Synopsis
Includes:
Touched By an Angel: Doodlebugs (1998)
Touched By an Angel: The Spirit of Liberty Moon, Part 1 (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Cry, and You Cry Alone (1998)
Touched By an Angel: The Trigger (1998)
Touched By an Angel: The Spirit of Liberty Moon, Part 2 (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Last Dance (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Deconstructing Harry (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Elijah (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Perfect Little Angel (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Seek and Ye Shall Find (1998)
Touched By an Angel: How Do You Spell Faith? (1998)
Touched By an Angel: God and Country (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Flights of Angels (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Redeeming Love (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Breaking Bread (1998)
Touched By an Angel: Doodlebugs
Small-towners Ada (Barbara Mandrell), Pearhead (Morgan Rusler), Sis (Tina Lifford) and Vinegar (K. Todd Freeman) become convinced that God is communicating with them via mysterious calls from the pay phone in the town's café. This phenomenon is accepted as a miracle by everyone except local minister Erskine (Chris Mulkey), who has lost his faith in the wake of his wife's death. Inasmuch as Heavenly caseworker Monica (Roma Downey) has been assigned to redeem Erskine, it is necessary to demonstrate God's presence in a more palpaple fashion than as a celestial phone service. The metaphoric title of this episode refers to the favorite pastime of Erskine's daughter Bits (Renee Olstead). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: The Spirit of Liberty Moon, Part 1
In the first half of Touched by an Angel's two-part Season Four finale (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) wonder how many lives can be changed by the courage of a single person--and better still, who will turn out to be the "courageous" one in their newest assignment. Candidiates include Jean Chang (Bai Ling), a dissident Chinese National who fled Beijing after the Tiananmen Square confrontation; Jean's boss Edward Tanner (Adrian Pasmar), a none-too-ethical American toy manufacturer; Jean's husband George (Russell Wong), who stayed behind in Beijing and who now provides low-cost labor for Edward's company; or Jean and George's daughter Piao Yue--who has been missing and presumed dead for years. When this episode was originally telecast, Richard Gere appeared in an introductory segment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Cry, and You Cry Alone
Monica (Roma Downey) and Andrew (John Dye) are assigned to the old-time comedy team of Salt and Pepper, who are about to be inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Maury Salt (Jerry Stiller) and Ed Pepper (Tom Poston) have hated each other ever since the argument that broke them up thirty years ago. Reluctantly reunited for the induction ceremony, the two showbiz veterans start quarrelling all over again, and it takes the intervention of Monica, posing as Salt's woefully inept new comedy partner, to restore a semblance of peace and quiet. As it turns out, if a reconciliation is to take place, it had better be soon; one of the partners hasn't much longer to live. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: The Trigger
Returning home to attend her sister Linda's law-school graduation, a woman named Holly (Elizabeth Berridge) becomes painfully aware that Linda (Gabrielle Carteris) is a victim of spousal abuse. When Linda's husband Ray (J.C. MacKenzie) goes overboard with his violence, Holly takes drastic action, grabbing a gun and killing Ray! Unfortunately, Linda refuses to admit that Ray had beaten her, and it looks like Holly is in for a lengthy prison term unless her erstwhile guardian angel Monica (Roma Downey), in concert with fellow angel Andrew (John Dye)--already on the scene as hockey coach for Linda's son Alex (Joe Pichler)--acts quickly. This episode was originally slated to air on December 7, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: The Spirit of Liberty Moon, Part 2
In the conclusion of Touched by an Angel's two-part Season Four finale (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) have managed to smuggle Chinese defector Jean Chang (Bai Ling) back into Beijing for a reunion with her husband George (Russell Wong). But George has bad news: his and Jean's beloved daughter Piao is missing, and may no longer be alive. Also in Beijing is Jean's American boss Edward Tanner (Adrian Pasdar), a disreputable toy manufacturer who has been exploiting cheap labor provided by George. One of these characters is slated to perform an act of great and selfless courage that will change the lives of many others--but Monica isn't certain whom that person will be, and with the Red Chinese police hot on her heels, she may never find out! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Last Dance
The wedding plans of teenagers Greg (Corbin Allred) and Jill (Mercedes McNab) may be scuttled by their overbearingly "perfect" mothers Liz (Alley Mills) and Candice (Karen Austin), who have despised each other ever since their high school days. It turns out that Candice had long ago stolen Liz's boyfriend, and that Liz had spitefully agreed to keep Candice's youthful promiscuity a secret from her daughter Jill on condition that Jill never marry Liz's son Greg. It is up to angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) to help Candice and Liz overcome their mutual animosity, selfishness and guilt feelings for the sake of their children. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Deconstructing Harry
Following orders from Above, Tess (Della Reese) takes her driver's-license examination, only to end up as accessory to a crime! Tess' driving instructor Doris (Lainie Kazan) interrupts the lesson long enough to stop at the funeral of her married lover--and to steal the man's ashes. Commanding Tess to drive off at breakneck speed in the direction of Pismo Beach, Doris is hotly pursued by the dead man's outraged widow Stella (Polly Bergen), who shares a ride with a patrol-car driver who looks a lot like Tess' fellow angel Andrew (John Dye). It is up to Tess, Andrew and Monica (Roma Downey)--posing as the proprietor of a beachside hamburger stand--to persuade Doris to let go of her obsession with her philandering sweetheart, and to help Stella to find forgiveness in her heart. Guest star Lainie Kazan sings "We Live On Borrowed Time". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Elijah
