to be made in the intervening years. This is a film that captures what is great about New Zealand as well as its faults. It is a drama that pulls no punches, there is little humour to break away to, it is not undercut by laughs. It is a movie many film makers could look at see and take some lessons from for their own projects. Having recently seen “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022) I could not help but think of this film especially in scenes involving a whale like creature and a character swimming with it – something to think about in terms of influence as well as native peoples.

  • Blu-ray Review: “Jesse Stone – TV Movie Series” (2005-2015)

    Jesse Stone – TV Movie Series (2005-2015)

    Drama/Thriller

    images

    Created by: Robert B. Parker

    Series created by: Robert Harmon & Tom Selleck

    Featuring: Tom Selleck, Kohl Sudduth, Kathy Baker, Viola Davis, Vito Rezza, Stephen McHattie, William Devane, Saul Rubinek and William Sadler

    Luther ‘Suitcase’ Simpson: “Is this official?”

    Chief Jesse Stone: “No. It’s personal.”

    Tom Selleck has had a pretty great career although you may not think that until you start looking at his filmography, he was catapulted to international stardom in the 1980s with his TV show “Magnum P.I.”(1980 – 1988), film roles followed and even now he is in the long-running “Blue Bloods” (2010 – present ). He is blessed with a great smile, a handsome face and the ability to play almost any kind of role. The ability to play deeply flawed characters was not something he was know widely for, until he started playing Jesse Stone in the TV movie adaptions of the characters created by the late author, Robert B. Parker. My personal opinion is that this is his greatest role, which very few people know about.

    This is a character piece through and through and we find Jesse Stone, at about 35 years old. He is a former minor league baseball shortstop whose career was cut short by a shoulder injury. He was asked to resign from his job as a homicide detective for the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division because of a drinking problem that began after his divorce from his wife, Jennifer. Showing up drunk to an interview for a job as police chief for the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts, Stone is hired because the corrupt president of the town board of selectmen thinks he will be easy to control. Stone quickly notices that the town has big league crimes, struggling with the mob, white supremacists, wildly errant wives and a triple homicide, and that his job will be more difficult than he expected. But, he proves up to the task, beginning with making a corruption case against the town council president and arresting him.

    The series chronicles Stone’s cases as chief of the Paradise Police Department, as well as his struggles with alcohol and his complicated relationship with his ex-wife Jennifer. He is respected and well liked by the police officers in the town police department. He develops a good working relationship and friendship with the State Police Homicide Commander, Captain Healy.

    No man is an Island – unless your name is Jesse Stone in which case it is entirely possible. After a career spent as a cop and reaching the homicide division it is a pretty hard fall going to a small town in the middle of nowhere – where the biggest crime might be speeding or theft. This is where Stone finds himself, its no wonder he is so introspective and difficult in dealing with authority as well as having an outsized sense of justice. This sense of justice has a price and as the series moves forward you can see the toll this has on Jesse as well as those that are close to him.

    Each film is well directed but the atmosphere is helped by the fitting compositions by composer Jeff Beal, they not only haunt Jesse as the main character through whom the plot of each film flows, but they undercut each scene well – there is little manipulation added when viewing to the mise-en-scene and the outlook of the ocean, this is a soundtrack that complements the images and spoken audio well.

    The following is a breakdown of each TV film that has been produced. They have just been re-released this month and are available now from retailers. The descriptions are not full as to get the most out of the stories you really need to watch them in order and there are many spoilers that would be given away by going too deep into any synopsis. Each movie deals with Jesse Stone and his peers as well as crimes that he has to solve with assistance from those around him.

    Stone Cold (2005)

    Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) is the police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts, a small coastal town north of Boston. A former homicide detective in Los Angeles, Jesse was fired from the LAPD because of a drinking problem that began following his divorce. He was hired for the Paradise position by the corrupt president of the town council who thought he would be easy to control. After five years, Jesse is still in contact with his ex-wife Jenn, who calls him regularly. He also has a relationship with a beautiful lawyer named Abby Taylor (Polly Shannon), who sits on the town council. Although their relationship is mainly physical, they have a genuine affection and concern for each other.

    Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006) a prequel to Stone Cold

    This prequel follows former LAPD homicide detective Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) driving across the country with his dog Boomer to the small coastal town of Paradise, Massachusetts, where he has been offered the position of police chief. Forced to resign from the LAPD for drinking on duty, Jesse knows that the Paradise job is his last chance.

    Meanwhile, Hastings “Hasty” Hathaway (Saul Rubinek), a wealthy banker and corrupt town council chair in Paradise, orchestrates the ‘retirement’ and a secret $50,000 payoff of the previous police chief, Lou Carson (Mike Starr), who has known about Hathaway’s money laundering operation. Carson accepts the payoff, planning to ‘throw a fishing rod in the car’ and drive off to who knows where. Hathaway offered Jesse the position thinking that he was a drunk and a loser, who could easily be manipulated.

    Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)

    Chief of police Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) and his men investigate the death of teenage girl found floating in a lake. Officer Luther “Suitcase” Simpson (Kohl Sudduth) discovers a high school ring bearing the initials “HR”. In the coming days, Jesse is haunted by disturbing dreams about the girl’s murder. Since moving to Paradise, his private life involves drinking alone at his isolated house on the water with his dog Reggie looking on, occasionally talking on the phone with his ex-wife in California. Jesse is still in contact with his ex-wife Jenn, who calls him regularly. Concerned about his drinking, she convinces him to see psychiatrist Dr. Dix (William Devane), a former detective and recovering alcoholic himself.

    Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)

    Jesse (Tom Selleck) is on the phone with his ex-wife Jenn in Los Angeles, who tells him not to call her that night. She’s started seeing someone, who finds it strange that the two still talk every evening. Stone is dealing with other changes: his deputy, Luther “Suitcase” Simpson (Kohl Sudduth), is still in a coma from a head-wound he received in a supermarket robbery; his other deputy, Molly Crane, resigned from the force to have a family. Her replacement, Rose Gammon (Kathy Baker), is learning to deal with Stone, as she had once worked for his predecessor.

    Stone struggles with his drinking. A concerned neighbor, Hilda Evans (Marcia Bennett), recommends the music of Johannes Brahms as comfort during troubled times.

    Stone visits his psychiatrist, Dr. Dix (William Devane), whom he hasn’t seen in months. Stone acknowledges that he drinks more when work is slow. Dr. Dix advises him to find a way to occupy his time, and to make it important. Back at the office, Jesse has Rose pull up the unsolved homicide cases (cold cases), and chooses one to investigate: in 1992 female bank teller Rebecca Lewis was found dead and buried after having been taken hostage during a robbery.

    Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)

    State Police Captain Healy is attacked but is saved by Jesse, who is able to get off a couple of shots at the unknown assailant despite also being wounded. At the hospital, Healy reveals to Jesse that he was spying on his nephew, who may be sleeping with his saxophone instructor. Jesse begins investigating the shooting despite protests from the Paradise town council. The town council member’s feel that the police department is already spread too thin, and they and Internal Affairs are concerned about six shooting incidents Jesse has been involved in.

    Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)

    The film begins with the shooting murder of a young man at night as he opens his car door in a parking garage. Jesse Stone who, after his suspension as chief of police, has sunk into seclusion and alcoholism. Ordered not to communicate with his former subordinates while on suspension, he has been out of touch with everyone. Eventually his colleague Rose, an officer, becomes concerned and asks Stone’s friend Captain Healy, the State Police Homicide Commander, to check in on him. Healy is recovering from gunshot wounds and supposed to be on medical leave but, as he tells Stone, he’s taking his leave at his office. Healy finds Stone disheveled, drunk, and despondent. Shortly after Healy arrives, Stone receives a phone call from his ex-wife Jenn, so Healy leaves. Jenn tells Jesse that she needs to talk because she and Elliot had a fight. Angered, Jesse tells Jenn that they shouldn’t speak anymore, and rips out the phone. Later he buys a cell phone, which Rose helps him program. He gives the number only to her and a few others. Jesse and Rose are becoming close.

    Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)

    After being replaced as the chief of police in Paradise, Massachusetts by the town council president’s son-in-law, William Butler (Jeff Geddis), Jesse Stone is still without a full-time job (though he vows to one day be reinstated). Nevertheless, he continues to find ways to pursue investigations into two separate murders: one involves a friend with whom he had lost contact, and the other has him working as a consulting investigator for the Massachusetts State Police Homicide Division on a case involving a robbery and murder suspect. Both Jesse and his friend, State Police Captain Healy (Stephen McHattie), have doubts as to the robbery/murder suspect’s guilt. His problems with his ex-wife, and drinking issues are still present.

    Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)

    Jesse Stone still misses the Paradise, Massachusetts police chief position, which he lost because the current town council president, Carter Hansen (Jeremy Akerman), wanted his son-in-law, William Butler (Jeff Geddis), to have the job. A suspicious police cruiser explosion kills chief Butler and officer DeAngelo (Vito Rezza). Curiously, the former town council president, Hastings “Hasty” Hathaway (Saul Rubinek), appeared to know about the incident before the current town council president was officially notified. Jesse is reinstated as “temp chief” by Hansen and uncovers apparent (but unproved) police corruption involving Butler.

    Jesse attempts to reassemble his team, starting with his deputy Luther “Suitcase” Simpson (Kohl Sudduth) and then longtime assistant Rose Gammon (Kathy Baker), but both have moved on to other pursuits after choosing to not work with Jesse’s replacement, thus Jesse is left to solve the case himself. State Homicide Commander Healy (Stephen McHattie) also returns, along with Jesse’s psychotherapist Dr. Dix (William Devane). Thelma Gleffey (Gloria Reuben) also remains in Jesse’s life, and continues to work as a sales associate at Hasty’s luxury car dealership.

    Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)

    Police Chief Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) accepts a position as an unpaid consultant with the Massachusetts State Police, working for Lt. Sydney Greenstreet (Leslie Hope) who gives him case files on several murders. After reviewing the files, Stone takes special interest in one case that involves the fourth victim of a brutal serial killer who slashed and disemboweled his victims while they were still alive. The jailed killer, a man named Richard and known as the “Boston Ripper” (Luke Perry), admits to the first three murders with pride, but maintains he did not commit the fourth murder. After interviewing the killer, Stone concludes that he’s a “sick son of a bitch”, but does not believe he killed the fourth victim, Mavis Davies.

     

  • DVD review: “A Discovery of witches: Series 1 – 3” (2018-2022)

    DVD review: “A Discovery of witches: Series 1 – 3” (

    “A Discovery of Witches – Season One” (2018)

    Television/Drama/Fantasy

    3-stars

    Eight Episodes

    Created by: Deborah Harkness

    Featuring:  Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Edward Bluemel, Louise Brealey, Malin Buska, Aiysha Hart, Owen Teale, Alex Kingston, Valarie Pettiford

    Matthew Clairmont: “Once the world was full of wonders, but it belongs to the humans now. We, creatures, have all but disappeared. Daemons… vampires… witches… hiding in plain sight. Ill at ease even with each other. But, as my father used to say, in every ending, there is a new beginning.”

    Released recently on DVD is the entire series of the Deborah Harkness adaptation “A Discovery of Witches – Season 1 – 3” (2018-2022) which sees all of the familiar characters back for more witch, vampire and demon action that feels more like a supernatural version of “Outlander” (2014-present) with less history and much more brooding although there does seem to be more a plot after the initial season that for me was a little plodding narratively except for the scenes in which the great Lindsay Duncan would make an appearance all arch and mysterious.

    The past thirty years or so has seen the proliferation of tween supernatural sagas in book form which on one hand means that people are still reading which is a feat in this age of screens and social media, on the other hand since the global box office success of certain fantasy properties, both old and new, means that even below average books now seem to be able to make it the big screen or in this case small screen. Upon a cursory glance “A Discovery of Witches” may seem like a Twilight ripoff there is a little more going on, and of course it gains credibility by being set in Europe. In fact this series owes more to the aforementioned “Outlander” especially this season with its time travel aspects as well as the meeting of historical characters which I enjoyed immensely.

    In case you missed it “A Discovery of Witches” concerns Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch, who unexpectedly discovers a bewitched manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. This discovery forces her back into the world of magic in order to unravel the secrets it holds about magical beings. She is offered help by a mysterious geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont. Despite a long-held mistrust between witches and vampires, they form an alliance and set out to protect the book and solve the mysteries hidden within while dodging threats from the creature world.

    One of the issues with a multipart television series is that there are normally different writers and directors working any number of episodes, that is the case here although there are a limited number of these so the style is mostly carried through episode to episode which means there is a nice look and feel to series two. For the most part the narrative holds together nicely with the strength of this new season being the trip to the past and the discoveries made there.

    In the leads Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode both seem to be able inhabit their own characters and I believe since both have been involved in genre film before they know exactly how to play these parts. My only concern is that they play these parts a little too stiffly and sometimes it feels like Bella and Edward redux. As I have mentioned my favourite character is Ysabeau De Clermont played by Lindsay Duncan who like her costars has been in genre television before so knows what she is doing. This series we also get to meet  Philippe De Clermont played by James Purefoy who was a welcome addition, I hope there is an excuse to bring him back for the final series.

    In contrast, A Discovery of Witches is, considering the subject matter, painfully genteel. Despite featuring vampires on the loose it rarely lets much blood flow, and the boffing between these two inhuman superbeings, whose ardour is meant to fuse two immortal, elemental forces, is strictly vanilla. The big consummation in season one was over in seconds and somehow involved both participants keeping their trousers on, while the central relationship doesn’t work as an elegant, demure will-they-won’t-they romance either. Diana and Matthew committed themselves to each other fully about three episodes in, and have been comfy companions ever since. Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode are competent leads, but they look as if they want to sack off this netherworld palaver, climb into a Range Rover and hit David Lloyd’s for a jolly game of doubles and a nice Aperol spritz.

