Anthony Marquez

After years of "manually" trying to conceive, John and Katie Kelly put their bodies, wallet and marriage through the ringer of modern infertility treatments.

Actress JoBeth Williams directed this Showtime family feature starring The Sixth Sense's Mischa Barton for Barbra Streisand's Barwood Films. Barton is Frankie and Ingrid Uribe is Hazel, Frankie's neighbor and best friend. Frankie is an orphan who lives with her imperious grandmother, Phoebe (Joan Plowright), while Hazel lives with her father and older brother. Frankie's mother was a prima ballerina--killed in a car crash along with her father--and Frankie's been following in her toe shoes ever since. Although she's the best dancer in her class, she'd rather play baseball, whereas Hazel's a local activist who'd rather be mayor. The story strains credibility when 13-year-old Hazel runs for office against the middle-aged incumbent, but Frankie's goal is more understandable, and both actresses make their characters sympathetic and believable. It's as hard not to like them as it is not to root for them to succeed.

Three Barbecues is a blackened comedy following the same quirky, time-warped characters across three backyard barbecues in one afternoon-to-evening stretch of side dishes and light beer. Vera & Willie Wong host a hot-dog-filled Americana bash with a splash of Red, Light and Brew!, featuring a musical "Parade of Side Dishes" choreographed by the ladies. Stan Smiley & Miss Dinah, an African-American couple, entertain with Stan's "beer-in, bone-in" marinading method and his ragtime song-and-dance routine. Beef & Candy Barklage throw the finale: Beef vies for Griller of the Year as the Griller's World Correspondence Crew broadcasts live. Guests include potato salad pros Chuck & Melissa Gladwell, nemesis The Deviled Egg Nut, gossips April & Koko (with husbands Hank & Virgil), and town's only out gay man, B.J.