Having long since renounced his Jewish faith, Jake Weiss (Bruce Davison) has degenerated into a flint-hearted slumlord. Arrested for housing-code violations and ordered to spend two weeks in one of his own squalid tenements, Jake feigns an epiphany in order to escape his sentence, claiming that he must be given time off to celebrate Passover with his mother and son. Posing as a ode-enforcement officer, Monica (Roma Downey) gives Jake a break, hoping he means what he says--but it takes a serious medical crisis to teach Jake the true meaning of Passover, and awaken him to his real purpose in life. Series regular Della Reese) (Tess) sings "Go Down, Moses". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Perfect Little Angel
Though Monica (Roma Downey) and her fellow angels aren't quite certain why female auto mechanic Tracy Beringer (Ele Keats) so desperately needs the first-prize money from a beauty pageant, they are committed to helping her achieve her goal. As it happens, Tracy's motivations are not the only mystery surrounding her. She never lets anyone see the inside of her apartment; she is constantly changing the story of how her parents were "killed"; and though she seems resigned to a lifetime of automotive work, she is actually a brilliant (if curiously uninspired) pianist. Needless to say, there is a surprise in store for everyone before this story--and Tracy's crisis of faith--can be resolved. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Seek and Ye Shall Find
Slipping on the ice outside a bus station, Monica (Roma Downey) suffers a severe concussion--and a complete loss of memory. Not only does she not realize that she is an angel, but she also fails to recognize Tess (Della Reese), Andrew (John Dye). . .or God. Falsely arrested for theft, Monica must be taught how to pray by a mortal, and is able to recover only after being the beneficiary of someone else's forgiveness. Once she has figured out who she is and what she's supposed to be doing in this episode, Monica tackles her latest assignment--persuading an embittered doctor (Michael Moriarty) to forgive the man who murdered his wife--with a new and somewhat overpowering zeal! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: How Do You Spell Faith?
Teenage spelling champ Aaron (Noah Fleiss) finds it impossible to cope with the death of his older brother Michael (Jess Raynes), who was not only his mother's favorite, but also a surrogate parent to the fatherless Aaron. Monica (Roma Downey) must not only help Aaron come to grips with his loss, but also prepare him from some more disturbing news regarding the affectionate letters supposedly written by his long-absent father. In the end, however, it is Aaron's mother Mary (Bess Armstrong) who must stand up and be counted in her son's hour of greatest need. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: God and Country
Posing as an Army private, angel Rafael (Alexis Cruz) tries to reconcile hardhearted Col. Victor Walls (Edward James Olmos) with his embittered soldier son Tomas (Vincent Laresca). Already angered that his father has changed his name from Victor Paredes, presumably to distance himself from his Hispanic roots, Tomas is furthered incensed over the Colonel's unwillingness to discuss the fate of his other son, who has been killed in Bosnia. When it turns out that the Colonel himself had recommended his son for the dangerous assignment that resulted in his death, another tragedy seems inevitable--but don't discount the divine "healing" powers of the canny Rafael. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Flights of Angels
Stricken with the degenerative neurological disease ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), professional artist Richard (Gregory Harrison) must quickly decide the sort of legacy he will leave behind for his wife Sally (Linda Purl) and his three sons. Feverishly, Richard rushes to finish several paintings in hopes of a huge commission--but money alone is not what his family really needs. Angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye) adopt various guises to convince Richard that the greatest gifts he can bestow upon his loved ones are Faith and Hope. Haley Joel Osmont (Sixth Sense) appears as Richard's son John Henry, who at story's end brings new meaning to the old adage "Life Goes On." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Redeeming Love
Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) find young Lydia (Alanna Ubach), a talented artist from a wealthy family, living in squalor and addicted to crack cocaine. Despite the best efforts by Lydia's father Bill (Dan Lauria) and new stepmother Margaret (Mary-Joan Negro), the girl makes no effort to clean up her act, and in fact becomes more drug-dependent the harder her parents try. Finally, Tess, posing as a drug counselor, tersely advises Bill and Margaret to start practicing "tough love"--in other words, to be cruel in order to be kind. But when Lydia surpasses her previous misdeeds by kidnapping a newborn baby, it looks like even Tess has failed! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Touched By an Angel: Breaking Bread
Having witnessed a hate crime committed by a gang of white supremacists against a black law student, baker Matt Colletti (a pre-The ShieldMichael Chilkis) is too frightened to come forward and tell the authorities. It is up to Monica and Tess--disguised respectively as an assistant baker and a visiting preacher--to convince Matt to do the right thing. It takes some doing, but Matt finally takes a stand and provides testimony against the thugs. Alas, when Matt claims to have recognized one of the student's assailants as Satan in disguise, no one (except the angels) believes him! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