    For a series about vampires, witches and demons there seems to be a conscious effort to steer away from too much blood, gore and violence, something that many tween stories have to do or risk turning away audiences. Even with this I do enjoy watching the show although the need for cliffhangers does seem forced but knowing there is only one more season means I will be back as I suspect readers of the books will be as well.

    Episodes

    Series One

    1. Things get creepy for historian and closet witch, Diana Bishop, when she calls up a magical manuscript. Her discovery is about to throw her back into the world of magic and into the path of Matthew Clairmont, a centuries old vampire.
    2. As Matthew fights to control his cravings, he leaves Diana to face her enemies alone. And those include powerful witch Peter Knox.
    3. There is another dark turn in store for Diana when an alarming package is slipped under her door. Meanwhile, her relationship with Matthew moves forward, but something is about to happen that will cast them both further into danger.
    4. Diana gets a chilly welcome when she seeks safety at the Clairmont family home. Back in Oxford, trouble is brewing. Juliette shows up and throws Marcus’ life into danger, while Satu pays the price for her curiosity.
    5. Tensions between the creatures grow as the witches find out the vampires are studying DNA. Matthew crosses a line when he returns to Oxford. Diana discovers his dark past, before something unexpected tears them apart.
    6. Matthew and Baldwin race to save Diana from Satu’s dangerous dark magic. In Oxford, Sophie shocks Agatha with a confession.
    7. Diana’s aunts’ home gives up all sorts of secrets when Diana and Matthew pay a visit. Danger looms as Juliette breaks free from Gerbert.
    8. With danger at every turn, Diana and Matthew are forced to run. But will they escape in time?

    Series Two

    1. In Madison, Satu, Knox and Gerbert arrive at the Bishop house to find that Matthew and Diana have disappeared. The couple arrives in 1590’s London and are confronted by a face from Matthew’s past.
    2. As Diana continues her search for a mentor she meets a wealthy alchemist Mary Sidney. London’s vampire ruler demands fealty from Matthew.
    3. In the present, Domenico makes a disturbing discovery in Oxford. Back in 1590, Matthew must beg for forgiveness from Father Hubbard.
    4. Another vicious vampire murder rocks present-day Oxford. Marcus makes a breakthrough.
    5. Matthew and Diana arrive in France on their journey to face Philippe. Elsewhere, Louisa and Kit cut a swathe through London.
    6. Philippe makes a troubling discovery, provoking a conflict with Matthew. Ysabeau, Em and Sarah start to look for a message.
    7. Matthew and Diana go to Bohemia to search for Edward Kelley and the Book of Life. There, they encounter the strange Emperor Rudolf II.
    8. In 1590, Diana is transfixed as she tries to work out what the Book is telling her. Matthew worries over the Book’s power.
    9. As Diana and Matthew return to London, Diana learns news that could change everything. The Queen holds Matthew to account.
    10. Realising that she must return to the present, Diana aims to complete her training.

    Series Three

    1. Matthew and Diana return from Elizabethan London to find tragedy at Sept-Tours. Agatha challenges Knox in the Congregation. Diana learns she’s carrying twins.
    2. Diana is forced to make a confession to Matthew after the pair are shocked by the appearance of another familiar face – Jack Blackfriars.
    3. In New Orleans, Matthew and Marcus struggle to reconnect with Marcus’s children. In London, Diana and Phoebe find a lead in their hunt for the missing pages.
    4. Struggling to pin down T.J. Weston, Diana, Phoebe, and Sarah seek help from other witches. Benjamin has a proposition for Satu. Matthew finally returns home.
    5. Benjamin’s plan to bring down the de Clermonts is set into motion. Matthew and Diana return to Sept-Tours with the twins. Gerbert demands to examine the babies.
    6. After receiving Benjamin’s message, Matthew leaves Sept-Tours at dawn to track him down; Diana enlists Sarah’s help to finally get the Book of Life.
    7. As Benjamin tortures Matthew to near death, Diana makes plans to rescue him. Revelations from the Book of Life illuminate the long-hidden secrets of creatures.
  • Blu-ray review: “The Odd Couple Collection” (1968 – 1998)

    “The Odd Couple”(1968)

    Comedy

    Running Time: 105 minutes

    Written by: Neil Simon based on his play

    Directed by: Gene Saks

    Featuring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John Fiedler and Herb Edelman

    Oscar Madison: “I can’t take it anymore, Felix, I’m cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you’re not here, the things I know you’re gonna do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. Told you 158 times I can’t stand little notes on my pillow. “We’re all out of cornflakes. F.U.” Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!”

    Recently released on Bluray through the Imprint label is the double header “The Odd Couple Collection” (1968 – 1998) that sees two movies of very different quality featuring two legendary actors in Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau who worked together ten times with varying degrees of success, they did this over a thirty two year period. Interestingly even though in the majority of these movies they are in direct opposition to each other they remained close friends in reality. They also died within a year of each other, although I assume this was not planned in advance.

    The plot of the “The Odd Couple” revolves around divorced sports writer Oscar Madison and his card-playing cronies Murray, Speed, Roy and Vinnie have assembled in Madison’s Washington Heights apartment for their Friday night poker game. Murray is concerned because their mutual friend Felix Ungar is unusually late for the game. Murray’s wife calls and informs them that Felix is missing. Oscar then calls Felix’s wife Frances, who tells him that she and Felix have broken up. Felix arrives not knowing that everyone has already heard that he and his wife have separated. The group attempts to pretend nothing is wrong, but Felix eventually breaks down crying and his friends attempt to console him. After everyone leaves, Oscar suggests that Felix move in with him, since Oscar has lived alone since he split up with his own ex-wife, Blanche, some time earlier. Felix agrees and urges Oscar to not be shy about letting him know if he gets on Oscar’s nerves. Within only a week, the two men discover they are incompatible. Felix runs around the apartment cleaning, picking up after Oscar, and berating him for being so sloppy. Felix refuses to have any fun, spending most of his time thinking about Frances. While at a tavern, Oscar tells Felix about two English sisters he recently met who live in their building: Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon. Oscar telephones the girls and arranges a double date for the following evening.

    “The Odd Couple” (1968) is directly based off the Broadway comedy of the same name written by the legendary Neil Simon. The weakness of this movie, is that it is too faithful to its source material and needs a very talented and powerful director to take charge and create an original work that incorporates the themes and feelings of its source material but make it something that works within the language of cinema. In terms of this movie much of the dialog is lifted directly from the play, and even the sets and a great deal of Mike Nichols’ original Broadway direction are used without significant change in the movie. This isn’t to say “The Odd Couple” is unsuccessful as a movie.

    Directed by Gene Saks who was a legendary Broadway director, he won three Tony Awards for his work, is out of his depth here, possible the biggest mistake is that he doesn’t use the entire soundstage which means the full screen is not taken advantage of either. I won’t go into the deficiencies of the direction but I wonder why the original director of the play, Mike Nichols, did not helm this, as he was obviously someone who would be able to switch between stage and screen.

    The performances are uniformly good, especially Herb Edelman as Murray the cop, and Monica Evans and Carole Shelley as the twittering Pigeon sisters from upstairs. Jack Lemmon is well cast as Felix, the fussy and suicidal news writer who separates from his wife. But Walter Matthau, for all of his natural charm, is not quite gruff and sloppy enough as Oscar, the role he created on Broadway. What we have, anyway, is a funny “screen version” of a very funny Broadway comedy. It does well as an evening’s entertainment. But it begs the question of what might have resulted if Saks had mad some original choices or the soon to be great Nichols had directed this.

    Special Features:

    • 1080p high-definition transfer by Paramount Pictures
    • Audio commentary by Charlie Matthau and Chris Lemmon
    • Audio commentary by film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Howard S. Berger (2021)
    • In the Beginning – featurette
    • Matthau & Lemmon / Lemmon & Matthau – featurette
    • Memories from the Set – featurette
    • Inside The Odd Couple – featurette
    • The Odd Couple: A Classic – featurette
    • Isolated audio track featuring Neal Hefti’s score
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Film and Production Photo Galleries

    “The Odd Couple II” (1998)

    Comedy

    Running Time: 96 minutes

    Written by: Neil Simon

    Directed by: Howard Deutch

    Featuring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Barnard Hughes, Jonathan Silverman and Jean Smart

    Felix Ungar: [waking up in the car] “How long was I asleep?”

    Oscar Madison: [driving] “I don’t know. I didn’t know you wanted me to time it.”

    Unsurprisingly I suppose after the first movie and a hit television series there must have been an appetite for another ‘Odd Couple’ movie, and the 1990s seemed to be the decade to do it as it was a prolific time for movies featuring the original stars  Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. In fact in the 1990s they appeared in no less than six movies together, a huge work rate for them both. Lemmon and Matthau are perfectly suited for working together. In life as in fiction, they are a little like the original odd couple, Felix and Oscar: Lemmon concise and tidy, Matthau rambling, shambling and gambling.

    It has been seventeen years since Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar have seen one another. Oscar is still hosting a regular poker game and is still an untidy slob, now living in Sarasota, Florida, but still a sportswriter. One day, he is called by his son Brucey with an invitation to California for his wedding the following Sunday. A second shock for Oscar—the woman his son is marrying is Felix’s daughter, Hannah. On the flight from New York to Los Angeles, it becomes clear that Felix has not changed his ways—he is still a fussy, allergy-suffering neat freak nuisance. Oscar and Felix are reunited at the airport and very happy to be together again after 17 years of separation—at least for a couple of minutes. They share a rental car to San Malina for the wedding. however the trip begins with Oscar forgetting Felix’s suitcase at the Budget car rental, including wedding gifts and wardrobe inside. On the trip, Felix falls asleep and Oscar takes a wrong turn onto the freeway, then loses the directions to San Malina when his cigar ashes burn them.

    “Odd Couple II” is not a great movie even though the screenplay has been written by Neil Simon, who at this stage in his career is without anyone to offer a word of advice and maybe change some of the contrivances contained within this movie. Like many sequels sometimes the thinking stops after the stars say yes to the movie, it is seen that they know what to do and it will take care of itself. But the movie has no purpose for being. That’s revealed by the road movie premise: The genre is ideal for throwing characters and dialogue situations at them without the bother of contriving any kind of a dramatic or comedic reason for them to be together. There is a better story that exists here but has been passed over for some quick laughs and a horrible narrative makes really little sense.

    Special Features:

    • 1080p high-definition transfer by Paramount Pictures
    • Audio commentary by film historian Scott Harrison (2021)
    • Two Grumpy Men: Directing The Odd Couple II – interview with director Howard Deutch (2021)
    • Promotional interviews with actors Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Jean Smart, writer Neil Simon and director Howard Deutch
    • Jack Lemmon, America’s Everyman – 1996 documentary
    • Walter Matthau, Diamond in the Rough – 1997 documentary
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Photo Gallery

    THE ODD COUPLE ON TELEVISION

    In the 1970s television series, can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy? Ten episodes covering all five seasons explore this retorical quesiton. Tony Randall and Jack Klugman make the characters their own in the award-winning television version.

    Special Features:

    • 1080p high-definition transfers
    • Audio commentary by series executive producer Garry Marshall on “They Use Horseradish, Don’t They?”
    • Two Original Series Promos
    • Gag reel with audio introduction by producer Garry Marshall
    • Opening titles without narration
    • Isolated music and effects audio track on every episode
    • Series Photo Gallery
  • Blu-ray review: “Jerry Lewis at Columbia” (1967 – 1969)

    “Jerry Lewis at Columbia” (1967 – 1969)

    “The Big Mouth” (1967)

    Comedy

    Running Time: 107 minutes

    Written by: Jerry Lewis and Bill Richmond

    Directed by: Jerry Lewis

    Featuring: Jerry Lewis, Harold J. Stone, Susan Bay, Buddy Lester, Del Moore, Paul Lambert, Jeannine Riley, Leonard Stone, Charlie Callas and Frank De Vol

    Released recently on Bluray from the Imprint label are two Jerry Lewis movies from the time he was at Columbia. Whilst these are not the cream of Lewis’ own oeuvre they still demand to be at least watched and to be seen for what they are, comedies from one of the greatest comedy actors of all time, not only that Lewis was also a great director, writer and producer of his own movies.

    “The Big Mouth” (1967) concerns Gerald Clamson a bank examiner who loves fishing on his annual two-week holiday. Unfortunately, one day at the ocean he reels in Syd Valentine, an injured gangster in a scuba diving suit. Syd tells Gerald about diamonds he has stolen from the other gangsters and hands him a map. Gerald escapes as frogmen from a yacht machine-gun the beach. They swim ashore, locate Syd and gun him down. Their leader Thor ensures Syd’s demise by firing a torpedo from his yacht that goes ashore, blowing a crater into the beach. As the police ignore Gerald’s story, Gerald heads to the Hilton Inn in San Diego where Syd claimed the diamonds were hidden. 

    There is no doubt about it that there is a difficulty in an actor directing him or herself which has been proven time and again and may be one of the issues in this movie. At times there is at least an impression that Lewis is trying to direct the other actors while doing his own performance at the same time. “The Big Mouth” is too long, to begin with. It is two hours long, and 30 minutes could have been edited from it as easily.

    Special Features and Technical Specs:

    • 1080p high-definition transfer
    • Audio commentary by author/film historian and curator Justin Humphreys (2022)
    • Super-8 version – original cut down ‘Home Cinema’ presentation of the film (20 min)
    • TV Spots
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Textless opening / closing titles
    • Isolated music and effects audio track
    • Photo Gallery

    “Hook, Line & Sinker” (1969)

    Comedy

    Running Time: 92 minutes

    Written by: Rod Amateau

    Directed by: Jerry Lewis

    Featuring: Jerry Lewis, Peter Lawford, Anne Francis, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Jimmy Miller, Jennifer Edwards, and Eleanor Audley 

    Dr. Scott Carter: “There’s only one decent thing left for you to do: turn yourself in.”

    Peter Ingersoll: “Decent thing? That’s insane!”

    Dr. Scott Carter: “I’ll be behind you all the way.”

    Peter Ingersoll: “Oh, sure you will. A mile behind me.”

    Unlike the previous movie in this set that is directed by Lewis this one is not, which means there is more time given to characters, plot and narrative.

    In “Hook, Line & Sinker” (1969) Jerry Lewis plays Peter Ingersoll, a typical middle class suburbanite who is living the American dream. He has a boring but steady 9 to 5 job as an insurance salesman, a pretty wife (Anne Francis), two polite children, a comfortable home and a devoted best friend, Scott Carter (Peter Lawford), who also happens to be his personal physician. The only consternation in the household is wife Nancy’s concern about Peter’s costly and self-indulgent hobby of deep sea fishing. Peter’s mundane but comfortable existence comes to an abrupt end when Dr. Carter gives him the stunning news that a recent medical check-up has confirmed that he is terminally ill. Distraught and and depressed, Peter is stunned when Nancy suggests that he forsake his responsibilities as husband and father and enact an audacious plan whereby he will spend his last few months on a solo journey to exotic locations where he can spend his final days fishing. Nancy concocts a plot whereby the entire venture can be financed on credit cards that will never have to be paid. Additionally, his life insurance policy of $150,000 will ensure that his family can live in comfort (this was back in 1969, don’t forget.) Peter is initially reluctant to engage in the scheme but he ultimately concedes. He ends up traveling to exotic locations as he wracks up enormous bills with carefree abandon. In Lisbon, he is shocked when Scott Carter appears unexpectedly with the news that an equipment malfunction on a medical device resulted in the wrong diagnosis. Peter isn’t going to die, but has to pretend he has in order to escape prosecution for the monies owed to the credit card companies. Scott assures him that the statute of limitations last only seven years, after which he can reappear and resume his family life.  By this point, the audience has long since figured out what Peter has to learn belatedly: that the entire plan has been an exercise in deceit on the part of Nancy and Scott. He discovers that the two are having an affair and that Nancy and his kids are in Lisbon, too, where they refer to his best friend as “Daddy Scott” even as their mother shares his bed. Emotionally devastated, Peter concocts a complex scheme of his own to exact revenge on his wife and friend. 

    “Hook, Line & Sinker” fares better than many of Lewis’ late career big screen ventures in that the humor, characters and situations are more realistic and believable than those found in most Lewis films. The humor is also a bit more daring than usual, with the habitual abuse of corpses playing a central role in the plot. There are some over the top elements of the film, but for the most part it’s a highly enjoyable, consistently amusing scenario well-played by an energized Lewis, who has a perfect foil in Lawford.

    Special Features and Technical Specs:

    • 1080p high-definition transfer
    • Audio commentary by film historian Peter Tonguette (2022)
    • Full episode of The Dick Cavett Show with Jerry Lewis, recorded in 1972
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Textless opening / closing titles
    • Isolated music and effects audio track
    • Photo Gallery
  • Blu-ray review: “The Osterman Weekend” (1983)

    “The Osterman Weekend” (1983)

    Action

    Running Time: 103 /116 minutes

    Written by: Ian Masters based on The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum

    Directed by: Sam Peckinpah

    Featuring: Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Craig T. Nelson, Dennis Hopper and Burt Lancaster

    Lawrence Fassett: “I know Maxwell Danforth very well; he killed my wife. Not with his bare hands, of course. The Danforths of the world don’t murder that way. They use words like terminate, exterminate.”

    Critical Commentary

    Released recently on Blu-ray is the last film from legendary Director Sam Peckinpah, “The Osterman Weekend” (1983), on the Imprint label in a special edition which sees both the theatrical and director’s cut for the first time. “The Osterman Weekend” is a political thriller with themes of conspiracy and treachery based on Robert Ludlum’s second novel that features an all-star cast in this story of revenge, paranoia, surveillance, and betrayal.

    Lawrence Fassett (John Hurt) is an FBI field agent specially selected by agency head Maxwell Danforth (Burt Lancaster) to convince political TV host John Tanner (Rutger Hauer) to help in capturing a cabal of Russian terrorist sympathizers. Persuading Tanner to cooperate will not be easy. Three of the targets are Tanner’s closest friends—Osterman (Craig T. Nelson), Tremayne (Dennis Hopper), and Cardone (Chris Sarandon)—with whom he vacations once a year. These get-togethers are known as “Osterman weekends.” Incredulous at first that his longtime buddies could be treasonous, Tanner eventually permits Fassett to bug his apartment to catch his friends in a compromising conversation during an upcoming gathering. Events spiral out of control and Tanner finds himself in the middle of a dark, insidious plan of vengeance that endangers lives.

    “The Osterman Weekend” was written by Alan Sharp, this screenplay represents something of a middle ground in his career, his best work was directed by strong directors who could shape and tell a story, In normal circumstances this would have been the case here, except that director Peckinpah was not only coming towards the end of his life but this movie was taken from him and edited by producers, something that would not have occurred in the Director’s prime. The movie is listless and is dominated by too much plot, not enough action and far too much exposition by almost everyone in the movie.

    Violence overall is not as dominant as Peckinpah’s earlier output and the film lacks energy despite efforts by the cast to enliven it. Female cast members are mostly window dressing, though Meg Foster as Tanner’s wife has a sizable role and, wielding a crossbow, gets to be a crucial part of an important climactic scene. Hopper and Sarandon are wasted in their roles. Only Nelson gets considerable screen time and portrays a well-formed character. Hurt is very good as the manipulative Fassett, whose allegiance is never quite clear. Hauer walks through the role of Tanner, never looking truly involved, even when the character’s wife and child are in peril. He plays the part with a smugness and an air of superiority that distance him from the viewer. We’re supposed to root for him, but Hauer never makes Tanner accessible and vulnerable.

    “The Osterman Weekend” cannot sustain suspense, even though danger rears its head as the film progresses. Peckinpah is far from his best, and with a mediocre script, he never elevates the material. It didn’t help that the producers took the film away from him and recut it to their liking, releasing something that, despite the quality of the material, wasn’t quite what he had originally delivered to them. Unfortunately, he’d never get a chance to make another film as he died of heart failure the year after the film’s release.

    Technical Commentary

    Video

    “The Osterman Weekend” was shot by director of photography John Coquillon with Panaflex cameras and Panavision lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Imprint Films brings the film to Blu-ray in several presentations. An older master has been used for the theatrical version of the film, presented in 1.78:1, while 2K scans of the theatrical version and the newly-rediscovered director’s cut are presented in 1.66:1.

    Audio

    The audio is presented in English 2.0 Stereo LPCM (theatrical cut) and English Mono LPCM (director’s cut). On both versions, the sound is tinny and echo-y, and dialogue sounds murky. Optional English SDH subtitles are also available.

    Special Features

    “The Osterman Weekend” is presented in a 2-Disc Region-Free Limited Edition Blu-ray set in a clear amaray case with double-sided artwork featuring the US theatrical poster art signifying the “Theatrical Cut” on the front, and the Spanish and Italian theatrical poster art on the reverse signifying the “Director’s Cut.” Everything is housed within sturdy hardbox packaging featuring the UK and French theatrical poster art. The following bonus materials are included on each disc:

    THEATRICAL CUT

    Special Features and Technical Specs:

    • 1080p high-definition presentation of the Theatrical Cut in 1.78:1 aspect ratio
    • Alternative unrestored presentation of the film in 1.66:1 aspect ratio scanned from a 35mm German print
    • Audio commentary by film historians Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, David Weddle, and Nick Redman
    • Alpha to Omega: Exposing “The Osterman Weekend” – feature documentary
    • S. Theatrical Trailer
    • Audio English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
    • Optional Subtitles: English

    DIRECTOR’S CUT

    Special Features and Technical Specs:

    • 1080p high-definition, unrestored 2k scan newly sourced from Sam Peckinpah’s personal 35mm directors cut negative
    • NEW Audio commentary by Peckinpah expert Mike Siegel
    • NEW Passion & Poetry: Sam’s Final Cut – documentary by Peckinpah expert Mike Siegel
    • NEW The Two Cuts – comparison video by Peckinpah expert Mike Siegel
    • NEW 3 Animated Galleries: Filming “The Osterman Weekend”, “The Osterman Weekend” in Pictures, Promoting “The Osterman Weekend”
    • Aspect Ratio 1.60:1
    • Audio English LPCM Mono
    • Optional Subtitles: English
  • DVD Review: “Good Witch” (2015-2021) 

    “Good Witch” (2015-2021) 

    Television Series

    Sixty Episodes

    Developed by: Craig Pryce and Sue Tenney

    Featuring: Catherine Bell, Bailee Madison, James Denton, Rhys Matthew Bond, Catherine Disher, Anthony Lemke, Kylee Evans, Peter MacNeill, Sarah Power, Dan Jeannotte, Marc Bendavid, Scott Cavalheiro and Katherine Barrell

    Cassie Nightingale: “A mistake is like a bump in the road, one bump is not so bad, but if we keep making mistakes eventually we change the shape of the road for ever.”

    Released on DVD this month is the gentle, sentimental prime-time fable set in an idealized Middle American small city, “Good Witch” (2015-2021), which has at its heart Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell), the “good witch”, and the exploits of the residents who inhabit (the fictional town) Middleton, including Cassie and her daughter Grace as they welcome Dr. Sam Radford and his son to town. Of course Cassie and Grace share a gift of enchanted insight and magical intuition which comes to the fore in many episodes, think a “Harry Potter” for the very young and the very old, which is reflected in its viewship demographics.

    The actual witchcraft could be likened to the “Harry Potter” movies, that is mostly mild and undefined, in other words things work when they have to and opposition occurs when it needs to push the narrative along. At her New Age gift store, Bell, Book & Candle, Cassie knows just which tea or lotion will help a customer through a minor life crisis. Her real gift is an uncanny intuition she uses to nudge people toward the right path.

    What’s most striking about the show — especially if you’re inclined to think that the age of its audience also implies a conservative cultural or political cast — is how thoroughly dominated it is by women. That isn’t necessarily unusual for a prime-time soap, but men in “Good Witch” are a particularly clueless and ineffectual bunch. Nearly all agency in the show is female. The main characters are women running their own businesses — Cassie has both her shop and a bed-and-breakfast; her friend Stephanie runs the local restaurant, the redundantly named Bistro Cafe; her cousin Abigail runs the flower shop. In a story in which everyone is on a spectrum from nice to mildly irritating, the villain is the self-absorbed but well-meaning mayor, Martha. (You know right away she’s different because of the theatrical, high-comic style with which Catherine Disher plays her.)

    That focus on women is either undercut or reinforced, depending on your point of view, by the show’s corresponding focus on the mechanics of romance. Cassie’s magic is most often used for matchmaking, and the show’s larger drama this season revolves around her own relationship with her prickly next-door neighbor, Sam (James Denton); an entire episode was devoted to whether he’d finally be able to tell her he loved her.

    If you want a family-ish drama then this is for you, it is mostly non-offensive and has a lot of episodes to sink into if this is your thing.

    Episodes

    Series One

    Starting Over… Again: Cassie Nightingale’s and her daughter Grace’s charm is no match for Middleton’s newest neighbors.

    Running Scared: Dr. Sam and many Middletoners take up running to train for an upcoming race. A mysterious woman catches Derek’s interest but Brandon is suspicious; a mysterious man follows her around.

    Do the Right Thing: Against her best judgment, Cassie agrees to pose as Ryan’s girlfriend to make his ex jealous, but this confuses the good doctor and Cassie herself when she and Ryan kiss.

    All in the Family: Cousin Abigail Pershing returns to wreak havoc in Middleton as she sets her sights on Dr. Sam who is dating Stephanie. Ryan wants to date his best friend, Cassie.

    The Truth About Lies: Sam, Nick, Abigail, Grace and Cassie all deal with their control issues. Abigail explains to Cassie how she has been helping everyone since her return to Middleton.

    The Storm: Cassie tries to convince Sam to follow her intuition in order to help a young couple.

    Together We Stand: A storm continues to threaten the lives of the people in Middleton; Cassie and Sam work together.

    Homecoming: Sam’s Ex-wife turns up to use Nick to get to Sam. She conspires to get Nick to Hong Kong behind Sam’s back, causing mayhem and destruction of feelings. Cassie struggles with the after events of Bryan being in the hospital and her daughter Grace continues to be manipulated by Abigail.

    True Colors: Whilst Cassie struggles with possibly losing her shop, Sam receives an unexpected visit from his ex-wife.

    Series Two

    Good Witch Halloween: Whilst Cassie deals with the newest guest at Grey House, Grace seeks no advice to help deal with school bullies calling her a witch.

    Second Time Around: Linda, aiming to reel ex-husband Sam back in, regards Cassie as competition. Abigale proposes becoming Stephanie’s business partner – or else. Cassie’s “Help Wanted” sign draws interest.

    Driven: As Sam (against Linda’s wishes) mentors Grace through awkward driving lessons, several people advise Stephanie against dwelling over Abigail’s business plans.

    Out of the Past: Both Ryan and John wonder about a future with Cassie, Martha’s spoiled son returns home, Linda adjusts Sam’s home for her moving in, and Stephanie’s meddling mom arrives.

    The Trouble with Love: A mother’s love guides the behavior of Cassie, Stephanie, Mayor Tinsdale, Linda and the yearning Tara. Elsewhere, there’s patient Sharon, Abigail, and handsome John.

    Surprise Me: Irresponsible grown children seem an issue, with Cassie’s latest unpaying guest, Alexis, and with a money pit business proposal from Martha’s son, Michael.

    Risk: Alexis resolves to find a way to pay back Cassie and Abigail for the charges she ran up under false pretenses.

    What’s Your Secret?: Cassie helps John comb through resumes for his dig in the Maldives.

    Truth: Sam agrees to examine Cassie’s guest Dan, who continues to insist he sees ghosts at Grey House; and, when the town pulls together and delivers a beautiful and surprising anniversary party for Martha, she is truly touched and grateful.

    A Perfect Match: Part 1 and 2: As Middleton’s annual Lights Festival approaches, final decisions about the Maldives dig and London Abroad are made, but circumstances could bring about second thoughts.

    Series Three

    Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House: To celebrate the latest release of a famous authoress’ book series, Middleton becomes the enchanted town of Tarynsville during her stay.

    A Budding Romance: The whole town anxiously awaits the impending blooming of the Middleton Merriwick, but when the plant is cut, it has dramatic impact upon the Merriwick women. Grace begins to suspect Nick is going to ask her out.

    Without Magic for a Spell: The Middleton Merriwick is still not in bloom, and the effects are being felt around town, meanwhile an old friend and colleague of Abigails checks into Grey House claiming to want a relationship.

    Day After Day: When two guests arrive at Grey House and are immediately at odds, Cassie uses her magic to ensure that until the two guests realize they belong together, every day in Middleton will be just like the one before it. Sam tries to plan the perfect date for Cassie, but various nuisances keep getting in the way. Abigail continues getting the same delivery over and over, until she recognizes the value she provides the community.

    How to Say I Love You!: The whole town is caught up in romance when Cassie helps Ben find an old film for him to show on opening night of the refurbished Middleton Theater – a classic love movie from the 30s: “How to Say, I Love You!” – which proves to be a very meaningful title. Meanwhile, Martha has overextended herself with the Middleton budget, and there is no money left in the extra expenditure account.

    A Birthday Wish: When a visiting chef (Constance) is unable to relax as she promised herself and instead wreaks havoc on the Grey House kitchen, Cassie arranges for her to spend a whole day at the stove stirring a special recipe to quiet her mind. Grace is presented with the Merriwick Wish Book for her birthday and encouraged to make an entry, and she learns a little more about what her mother and cousin were like when they were her age.

    Say It with Candy: Abigail, jealous of all the attention Cassie gets from helping her customers, decides to sell “special” Venezuelan chocolates at her flower shop. When the chocolates are a hit and everyone in town seems in a better mood because of them, Abigail can’t help but continue to cut corners. Though Liam’s son Noah and Nick used to be friends, it’s clear when Noah arrives that Nick isn’t interested in staying friends.

    In Sickness and in Health: Cassie gives a withdrawn, traveling artist a new paintbrush and invites him to stay at Grey House; Cassie also arranges for her and Sam to organize the Tri-Cities Healthfest, something that Cassie usually does by herself.

    Somewhat Surprising: Cassie decides to plan a surprise party for Sam to celebrate the anniversary of his move to Middleton; Grace (with some urging from Abigail) decides to use her powers to create situations where she and Noah can get together.

    Not Getting Married Today: Part 1 and 2: Cassie discovers a 10-year-old girl – Pavla – playing in the bushes at Grey House. She is hiding from her adoptive parents, Eddie and Marla, who could use a little help from Cassie and Abigail as they forge their new family. Meanwhile, Martha announces that her son Michael is getting married. He and his fiancée Vanessa want a simple wedding, and Martha needs some gentle reminders from Cassie to not go overboard.

    Series Four

    Good Witch Spellbound: The business owners compete for the best-decorated shop. A prophecy is unearthed in the basement of City Hall; when predictions start coming true, the citizens fear it’s a terrible curse. Cassie and Sam may be the key to saving their town.

    With This Ring: Cassie gives those around her pieces of jewelry that magically turn out to be just thing each needed; Abigail helps Sam search for the perfect engagement ring for Cassie — a legendary Merriwick heirloom thought to be lost forever. 

    In 4/4, with Emotion: An unpublished song written by a past guest at Grey House magically spreads throughout the town, heightening the emotions of those who hear it. Affecting each in a different way, Cassie and Sam learn to communicate about their future together.

    Daddy’s Home: Abigail’s father comes to Middelton in hopes of making amends. Cassie helps an expecting couple accept how different their lives, and family, will be once the baby comes. Grace is forced to think about her future and what path she’ll follow as she realizes her affinity for math might not be a passion.

    Family Time: Cassie and Sam bring Grace and Nick for an overnight at the lake house, hoping time together will help the kids resolve their differences and help the soon-to-be family bond, but Cassie faces a few obstacles before they start acting like a family again.

    Written Like a Merriwick: Grace falls under Elizabeth Merriwick’s spell after Cassie finds a trunk filled with her clothing.

    Match Game: A secretive dating app developer on the verge of a breakthrough checks in at Grey House.

    Til Death Do Us Part: Cassie has to confront what “til death do us part” means as Sam travels to South America as medical aid during a tragic time.

    All Dressed Up: Cassie sets out to track down Elizabeth Merriwick’s original wedding dress, learning a bit from every woman who wore it. Grace and Noah hit a snag in their relationship as Abigail and Phil start to ramp up theirs.

    How to Make a Middleton Quilt: Grace, in Middleton tradition, enlists the help of the town in making a magical quilt said to grant the wishes of the recipient; Cassie and Sam learn more about each other as secrets are revealed at their bachelor and bachelorette parties.

    Tossing The Bouquet: Sam and Cassie have to accept that their wedding might not be as perfect as planned. In light of her almost-romance with Phil, Abigail’s quest to put down roots lands her a new job-the mayor of Middleton.

    Series Five

    Good Witch: Tale of Two Hearts: Cassie’s precious family heirloom- a beautiful ruby. The Heart of Middleton-goes missing from the History of Halloween in Middleton museum exhibit just in time for the anniversary festival and masquerade gala.

    The Forever Tree, Part 1 and 2: Cassie and Sam’s wedding is just days away in the season five premiere of “Good Witch,” and the town of Middleton prepares for this highly anticipated event in “The Forever Tree: Part 1.” As Middleton’s resident enchantress Cassie (Catherine Bell) works on last-minute wedding preparations, Sam (James Denton) looks for the tree that her ancestor was married under as a wedding surprise. Though skeptical of Cassie’s world-traveling foster brother Vincent (Gianpaolo Venuta), Sam invites him to be part of the search. Grace (Bailee Madison) becomes troubled when little …

    The Honeymoon: Cassie and Sam celebrate their honeymoon at a country winery, where they help their hosts deal with a dilemma. Grace encounters her first heartbreak and Abigail holds a joint fundraiser with Mayor Donovan.

    The Prince: Cassie (Catherine Bell) hosts a royal guest at Grey House in ‘The Prince.’ When shocking news emerges about the visiting royal, though, he risks hurting someone he’s grown to care for. Sam (James Denton) gets a visit from an old friend in need of his medical expertise but soon discovers that his cure may lie in Cassie’s intuition. Grace (Bailee Madison) starts an internship for Abigail (Sarah Power) at City Hall and faces fierce competition from a fellow intern. Their competition benefits Abigail, who needs all the help she can get when the rival mayor’s family tries …

    The Tea: Cassie’s enchanting powers have always helped her friends in Middleton and a special elixir gives her magical gift a potent boost in ‘The Tea.’ Cassie serves a special tea to help Abigail (Sarah Power) open up during a date with her former nemesis (Marc Bendavid), newly reinstated mayor Martha (Catherine Disher) share her opinions with an artist painting her portrait, and two guests at Grey House reconnect. Meanwhile, Sam (James Denton) looks for help teaching his new resident a lesson in bedside manner. Disappointed after her top choice college rejects her, Grace (…

    The Road Trip: Cassie, Grace and Abigail visit Cassie’s alma mater, which is on Grace’s list of top choice colleges. While there, Cassie receives an honor and helps her old college friend, Willow (Kathy Najimy) make a choice about her future, and Grace gets to know the school by connecting with her weekend host who’s homesick. Left to watch Grey House, Sam (James Denton) and Nick (Rhys Matthew Bond) try to channel Cassie when helping father-son guests to communicate better. Meanwhile, Martha (Catherine Disher) switches to a hard-hitting gossip format to improve her TV show’s …

    The Grey-cation: Martha and her husband, Tom, visit Grey House. Cassie and Sam realize that they still have some things to learn about one another. Donovan’s overbearing mother complicates his and Abigail’s relationship. Grace and Luke go on their first date.

    The Treasure: A long-lost map drums up some excitement in Middleton, as adventure seekers spring into action in “The Treasure.” After finding the treasure map, Martha (Catherine Disher) sends Vincent (Gianpaolo Venuta) on a treasure hunt – which leads to an unexpected competition between Vincent and another treasure seeker. After finding out that his wish as a teenager was to make a discovery, Cassie (Catherine Bell) encourages Sam (James Denton) to keep his eyes open for mysteries to unlock, starting with this newly discovered map. Grace (Bailee Madison) is hurt to discover that …

    The Comet: A wish-granting comet heads to Middleton, adding even more anticipation to the exciting graduation season in ‘The Comet.’ As the rest of the town thinks of their one wish, Cassie (Catherine Bell) just wants the best for Sam (James Denton) when he is offered a dream job across the country after successfully performing a tricky surgery. Grace (Bailee Madison) prepares for her valedictorian speech, while Nick (Rhys Matthew Bond) becomes unexpectedly nostalgic as high school wraps up. Abigail (Sarah Power) plans a trip to Europe to forget about her breakup with Donovan (…

    The Graduation: Grace and Nick’s graduation day arrives and Cassie tries her best to make the occasion truly magical.

    Series Six

    Curse from a Rose: Autumn Delaney, Cassie’s old roommate, comes to tamper with Middleton’s Halloween festival.

    The Anniversary: Cassie and Sam celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Cassie welcomes Grey House guest Joy, who seems to be spying on the Merriwicks.

    The Chili: A competitive Chili cook-off turns friends into frenemies; Martha’s Husband makes a startling announcement; Abigail’s Father returns to Middleton; Cassie discovers a buried message.

    The Clock: Cassie, Abigail and Joy browse an estate sale, where Joy hopes to find a clock for Martha’s renovation. Stephanie’s ex-husband, Wes, comes to town to pack up their shared cabin.

    The Dinner: Martha fills in as the local Dear Debbie advice columnist, getting an anonymous letter that adds intrigue during a progressive dinner attended by all of our Middleton couples.

    The Mandala: Cassie pursues a temporary art history professorship while Sam diagnoses Adam. Abigail and Donovan realize that the missing diamond from the Middleton treasure may help break the curse.

    The Dream: Sam successfully operates on Adam, but not without complications. Joy dreams that Abigail and Donovan break up, and against Cassie’s advice, tries to stop it from happening.

    The Tableau: Cassie displays Nathaniel Merriwick’s paintings for Grey House’s 225th birthday.

    The Chocolates: Hosting a chocolate festival at Grey House, Cassie welcomes Kenny the Chocolate King to Middleton.

    The Loft: Cassie invites her friends on a trip to Chicago to help them reconnect; Sam is called in to assist on a surgery.

    The Bird: Cassie and Martha smudge the mayor’s mansion for her housewarming gala; Abigail and Donovan reunite and put up a final fight against the Merriwick-Davenport curse.



  • Movie review: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)

    “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)

    Action

    Running Time: 161 minutes

    Written by: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole

    Directed by: Ryan Coogler

    Featuring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Angela Bassett

    [the Sub-Mariner appears]

    Ramonda: “Stop right there! Who are you? And how did you get in here?”

    Namor: [looks around] “This place is amazing. The air is pristine, and the water… My mother told me stories about a place like this, a protected land with people who never have to leave, who never have to change who they were. What reason do you have to reveal your secret to the world?”

    Ramonda: “I am not in the habit of repeating myself! Who are you?”

    Namor: “My people call me K’uk’ulkan. But my enemies call me Namor.”

    Released recently in cinemas “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) is the long awaited sequel to the Best Picture nominee “Black Panther” (2017) that was not only a global blockbuster but a critical darling. Now it is important to say up front that this new sequel is definitely not as good as its predecessor for a number of reasons which I will explain but because I will not offer any spoilers I will restrict this review to what has appeared in the trailers only with hints being given to everything else that happens in this movie which is saying something as it is a very long movie, and believe me you will notice it.

    Obviously the most obvious element of the movie is the fact that the star of the first instalment, Chadwick Boseman, died of cancer in 2020 which left not only Disney without a major star but also offered a challenge to the filmmakers in terms of what to do with the character and how to replace him either by recasting or by some other narrative invention. The powers that be in all their wisdom decided, out of respect (which I really don’t understand) to not recast the role but retire the character of T’Challa completely thereby needing someone else to fill those particular boots.

    So the basic story of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” begins with T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, who is dying from an illness which his sister, Shuri, believes can be cured by the “heart-shaped herb”. Shuri attempts to synthetically recreate the herb after it was destroyed by their cousin N’Jadaka but fails to do so before T’Challa succumbs.One year later, Wakanda is under pressure from other nations to share their vibranium, with some parties attempting to steal it by force. Queen Ramonda implores Shuri to continue her research on the heart-shaped herb, hoping to create a new Black Panther that will defend Wakanda, but she refuses due to her belief that the Black Panther is a figure of the past. In the Atlantic Ocean, the CIA and U.S. Navy SEALs utilize a vibranium-detecting machine to locate a potential vibranium deposit underwater. The expedition is attacked and killed by a group of blue-skinned water-breathing superhumans led by Namor, with the CIA believing Wakanda to be responsible. Namor confronts Ramonda and Shuri, easily bypassing Wakanda’s advanced security. Blaming Wakanda for the vibranium race, he gives them an ultimatum: deliver him the scientist responsible for the vibranium-detecting machine, or he will attack Wakanda.

    There are a few positives to take away from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, firstly the performances of all the main characters are on point, for me the highlights were Winston Duke as M’Baka who for me is woefully underused, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia who is sidelined and reintroduced in the most artificial way possible, Angela Bassett as the Queen of Wakanda and of course  Danai Gurira as Namor the new character to the MCU. Secondly, the general introduction and mythology of Namor is the high point in general of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, while it does deviate from the comic mythos which the MCU does play with in terms of many of its cinematic heroes and villains, this one is the most different and also the best. I won’t get into point by point differences but the deviations are not only logical and fit in within the MCU, but give a direct opposite to the Wakanadian introduction and mythology. I particulate liked the fact that many of Namor’s physical attributes such as his winged ankles and pointed ears have been kept when it may have been easier to jettison those, he remains in the real world a very good representation of his comic book look. Not only that but many of his people in this movie are directly from the comic book universe, in particular Attuma who has his own story, it should be interesting to see how this is played out in future movies. Thirdly, the rise (possibly) of M’Baku the most original character as well as someone to keep an eye on, in fact when he is introduced in this movie chewing on a carrot it is difficult to take your eyes off him and you wish he was in every scene from then on.

    There are however, some real negatives in this movie and they are not knew, and in fact these appear in many Marvel movies from the past and the first one is the sprawling narrative as well as an overly packed plot with too many characters that are almost all underserved or undermined. One of the main issues is the third act which involves a sea battle with all the main characters all fighting mostly faceless undersea warriors who feel disposable on a vessel that seems out of place on the water, juxtaposed with a smaller fight occurring inland. The stakes never once feel very real, in fact when this was all taking place I was hoping it would finish quickly. Of course if this movie is anyones it is Letitia Wright’s as the younger sibling Suri who is attempting to fill a lot of shoes as well as facing down her own need for some kind of revenge. For the most part her character arc is complete and he destiny seems set until the mid credit sequence which at once is possibly the most touching part of this movie, but also does something that I think is unforgivable in this day and age, it depowers her relationship with Wakanda and also seeks to undermine the person she has just become.

    This is Disney/Marvel’s 30th entry into the MCU that has been ongoing for over ten years, so there is nothing wrong with audiences having hight expectations especially when the previous entry was nominated for Best Picture. However, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” does suffer from a bloated plot, a messy narrative a big CGI battle at the end that serves none of the characters and seems tacked on to attempt to make the movie feel bigger than it actually is. There are two characters introduced within the narrative that for one, in Namor is served well, and is a highlight of the movie whilst the other, Riri is completely underserved and rushed, when the movie was finished I had trouble remembering her actual role at all.

    There is no doubt that audiences will be clamouring for a Namor movie, but as has been revealed that will be forthcoming in any quick fashion as it turns out that Disney does own the rights to that particular character, he can only appear in others movies, which explains his arrival here in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.

    I would say that it is completely fine to wait for this on a streamer, or even on a 4K disc, apart from a few highlights this does not reach the lofty heights of the original “Black Panther”.

  • DVD review: “Agatha Raisin: Season Four” (2021)

    “Agatha Raisin: Season Four” (2021)

    Thriller/Comedy

    Four Episodes

    Produced by: Barry Ryan, Michele Buck and David Walton based on Agatha Raisin by M. C. Beaton

    Featuring: Ashley Jensen, Katy Wix, Matthew Horne and Jamie Glover

    Agatha Raisin: “When confronted with someone who appears to be in a perpetual state of outrage, it is tempting for other people to wind them up. Besides, I have always found the most vociferous guardians of morality on matters of sex are those who aren’t getting any.”

    Released recently on DVD is the comedy/thriller/whodunnit series “Agatha Raisin: Season Four” (2021) based upon the novels by M.C. Beaton that moves the traditional detective story into a modern setting in a small village in the Cotswolds with an original character who used to run a PR company in the form of the titular Agatha Raisin.

    Agatha is full of contradictions. In her professional life, she expertly helped clients navigate the treacherous waters of fame, but at the personal level she’s awkward and something of a dingbat, desperate to fit into her adopted community.

    There are a few parts of “Agatha Raisin” to really enjoy, firstly is the casting of the titular character with comedian Ashley Jensen who has proven over the years on both sides of the Atlantic that she knows how to tailor a performance for not only a given character but also the kind of project she is appearing in. Here she Jas to balance a person who is totally out of balance as a whole but is in control when she compartmentalises her own narrative which is one of the reasons to watch this series and why it is so successful. The fact that Agatha has visits from her pals in London assists not only the storytelling but helps to give the main character a true backstory without pushing it so that it becomes artificial. Of course the stories help as does the aspect of who is the killer in each story and of course we are exposed to different parts of small town life real or imagined it does not really matter or detract from the entire series.

    Of course the fact that such a small town has such a high murder rate never comes into play as does the fact that the local constabulary are always incorrect in their conclusions but again does that hinder the enjoyment of this series? Not one iota, as it concentrates on what it means to be living in a small town, seemingly knowing more than the locals, although always relying on them to help in the solving of many mysteries.

    If you enjoy eating a series that is not all doom and gloom, in fact is anything but, except for the odd murder, then this is the show for you. It is more or less violence free with a healthy does of humour and could be considered family viewing as it is on the low end of scary or offensive. It tells a story that is becoming more popular that is people leaving high stress jobs, busy cities for a quieter life, which some would argue does not really exist.

    Episodes:

    Kissing Christmas Goodbye: Agatha’s in need of a well-earned break and with Christmas just around the corner it looks like the perfect opportunity to relax. When she receives a letter from an old lady begging for protection, she can’t help but spring into action.

    Love, Lies and Liquor: James has finally returned to Carsely and promised to whisk Agatha away on holiday where she can help him write his next novel. When a hotel guest is found murdered, it’s up to Agatha to prove who the killer is.

    A Spoonful of Poison: The competition to be crowned winner of the Carsely Jam-Off has always been fierce, but when the prize jam is poisoned leading to the death of a judge, Agatha resolves to restore the competition’s name.

    There Goes the Bride: Agatha reluctantly promises to support James by attending his wedding. However, when a body is found during the morning of the big day, it’s up to Agatha and the gang to come to the rescue.

  • Blu-ray review: Essential Film Noir Collection 3 (1946 – 1955)

    Essential Film Noir Collection 3 (1946 – 1955)

    Film Noir

    Contains the following:

    The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) 

    Written by: Robert Rossen

    Directed by: Lewis Milestone

    Featuring: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas

    Toni Marachek: “You know what probation is?”

    Sam Masterson: “Oh sure, a knife stickin’ in your back.”

    In 1928, young heiress Martha Ivers fails to run off with friend Sam Masterson, and is involved in fatal events. Years later, Sam returns to find Martha the power behind Iverstown and married to “good boy” Walter O’Neil, now district attorney. At first, Sam is more interested in displaced blonde Toni Marachek than in his boyhood friends; but they draw him into a convoluted web of plotting and cross-purposes.

    Video Review

    “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” has been available for years on DVD as it was in the public domain and was able to be released by any distributor, resulting in terrible looking transfers that turned off viewers from this classic film noir. The 2012 Blu-ray from Film Chest provided a remastered transfer supposedly sourced from original 35mm elements, but the liberal application of DNR gave the principals a waxy look, while several missing frames disrupted the film’s flow. This new 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 rendering outclasses all previous releases, making it well worth an upgrade if you’re a fan of the movie.

    Despite the remastering, there is a large amount of print damage, mostly in the form of faint white and black vertical lines, still remains, but that’s a small price to pay for a film-like image that flaunts excellent clarity, contrast, and shadow delineation. The picture is definitely darker than the 2012 Blu-ray, but it looks more natural, thanks to an organic grain structure, rich blacks, more balanced and stable whites, and nicely varied grays that help bring fine details into focus. Falling rain, costume fabrics, and close-ups are all nicely defined, and though a bit of crush creeps in from time to time, it never overwhelms the frame. Some scenes exhibit more softness and texture than others, but the image remains surprisingly consistent throughout.

    Special Features 

    • 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-Ray from a 4K scan by Paramount Pictures
    • NEW Audio commentary by Film Noir Foundation board member Alan K. Rode (2022)
    • Introduction with Kirk Douglas & Alan Rode
    • NEW Barbara Stanwyck: From Stage to Screen to Legend with Alan K. Rode (2022)
    • NEW Domestic Terror: Barbara Stanwyck and the Gothic Noir – video essay by Kat Ellinger (2022)
    • Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line – documentary
    • Theatrical Trailer

    No Man of Her Own (1950)

    Written by: Sally Benson and Catherine Turney based on the novel I Married a Dead Man by Cornell Woolrich

    Directed by: Mitchell Leisen

    Featuring: Barbara Stanwyck, John Lund, Phyllis Thaxter, Jane Cowl and Lyle Bettger

    Helen Ferguson: [voice over] “Summer nights are pleasant in Caulfield. They smell of heliotrope and jasmine, honeysuckle and clover. The breeze that stirs the curtains are soft and gentle. There’s the hush… the stillness of perfect peace and security. Oh, yes, the summer nights are pleasant in Caulfield, but not for us. Not for us.”

    A woman is torn between a comfortable lie and the painful truth in this classic Film Noir. Screen legend Barbara Stanwyck assumes another woman’s identity after surviving a train accident in this haunting drama based on a Cornell Woolrich (under the pseudonym, William Irish) novel, I Married a Dead Man. Eventually her past catches up to her when her crooked ex-lover (Lyle Bettger) arrives in town, demanding money to keep her true identity a secret.

    Video Review

    A sharp image distinguishes the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 “No Man of Her Own” transfer, but pervasive print damage significantly dulls its impact. Almost constant speckling that fluctuates in intensity often mars the cinematography of Daniel L. Fapp. Scratches and blotches frequently crop up as well, but during the clean stretches, it’s easy to appreciate the excellent clarity and contrast, deep blacks, crisp whites, and nicely varied grays, all of which produce a pleasing picture that exhibits a fair amount of depth. The natural grain structure preserves the feel of celluloid, details in costume fabrics and bits of decor are easy to discern, and an array of lovely close-ups render fine facial features well.

    Special Features

    • 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-Ray by Paramount Pictures
    • NEW Audio commentary by film historian Drew Casper (2022)
    • NEW Writer, broadcaster and journalist Barry Forshaw on No Man of Her Own (2022)
    • The Screen Director’s Playhouse: No Man of Her Own – radio drama starring Barbara Stanwyck and Lyle Bettger (1950)
    • Theatrical Trailer

    The Turning Point (1952)

    Written by: Warren Duff

    Directed by: William Dieterle

    Featuring: William Holden, Edmond O’Brien and Alexis Smith

    Amanda Waycross: “Isn’t it a tragic thing if the people all over this nation can be told that a man like Eichelberger can tear a man like you apart with his dirty fingers. What are we coming to Johnny, when a man like that can do this to all of us?”

    Prosecutor John Conroy (Edmond O’Brien) is determined to bring down organized crime in his Midwestern town. He looks to his father, Matt (Tom Tully), a police officer, for help, but Matt refuses. John’s childhood friend Jerry McKibbon (William Holden), an investigative reporter, senses something fishy.

    Video Review

    Remastered in HD by Paramount Pictures from a 4K scan of the original 35mm film elements, “The Turning Point” looks terrific on Blu-ray. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer boasts superior clarity, contrast, and grayscale, all of which produce a picture that brims with depth and vibrancy. Rich blacks and bright, stable whites anchor the image, an organic and consistent grain structure preserves the feel of celluloid, and excellent shadow delineation keeps crush at bay. Exterior shots seamlessly blend with studio-lit interiors, highlighting the deft, naturalistic cinematography.

    Special Features

    • 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-Ray by Paramount Pictures
    • NEW Audio commentary by film historian Drew Casper (2022)
    • NEW Writer, broadcaster and journalist Barry Forshaw on No Man of Her Own (2022)
    • The Screen Director’s Playhouse: No Man of Her Own – radio drama starring Barbara Stanwyck and Lyle Bettger (1950)
    • Theatrical Trailer

    The Desperate Hours (1955)

    Written by: Joseph Hayes and Jay Dratler based on the 1954 novel The Desperate Hours and 1955 play The Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes

    Featuring: Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March

    Glenn Griffin: “I got my guts full of you shiny-shoed wise guys with handkerchiefs in their pockets!”

    Director William Wyler’s suspense classic marks the only time cinema giants Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March worked together. And the result is everything you’d expect: taut, terrifying and terrific. Bogart plays an escaped con who has nothing to lose. March is a suburban Everyman who has everything to lose, as his family is held hostage by Bogart. As the desperate hours tick by, the two men square off in a battle of wills and cunning that tightens into an unforgettable, fear-drenched finale.

    Video Review

    Filmed in VistaVision, the enhanced definition widescreen process that Paramount pioneered in the 1950s and reserved for its flagship productions, “The Desperate Hours” jumps off the screen, even in black-and-white. The wow factor is in full force from the moment the opening credits begin to roll and it never wanes over the course of the film’s almost two-hour running time. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer flaunts an alluring dimensional quality that enhances depth, heightens the sheen of auto paint, and helps costume patterns and fabrics pop. A natural yet faint grain structure maintains the film-like feel and preserves the integrity of the cinematography of Lee Garmes, who won an Oscar almost 25 years earlier for 1932’s Shanghai Express. Terrific clarity and contrast, inky blacks, crisp whites, and beautifully varied grays produce a dazzling, well-balanced picture, though isolated instances of softness occasionally crop up. Excellent shadow delineation keeps crush at bay, reflections in mirrors and glass are well defined, and razor-sharp close-ups showcase all the careworn wrinkles and crow’s feet on March’s face, as well as Bogart’s omnipresent stubble, baggy eyes, and unkempt appearance.

    Special Features

    • 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-Ray
    • NEW Audio commentary by film historian Kevin Lyons (2022)
    • NEW Writer, broadcaster and journalist Barry Forshaw on The Desperate Hours (2022)
    • Theatrical Trailer
  • DVD Review: “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 3”

    “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 3”

    Television

    Fifty-Six Episodes

    Developed by: Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim

    Featuring: Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill and Tim Kang

    Detective Gordon Katsumoto: “Still don’t get why you guys are doing this.”

    Thomas Magnum: “Mike and Terry wanted to free these people, and it cost them their lives. We didn’t know them but they’re still our brothers. We’re going to finish what they started.”

    Released recently on DVD is the reimagining of the long running 1980s television series “Magnum” (1980-1988) that featured and made a star out of its leading man Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum. This new boxset, “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 3”, features Jay Hernandez in the titular role as a private investigator based in Hawaii who solves cases with the help of an eclectic group of friends and other contacts he has built up over the years.

    This new iteration of “Magnum P.I.” centres on Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez), a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business. The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins (Perdita Weeks), a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans.

    As with the original series, “Magnum P.I”. revolves around Thomas Magnum, an ex-United States Navy SEAL who occupies the guest house on Robin’s Nest, the Hawaiian Estate owned by famous author Robin Masters. In exchange for allowing Magnum to live in his guest house, Masters writes a fictional book series about a “White knight” centered around Magnum’s time in the military. In addition, Magnum works for Masters as a security consultant; despite this, Masters never appears in the series. Also living on the estate are Juliet Higgins, an ex-MI6 Agent who serves as the estates majordomo, and native Hawaiian Kumu Tuileta, who is the estate’s cultural curator. In his off time Magnum solves crimes as a private investigator, often with Higgins who officially joins him as his partner in the second season. The two are frequently assisted by ex-United States Marines, Orville “Rick” Wright and Theodore “T.C.” Calvin. Rick is now a bar owner, while T.C. is a pilot whose main business is running helicopter tours of the islands. Gordon Katsumoto is a detective for the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) who frequently disagrees with Magnum’s investigation methods, but nonetheless respects his crime solving expertise.

    All the reboot pieces are in place: Jay Hernandez is the new Tom Selleck. He’s a private investigator living in the guest house of an unseen millionaire’s mansion, and he’s working with a team of ex-military buds to keep the peace in Hawaii. This Magnum is lacking a mustache, but he’s still a charming Lothario who fits in a few critical shirtless scenes between skydiving in outer space and jumping from a speeding car to a flying helicopter without breaking a sweat.

    Hernandez gives off the natural charisma needed to carry a procedural, and his cohorts are given brief moments to shine. The action scenes are so-so, even as the special effects are not that convincing but I assume this comes to the budget of the series overall. This new reboot fits within the new CBS model: easily digestible, easy-to-follow episodic action not far-removed from the network’s mothership formula, “NCIS.” To point out the flaws is pointless, given that things like disposable characters and questionable living expenses are baked into the recipe.

    Episodes

    Season One

    I Saw the Sun Rise: Former Navy SEAL Thomas Magnum settles into his new life as a private investigator and is pulled into a quest for vengeance and a hunt for Iraqi gold when a former war comrade is murdered.

    From the Head Down: Magnum helps a struggling fisherman when his 30-pound tuna worth $350,000 is stolen, and discovers that the thief needs Magnum’s help too.

    The Woman Who Never Died: Magnum is hired to find out the true identity of a man’s comatose fiancée when he learns that she’s had extensive facial surgery.

    Six Paintings, One Frame: Magnum is arrested as the main suspect when a close friend of Higgins, an art connoisseur who hired Thomas to test his security, is murdered.

    Sudden Death: TC asks Magnum to take on a case to help acquit the father of one of his young football players who is accused of murder.

    Death Is Only Temporary: An aging tycoon asks Magnum to find his lost love, who supposedly died 30 years ago; Rick and TC help an injured vet adjust to civilian life.

    The Cat Who Cried Wolf: Magnum takes the case of a little girl’s missing cat and, in the process, stumbles upon another cat’s murdered owner who happens to be an FBI agent.

    Die He Said: A man dying of lymphoma hires Magnum to find his estranged, bone-marrow-compatible brother, who also needs his help.

    The Ties That Bind: Magnum draws on his past trauma as a POW when he’s called in to help a teenage kidnap victim who escaped her captors.

    Bad Day to Be a Hero: Magnum must help Rick’s crush after her illegal poker game is robbed by masked gunmen.

    Nowhere to Hide: Higgins’ and Kumu’s lives are put in danger when Magnum get too close to a case involving a missing Russian fugitive.

    Winner Takes All: Magnum and every other private investigator and bounty hunter are tasked to track down a man accused of murder.

    Day of the Viper: Magnum helps Higgins find “the Viper,” the assassin who killed her true love.

    I, the Deceased: Magnum investigates the murder of a man who, pre-death, hires Thomas to find his killer.

    Day the Past Came Back: After Magnum is kidnapped, he discovers that his ex is on the island planning to steal a fortune in gold.

    Murder Is Never Quiet: Magnum is hired by a woman to prove that her son didn’t kill his girlfriend, and has only 24 hours.

    Black Is the Widow: Magnum poses as a doctor on a dating app in order to find a killer who may be preying on wealthy men.

    A Kiss Before Dying: When the Dobermans dig up what appears to be a human bone, Magnum and Higgins help Katsumoto investigate the murder of his former mentor.

    Blood in the Water: Magnum and Higgins are stranded at sea after being “yacht-jacked,” and must reach land before Higgins bleeds out and the culprits return to finish them off.

    The Day It All Came Together: Hannah, Magnum’s fugitive ex, asks him for help finding her missing CIA father.

    Season Two

    Payback for Beginners: While Magnum waits for Higgins to decide if she’ll officially become his partner, he takes the case of a missing wife who witnessed her boss’ murder during a bank robbery.

    Honor Among Thieves: An incorrigible pickpocket asks Magnum for help when a cell phone he recently lifted receives a very suspicious text message; When Rick decides to make a bold career move, TC comes to the rescue.

    Knight Lasts Forever: Kumu and Higgins are in danger when Robin’s Nest is under siege by mercenaries storming the estate in order to find out the true identity of the White Knight, Robin’s muse and literary hero.

    Dead Inside: When Katsumoto suspects that one of his fellow cops is dirty and has stolen evidence, he begrudgingly asks Magnum and Higgins for help; Rick and TC help Los Angeles Rams defensive Aaron Donald recover his stolen tablet.

    Make It ’til Dawn: On Halloween, Magnum and Jin search for a skip-tracer at a Halloween bash, just as Katsumoto tracks an escaped killer who is headed to that same party.

    Lie, Cheat, Steal, Kill: Magnum must help Abby when she realizes that the client she successfully defended in a murder trial is actually guilty.

    The Man in the Secret Room: While Magnum temporarily works as the head of a hotel’s security, he investigates the death of a guest who was thrown from her room’s balcony while working on a secret investigation of her own.

    He Came by Night: Magnum and Higgins’ new partnership is tested when they disagree about being hired by a woman who wants them to recover her $3 million in stolen drug money in order to save her husband’s life.

    A Bullet Named Fate: A guilt-ridden Magnum follows the clues Harry Brown left behind when he was shot while working a case Thomas passed onto him.

    Blood Brothers: Magnum, flooded with memories of his tour in Afghanistan, helps his fallen friend’s brother search for a now-grown Afghan boy who may have been a victim of trafficking.

    Day I Met the Devil: Magnum is called up from the reserves for a top secret mission, but his friends are stunned when they learn that the mission is a lie and Magnum has been set up.

    Desperate Measures: Magnum and Higgins help Tani Rey and Quinn Liu rescue Junior Reigns, who’s been kidnapped as leverage for the stolen list of undercover CIA agents.

    Mondays Are for Murder: Magnum and TC go undercover as efficiency experts when a corporate manager is murdered and everyone in the office is a suspect; Rick is curious why Higgins faked an injury to prevent her from investigating the case with Thomas.

    A Game of Cat and Mouse: When Jin learns that an innocent woman is the target of a deadly hit, he asks Magnum and Higgins to help save her.

    Say Hello to Your Past: Magnum and Higgins must find Kumu when she’s kidnapped by an injured man accused of killing his wife.

    Farewell to Love: Magnum and Higgins are undercover as a couple on a romantic bus tour when one of the love birds on the trip is murdered; TC is shaken when he runs into his ex-girlfriend who’s visiting the island on her honeymoon.

    The Night Has Eyes: Magnum and Higgins search for a stolen urn of a woman’s deceased husband, but find that others believe it’s worth killing for; Rick and TC confront a man impersonating football legend Andre Reed.

    A World of Trouble: As their wedding day approaches, Magnum and Higgins help a modern-day Robin Hood who, thinking she was helping a school, unknowingly steal illicit drugs; Rick helps a retired Marine re-enter the workforce as a civilian.

    May the Best One Win: Magnum and Higgins are each hired by a different spouse who are in the middle of a contentious divorce to dig up dirt on the other; Rick and TC look into the death of an unidentified man.

    A Leopard on the Prowl: Magnum and Higgins help Rick when his father figure, Icepick, just out of prison and battling terminal cancer, gets double crossed on one last score; Magnum makes one last bold move to help Higgins stay in the country.

    Season Three

    Double Jeopardy: Magnum and Higgins’ new clients hire them to find their missing brother, leading to Higgins being shot and TC abducted when a secret case of revenge is revealed during the investigation.

    Easy Money: Higgins job to repo a plane goes south when she and Magnum discover that it was being used by a drug cartel who opens fire at the plane, forcing them to crash land in the jungle, where they find a stowaway on board.

    No Way Out: As Magnum, Higgins and TC try to pull one over on a customs agent to get Higgins a green card, armed gunmen suddenly storm the federal building and start taking hostages.

    First the Beatdown, Then the Blowback: Magnum and Higgins help an up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighter who is being pressured by a gang to throw an illegal fight. Kumu is arrested for stealing an artifact that should be returned to its resting place.

    The Day Danger Walked In: As a major hurricane hits the Island, Magnum and his friends find shelter inside La Mariana, along with two armed killers also escaping the dangerous storm.

    Tell No One: When a wealthy man hires Magnum and Higgins to find his missing wife, they are stunned when a tragedy occurs as a result of their investigation. Kumu’s suspicion of Maleah’s boyfriend creates a divide in their new relationship.

    Killer on the Midnight Watch: When an overenthusiastic neighborhood watch group asks Magnum and Higgins to investigate a shady character living on their block, they are shocked to find that they may have inadvertently stumbled upon a serial killer on the loose.

    Someone to Watch Over Me: When a young man in need of emergency surgery goes missing with a bullet lodged in his chest, Ethan asks Magnum and Higgins to find him before it’s too late. TC talks to a military recruit who may be enlisting for the wrong reasons.

    The Big Payback: When Higgins is abducted, Magnum discovers it’s retaliation related to one of his first cases on the Island, and he, Rick and TC must break out an ex-client from prison in order to save her.

    The Long Way Home: When an Army ranger goes missing after returning from deployment, Magnum learns of the traumatic news he received upon arriving home and must find him before survivor’s guilt consumes him.

    The Lies We Tell: When a married woman asks Magnum and Higgins to find her lover’s killer, they find that the victim wasn’t who he claimed to be. Rick visits Icepick, whose health takes a turn for the worse.

    Dark Harvest: When a Marine Corps vet’s SUV is stolen with her service dog inside, Magnum and Higgins must find the car, the dog and the car thief who they believe may be an escaped kidnapping victim.

    Cry Murder: As Magnum and Higgins work a case to recover valuable stolen truffles, they also must care for a baby left abandoned at the gates of their estate, while Kumu tries to locate the infant’s mother.

    Whispers of Death: A psychic hires Magnum and Higgins to prevent a murder she claims to have foreseen. Katsumoto questions Kumu when her information is found on recovered stolen jewels that once belonged to the infamous Imelda Marcos.

    Before the Fall: Magnum’s uncle visits and reveals a shocking secret about his mother. TC asks Higgins for help when he realizes he may have witnessed a potential murder from his helicopter. Higgins decides it’s time to tell Ethan the truth about her past.

    Bloodline: Magnum and Higgins work a stalking case involving a man with a past in espionage. Ethan asks Higgins to join him on an extended trip for Doctors Without Borders just as Magnum starts to open up to other possibilities.

  • DVD review: “Nurse Jackie” (2009-2015)

    “Nurse Jackie” (2009-2015)

    Television

    Eighty Episodes

    Created by: Liz Brixius, Linda Wallem and Evan Dunsky

    Featuring: Edie Falco, Eve Best, Merritt Wever, Haaz Sleiman, Paul Schulze, Peter Facinelli, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith, Ruby Jerins, Mackenzie Aladjem, Stephen Wallem, Betty Gilpin and Adam Ferrara

    Nurse Jackie: “This job is wading through a storm of people, who come into this place on the worst days of their lives.”

    Released recently on DVD is the dramedy “Nurse Jackie” (2009-2015) that featured in the titular role Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, an emergency department nurse at All Saints’ Hospital in New York City. Whilst this was not the first role Falco performed since “The Sopranos” (1999–2007) had finished, it was her first major one. Not only that but it would show a different side of her talents as well as her definitely being the lead, unlike her previous role as Carmela Soprano who for much of the time seemed to be a support to her husband Tony Soprano. Carmela often walked a fine line between being the antihero of “The Sopranos” and an outright villain, here in “Nurse Jackie” she does something similar although the quality of the show waivers unlike her previous effort.

    During the seven season we witness a recidivist prescription-painkiller addict empowered by professional knowledge and personal cunning, Jackie was often far from a good person morally. Yet she was exceptionally good at her job, on which lives depended, and she could be a sincerely and selflessly good mother and friend, especially if you weren’t standing between her and what she wanted. Jackie’s weakness, her failings and her awareness of them, sometimes made her better: more understanding, more perceptive, able to deal with and accept the failings in others because she saw them in herself.

    The show had a myriad of characters as well as some very talented actors to portray them. The main characters were Dr. Eleanor O’Hara (Eve Best), a British doctor and Jackie’s best friend at work; Zoey Barkow (Merritt Wever), a spunky, inexperienced nursing student from a community college, someone that shone as she was juxtaposed against Jackie’s hard edges; Dr. Fitch Cooper (Peter Facileness), a likable ‘golden boy’ whose calm façade hides a nervous disposition; and Eddie Walzer (Paul Schulze), a pharmacist with whom Jackie is having an affair at the beginning of the series. Other characters include the officious hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), Jackie’s bar owner husband Kevin (Dominic Fumusa), their daughters Grace (Ruby Jerins) and Fiona (Daisy Tahan in season 1 and Mackenzie Aladjem in seasons 2 through 7), and Thor (Stephen Wallem), Jackie’s kindhearted confidant.

    “Nurse Jackie” was a very good series that walked a tightrope of drama and comedy like most great series do, it may have benefited from concluding its run around fifth season to keep audiences wanting more but the fact that it reached a season seven says something about not only the people behind the production but the viewers who mostly embraced it for the life of the series.

    Episodes

    Season One

    Pilot: Nurse Jackie Peyton is a hardworking and dedicated ER nurse. She has a bad back, is married with two kids, but fools around and puts altogether too many hours in at work. She also has good judgment and knows more than some of the doctors. When she tells Dr. Cooper that she suspects a bicycle messenger brought in following an accident of having a brain bleed, he blows her off. She decides that something good will come out of the situation regardless. Similarly, when she learns that a diplomat who attacked a hooker will not be charged because of his diplomatic immunity…

    Sweet-N-All: With a nursing student in tow, Jackie deals with the usual variety of emergency cases including a child who has an accident on his bike but wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time and a woman whose oxygen tank exploded when she lit a cigarette. Dr. Cooper actually makes a correct diagnosis. Gloria Akalitus has an interesting day at work when she takes Jackie’s coffee sweetener, which has no sweetener in it, but rather crushed up pain killers. Student nurse Zoey Barkow is worried when she finds the diplomat’s ear in the toilet and it’s suggested she may have put it there.

    Chicken Soup: Jackie and her husband fear that their daughter may be suffering from anxiety, and Jackie confides her concerns with Dr. O’Hara. An elderly man who has chosen to treat his heart failure with chicken soup comes to the hospital for his treatment. Also Jackie’s pharmacist boyfriend lets her know he’s being replaced by an automated pill dispenser.

    School Nurse: Jackie and Kevin are summoned to their daughters’ school for a parent-teacher conference, where they are told that their older daughter Grace is suffering from anxiety disorder. Jackie does not respond well to the news and attacks the school nurse. At the hospital, a young boy with a twin brother is brought in after an accident, and Mohammed confides to Zoey that he once had a twin. Zoey experiences her first death of a patient.

    Daffodil: Jackie and Zoey are working the night shift when a ten-year-old girl brings her lupus-stricken mother to the emergency room. A stroke patient needs Jackie’s help in getting peace from his family, Dr. O’Hara takes Zoey out to dinner, and Mo-Mo plays games with his stalking admirer, Thor.

    Tiny Bubbles: A former nurse in the hospital returns, sick from lung cancer and with a favor to ask of her friend Jackie. Dr. Cooper’s mother is wheeled into the ER with abdominal pains – with his other mom at her side. Mrs. Akalitus is once again on the hunt for any wrongdoing.

    Steak Knife: Eddie surprises Jackie with a present for their first anniversary. A woman brings her date to the emergency room after he has been stabbed by her ex-husband. Mrs. Akalitus discovers an abandoned baby. Dr. O’Hara is feeling miserable, and Jackie is her only refuge.

    Pupil: The emergency room is four nurses short, and Jackie runs a tight ship. A male temp seems to be unusually slow or dim until Zoey discovers that he may be on drugs. On top of everything, Grace has a panic attack at school, and Jackie accidentally lets it slip that she has a daughter.

    Nose Bleed: Jackie spends time with her family, but when she has to go to work her daughter Grace makes a scene. At the hospital Jackie helps a homeless who collapses on the sidewalk with a badly infected foot, and she makes sure a young man who is brought in brain-dead becomes an organ donor. Akalitus is considering adopting the abandoned baby she has been taking care of, but then the parents turn up.

    Ring Finger: Jackie forgets to remove her wedding ring before coming to work, and now she can’t seem to get it off her finger. A young man is brought to the ER with cardiac arrest, and Jackie uses his cell phone to contact his girlfriend. Zoey walks in on Jackie and Eddie, and Dr. Cooper puts pressure on Jackie over paperwork for the organ donor she secured in the last episode.

    Pill-O-Matix: Jackie embarrasses her daughter by telling off another girl at mother-daughter tap class. An automatic pill dispenser replaces Eddie at the emergency room and leaves him hoping for a different kind of relationship with Jackie. Dr. Cooper, too, has fallen for Jackie after she kissed him. A well-known film critic is admitted with a broken arm, and Mo-Mo helps a young man with a spider trapped in his ear.

    Health Care and Cinema: The film critic remains in a coma, and Zoey is in a somber mood. Mrs. Akalitus launches an investigation, but only after she gets stuck in an elevator. Dr. O’Hara flies her sick mother in from London. After following Jackie after work, Eddie goes to her husbands bar to get a drink.

    Season Two

    Comfort Food: Jackie is spending time with her family at the beach but still shows that she’s in charge. At the hospital, Gloria is concerned with the growing disappearance of drugs and gets Jackie to give training to staff on how the properly use the dispensing system. Dr. Cooper lodges a formal complaint against her and she comes within inches of being shot when a deranged patient fires their gun at no one in particular. Eddie is still trying to contact her but she ignores him completely. Until he finds a way to get her attention that she simply cannot avoid.

    Twitter: Dr. O’Hara shows up at work still high on the Ecstasy she took the night before. Jackie deals with a young boy who may have a serious respiratory problem. His parents are thrilled when Jackie says they can do the necessary tests at All Saints but may have sent them home too early. Having recovered from his suicide attempt, Eddie visits Jackie’s husband Kevin at the bar. Nurse Sam begins to ask if either Jackie or Dr. O’Hara have a drug problem. Dr. Cooper has taken to twittering and it’s driving Jackie crazy.

    Candyland: Everyone at the hospital is put out – especially Dr. O’Hara – when Dr. Cooper is listed in a monthly magazine as one of the 25 best doctors in Manhattan. Jackie is less than pleased when Kaitlin shows up on a play date at her house. She’s even less pleased when Kaitlin sees her snorting a line. At the hospital, she’s almost caught taking drugs out of the dispensary using Zoey’s access number. Back at home, she’s dumbfounded when she sees who husband Kevin’s new friend is.

    Apple Bong: Jackie is still incensed at having found Eddie in her house and tells him to stay away; he’s not very receptive to the idea. Zoey performs brilliantly when a young child is brought in unable to breathe. A patient with stage 3 lymphoma is brought to the hospital but Dr. Cooper doesn’t react well to Jackie’s suggested treatment. She decides to help him out anyways. Dr. O’Hara and self-confessed sex addict Sam take it to the next level.

    Caregiver: Jackie is mad a husband Kevin when he reveals that he went to the movies with Ginny Flynn and the kids during the children’s play date. Jackie decides to sleep on the couch. At the hospital, Gloria Akalitus is still concerned about the seepage in the drug lockup and posts a security guard at the machine, which doesn’t seem to do much good. Sam still pursues Dr. O’Hara, who saw it all as a one night stand. O’Hara also reveals to Jackie that she knows a famous international TV news correspondent. Akalitus asks Dr. Cooper if he will be the face of a new promotional …

    Bleeding: Jackie sleeps with Eddie at his apartment and tells him to stop seeing Kevin. Posters with Dr. Cooper’s face are plastered all over the city, much to the disgust of Jackie and Dr. O’Hara. Jackie treats a female Iraq war vet with PTSD. Dr. O’Hara’s ex, Sarah Khouri, comes to town and they’re back on. With Eddie and the Pill-O-Matix becoming less reliable sources, Jackie finds ways to get pills. Eddie ignores Jackie’s request and invites Kevin out. Jackie allows Fiona to have a fake cast on her arm for her birthday.

    Silly String: Post-birthday party, Fiona busts her lip open on her cast and Dr. O’Hara and Jackie stitch her up in the Peyton kitchen. Jackie notices Sarah Khouri’s philandering behavior and brings up her concerns to Dr. O’Hara. Libby Sussman, the uber-patron of All Saints, is brought into the ER.

    Monkey Bits: Jackie deals with Fiona’s teacher’s concerns and suspicions about her busted lip and cast. Dr. Cooper sets his friend Georgia up with Eddie. Dr. O’Hara, having once again ended things with Sarah, takes comfort with spending time with Jackie and her family in Queens.

    P.O. Box: Jackie tells Kevin she wants to send Fiona to Immaculate with Grace. Kevin makes Jackie promise not to accept money from Dr. O’Hara. Jackie rents a P.O. Box in order to safely receive her secret credit card bill that she’s now using to pay for prescriptions.

    Sleeping Dogs: Jackie is discovered getting a phony prescription, while Eddie returns to All Saints, and Coop laments the end of his star-making media campaign.

    What the Day Brings: After avoiding Eddie, O’Hara and the drug dealer who has come looking for his stolen pills, Jackie takes off early for a family vacation upstate. But when Jackie misplaces the stash of pills she brought to get her through the vacation, she starts to unravel bit by bit.

    Years of Service: After a disastrous family vacation, Jackie returns to work for a day of reckoning. The mounting pressures and conflicts in her personal and professional lives reach a boiling point. Unexpected alliances lead to revelations that even Jackie can’t avoid. Between Dr. O’Hara, Eddie, Kevin and the drug dealer, the wagons are circling around Jackie Peyton.

    Season Three

    Game On: Jackie’s marriage is strained, as is her relationship with O’Hara after the intervention; Akalitus warns the staff that nearby hospitals have closed down, straining the staff and resources; Zoey publicly confesses her affair with Lenny.

    Enough Rope: Eddie tells Jackie he can’t keep lying to Kevin, whom he now considers a real friend. Akalitus announces that All Saints is vying for a visit from Michelle Obama and confides to Jackie that O’Hara is looking for work at another hospital. Coop tries to bury the hatchet with Sam. The rift between Jackie and O’Hara softens when Jackie tells her that she’ll follow her to any hospital just to be near her. Kevin tells Jackie his buddy Eddie called and is out of a job and asks if she can put in a good word for him at All Saints.

    Play Me: Much to Jackie’s surprise, Kevin’s younger sister, Tunie, shows up in the girls’ bedroom, freshly hungover and tragically heartbroken after being dumped by her pilot boyfriend. On their way to work, Jackie tells Eddie she thinks Kevin installed Tunie to monitor her in the wake of his intervention. Lenny prepares Zoey a romantic picnic lunch only to crack her tooth when she bites into a sandwich where he’s hidden his house key. Zoey talks things over with God, who’s set up a makeshift piano bar in the ambulance bay. At the hospital, a Jewish Orthodox husband fights …

    Mitten: Jackie’s back in the swing of things, having re-hidden her stash of pills in the basement and mended fences with O’Hara. Zoey’s working her first double and Jackie worries about her burning out. Lou, an out-of-work salesman, comes into the hospital and wins everyone over. O’Hara accepts the title of ER chief, which sparks a competitive streak in Coop. Kevin invites Eddie to a backyard barbecue to celebrate his new job. When Jackie gets home, she sees empty closets and drawers and panics-did Kevin leave her? She finds out he went to an Al-Anon meeting and the drawers …

    Rat Falls: Jackie is on edge after realizing the stash of pills she stole from Bill the epileptic drug dealer is quickly dwindling. With a head of steam, Jackie confronts Eddie about his recent text exchanges with Kevin’s younger sister, Tunie. Eddie maintains that it’s completely innocent, while making the point that Jackie has no leg to stand on. Coop remains determined to battle O’Hara for the ER Chief title, but suffers a huge emotional blow when his mothers announce they’re divorcing. Lou, the down-on-his-luck salesman, returns to the ER much worse for the wear. Akalitus …

    When the Saints Go: As Jackie’s supply of pills starts to dwindle, her strategies become more intense and secretive. At All Saints, the saints from the chapel are being removed and carted off by the diocese. Between this, the lack of pills, her spiraling lack of control, and the saints leaving the building, Jackie finds herself unable to even walk through her own front door at the end of the day.

    Orchids and Salami: Jackie soothes Grace’s anxiety about the upcoming saint pageant. Kelly continues to win over the All Saints crew. Zoey connects with a twelve-year-old boy whose mother was brought in as a drug overdose. A Native American patient momentarily lifts Coop’s depression. Jackie pockets a Fentynal delivery that was meant for Oncology. Kevin confronts Jackie with the dental floss/drug stash he found.

    The Astonishing: Jackie visits Bill at his diner only to find that he has no pills for her. While helping Akalitus, Thor helps her face a deeper fear. Two drunk high school girls arrive in the ER after one of them face plants on the sidewalk. Coop is attempting to throw away his childish things that have cluttered his office. Jackie needs to get to Immaculate Virgin to see Grace perform in the Saint Pageant.

    Have You Met Ms. Jones?: With Jackie’s drug hookup crushed under a truck, she’s run out of pills. Eddie confronts Kelly about the missing Fentanyl patches. Kelly follows protocol to the letter. Coop sets his sights on an old girlfriend. Zoey assesses the seriousness of her relationship with Lenny. O’Hara finally settles down enough to purchase an apartment. Jackie finds what she needs on the walk home from work.

    Fuck the Lemurs: The Peytons meet with Grace’s psychiatrist Dr. Bowen. When Jackie asks Eddie if he can fill Grace’s scrip, he’s cagey. Akalitus pulls Jackie off a case and tells her that she’s putting her on probation. O’Hara and Jackie argue in front of the staff. Coop asks Akalitus if he can reserve the chapel for his wedding. Kevin promises to be home but doesn’t make it back until after Jackie is asleep.

    Batting Practice: Kevin takes off to batting practice where he meets Eddie. Eddie is sure Kevin knows about him and Jackie. Jackie, still sober is trying to get through her probation. Coop has a hard time getting Eddie to agree to be his best man. Zoey throws a party for Nurses Appreciation Week. Kelly and Jackie tag team a trauma where Jackie is forced to confess her probation.

    …Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test: Akalitus is all over the staff: HR has mandated a urine sample from all the nurses. Jackie keeps dodging her. Coop’s wedding is today and Jackie has forgotten to get the cake. Jackie is avoiding the inevitable conversation her husband is determined to have with her. Coop’s bride stands him up at the altar. Akalitus finally gets Jackie to take a pee test just as Kevin arrives at the hospital.

    Season Four

    Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black: Jackie realizes she needs professional help, while All Saints is taken over by a corporation whose new director makes a shocking personnel change. Kevin does not react well when he learns the truth about Jackie and Eddie.

    Disneyland Sucks: Jackie detoxes in rehab and forges a surprising alliance with 17-year-old fellow addict Charlie. Director Cruz’s innovations continue to irritate everyone on the All Saints staff except for Coop.

    The Wall: Worried about her daughter, Jackie leaves rehab early against her therapist’s advice. Zoey has second thoughts about her relationship with Lenny.

    Slow Growing Monsters: Jackie learns that Grace knows the truth about rehab and races to tell Kevin before he hears about it from their daughter. She asks Charlie to meet her at an AA meeting but he shows up drunk.

    One-Armed Jacks: Missing her family and adjusting poorly to single life, Jackie invites Kevin to meet her at a café for lunch. An attempted double suicide trauma case comes into the E.R. Zoey looks for a new roommate.

    No-Kimono-Zone: Jackie has a disturbing dream about using again. Zoey loses her engagement ring and questions her feelings for Lenny. O’Hara takes action on Jackie’s behalf when Kevin sues for full custody.

    Day of the Iguana: Jackie covers for Cruz when he has a panic attack. Zoey surveys her coworkers for the best way to conduct a breakup. Akalitus enlists the staff in an elaborate charade when her mentor enters the hospital, suffering from dementia.

    Chaud & Froid: Jackie reveals her rehab stint to Cruz and Eddie offers support for Jackie’s case during his deposition to Kevin’s lawyer. O’Hara finally leans on Coop during an OB/GYN appointment.

    Are Those Feathers?: The firing of her colleagues, Grace’s refusal to go to school, and an overflowing emergency room full of patients redirected from another hospital push Jackie to finally seize control of the E.R. and run it her way.

    Handle Your Scandal: Cruz purposely pushes Jackie to the breaking point, and then uses her reaction as grounds to fire her. Jackie enrolls Grace in public school. O’Hara goes into labour.

    Season Five

    Happy F*cking Birthday: Season 5 premiere. An overturned bus makes for a crazy day at All Saints as two new doctors join the staff: Dr. Carrie Roman (Betty Gilpin) and Dr. Ike Prentiss (Morris Chestnut). Meanwhile, O’Hara (Eve Best) just wants to spend every minute with her new son and Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) gives Eddie (Paul Schulze) back his old job – all this, the day before Jackie’s (Edie Falco) birthday.

    Luck of the Drawing: Jackie and Kevin are at a stalemate in their divorce mediation because Kevin wants full custody. A patient from the bus crash is back after she contracted sepsis while at All Saints. Coop is angry that he isn’t named Chief of the ER and wants to quit but Jackie tells him he’ll get respect if he mans up. Jackie, overwhelmed by the day, vents to the only person who will understand – Charlie Cruz.

    Smile: After their custody meeting, Jackie rear-ends Kevin and wakes up as a patient in her own ER. Kevin accuses her of using. Coop begins covering for Carrie and taking on a lot more work. When Carrie checks on Jackie, she writes her a prescription for Oxy, unaware she’s an addict. The most unlikely person asks Jackie out on a date.

    Lost Girls: A heavily medicated Jane Doe is brought into the ER and Jackie tasks Zoey with finding out who she is. Coop invites Carrie to dinner. Jackie faces conflict with both her daughters – Fiona has been acting out in class while Grace sneaks around the city with her older boyfriend.

    Good Thing: Jackie is nervous about her date with Frank, so Zoey and Thor help her get ready and Eddie offers some friendly pointers. Prentiss misdiagnoses an injured dancer, but Akalitus and Coop catch his mistake before the patient leaves. Mike Cruz calls Jackie in a moment of need.

    Walk of Shame: Jackie and Grace both have to recover from their nights of indiscretion. Carrie uses flashcards to strengthen her skills but then cons Coop into doing more of her work anyway. Cruz arrives for his exit interview, putting everyone on edge. Jackie tries to tell Cruz what they did was a mistake, but he won’t hear any of it.

    Teachable Moments: Akalitus forgets to hire an escort for a psych patient who ends up laying waste to the pharmacy. Frank cancels his lunch date with Jackie because he picked up an extra shift. Zoey hears Coop and Carrie having sex. Jackie worries about Frank when news that a cop has been shot reaches the hospital.

    Forget It: Kevin interrupts Jackie and Frank’s night. Akalitus’ blood results are in and her memory loss is a result of a medication she’s been taking. Zoey helps Prentiss organize his disaster of an office. Meanwhile, Jackie is convinced that Grace is sneaking behind her back to see Danny, but Grace assures her they broke up. Frank urges Jackie to work on her issues – so she attends an AA meeting.

    Heart: Jackie and Frank have sex for the first time and he tells her he loves her. Akalitus has an extra spring in her step. Coop wants to take his mentoring of Carrie to the next level. Kevin and Grace show up at the hospital after Kevin finds a bag of pills in Grace’s bag.

    Soul: Season 5 finale. It’s Jackie’s one year anniversary of sobriety and she and Frank fight about their relationship. Zoey acts very professional and rigid around Prentiss after their intimate evening. Carrie’s peer review does not go well. Grace has a breakdown about Jackie. Jackie takes something she shouldn’t have.

    Season Six

    Sink or Swim: Jackie is starting to go back to her old ways, while maintaining a certain image.

    Pillgrimage: Jackie steals Dr. Roman’s DEA number. Coop is recruited by a ‘sperm scout’.

    Super Greens: After a morning of defiant daughters cutting their own hair, Jackie blows off some steam and calls the hipster drug dealer, Gabe, for a re-up. Prentiss and Zoey arrive to find an angry patient defacing the hospital because of Prentiss’ bedside manner–and Zoey agrees it needs improvement. Zoey is volunteering later that night at a gay bar giving out free meningitis vaccinations but no one will go with her. Coop gets the disappointing news that his sperm count is too low to allow him to donate. And Carrie gets the lucky break of treating NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan which …

    Love Jungle: Kevin’s engagement has left Jackie reeling. After having a sex dream that involves both Eddie and Kevin, Jackie wakes up with Frank at the foot of her bed asking to move in. She’s not ready for that and will have to think of some way to keep him at bay. While staking out Kevin’s fiancé’s dress shop with Antoinette, Jackie gets more than an eyeful when she witnesses the budding relationship between Kevin’s fiancé, Mia, and Grace. Jackie makes a scene, forcing Kevin to cancel the dinner he had planned to formerly introduce them. Meanwhile, back at All Saints, Akalitus’s…

    Rag and Bone: Certain she has a hidden stash, Frank searches Jackie’s house for drugs. Luckily for Jackie, he throws his back out before he can find anything. Laid up and in pain, Frank confesses to Jackie that he saw her use at the poker party the night before and was searching the house. Realizing she dodged a bullet, Jackie quickly removes all drugs from her home and tries to find a hiding place for them at All Saints, finally settling on an old relic in the ladies rest room. Jackie complains to Antoinette about her upcoming dinner with Kevin and his new finance, but Antoinette …

    Nancy Wood: Jackie’s fake identity is in compromised, but she has bigger problems to deal with. Prentiss is planning a night out with Zoey, but their date is interrupted when she suspects that something is wrong.

    Rat on a Cheeto: The pressure of hiding her addiction is beginning to take a serious toll on Jackie. Meanwhile, Grace’s friend Mandy tells Jackie that Grace is receiving an award at school that day. Before the girls leave the house, Mandy bullies Grace into letting her stash her party drugs in Grace’s room. Meanwhile, Jackie arrives at work only to be ambushed again by Antoinette, who confronts Jackie about her use and makes a harrowing confession that spurs Jackie to get sober. After white-knuckling it through the morning, Jackie asks Eddie to find her some Suboxone – a controversial…

    The Lady with the Lamp: Jackie detoxes at home with the help of Frank, Eddie, and Antoinette. It is a painful, embarrassing and emotional process for Jackie. In her detox, Jackie dreams that she is back on the floor at All Saints. Here she meets a mysterious patient who will expose Jackie’s greatest fear; that her relationship with Grace is not repairable. When Jackie awakens from her dream, the worst of detox is over. She’s on the mend when Grace comes home needing comfort after a really bad day at school. Jackie’s worst fears for the future of her relationship with her daughter have not …

    Candyman: As Kevin and Mia plan their wedding Jackie and Frank remain estranged. Though they’re ‘not talking,’ Frank calls Jackie to warn her about a DEA investigation he heard is happening at All Saints involving interviews and urine tests. Jackie asserts she has nothing to worry about and ends the call quickly. It’s clear the physician’s number she stole is coming home to roost. Meanwhile, the death of the All Saints newsstand proprietor has the staff reflecting on the anonymity of life and Zoey and Thor plan a memorial. Jackie devises a painful spur of the moment solution to…

    Sidecars and Spermicide: As Jackie’s drug use intensifies, she realizes she needs to clear the decks of the people closest to her if she wants to keep using. She notices Grace and Frank’s son getting a little too close for comfort. And this is all the ammunition she needs. She simplifies her life by breaking up with Frank and getting rid of Antoinette once and for all. Meanwhile, Carrie has forgotten Coop’s 40th birthday the morning after they’ve slept together–and Thor manages to save her with the world’s greatest present. The DEA investigation becomes more intense–many members of the …

    Sisterhood: It’s Kevin’s wedding day and Jackie’s going-not because she wants to, but because Fiona begged her. Luckily for her, she’s got a serious stash to get her through. Akalitus has turned her suspicious eye on Jackie now that the DEA is breathing down her neck. Helen (the drunk nun that Jackie connected with in previous episodes) is brought in after a suicide attempt that will ultimately end her life in a few hours. Jackie cares for Helen along with all the other women in the ER. And to cover her own ass, Jackie convinces Helen to pass herself off as Nancy Wood, which …

    Flight: Zoey reveals to Akalitus that she believes Jackie is using again, prompting a demand by Akalitus for a drug test. Seeing no other alternative Jackie attempts to flee New York but a car crash on her way to the airport prevents her from making her get away. Shortly after attending to the injured car crash victim Jackie inadvertently crashes into a stationary ambulance resulting in her arrest. Dr Roman informs Coop she is pregnant, and that he’s the father.

    Season Seven

    Clean: Picking up with her arrest, Jackie suffers through detox. Anticipating a heated battle with Gloria Akalitus, Jackie seeks help from a lawyer with her return to All Saints.

    Deal: Jackie wants to return to All Saints with the help from her lawyer, which she cannot afford.

    Godfathering: Jackie is not allowed to touch patients, and must undergo daily urine screens.

    Nice Ladies: Akalitus doesn’t trust Jackie when she shares the news that the hospital is being sold.

    Coop Out: Jackie stirs up trouble when she rallies her co-workers against the developers. Coop prepares for his last day at All Saints.

    High Noon: Jackie, Dr. Prince and Akalitus are forced to run the ER without nurses when Zoey leads a walk-out.

    Are You with Me, Doctor Wu?: In an effort to stop dealing, Jackie and Eddie make one last purge of their stash; When Zoey blames herself after a patient dies, she and Dr. Carrie Roman form an unlikely friendship.

    Managed Care: When Jackie tells Grace about her news, Grace’s reaction surprises her. Dr. Prince attracts a mob to All Saints. Thor reveals a romantic secret.

    Serviam in Caritate: Jackie and Zoey set out on an unexpected road trip; Zoey confronts her frustration with Jackie.

    Jackie and the Wolf: Jackie and Eddie’s quiet morning is interrupted by an unwelcome knock at the door.

    Vigilante Jones: Dr. Prince puts a patient’s life at risk, forcing Jackie to perform a procedure on her own. Meanwhile, Zoey is shocked to learn Carrie’s secret. Eddie gets in hot water with his job – putting Jackie’s position in jeopardy. 

    I Say a Little Prayer: Jackie and Kevin are greeted by a surprise visitor during Grace’s confirmation rehearsal. On the last day before All Saints closes its doors Jackie is offered a job at Bellevue Hospital, and wants Zoey to come with her.