Performance of the Day

Actor: JOHN LITHGOW

Show: "3rd Rock from the Sun"

Character: Dick Solomon

Years: 1996-2001

John Lithgow has long been one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood (don't believe me, check out his two Oscar nominated performances). In the mid 90s, he took on the television audiences with his role as 'Dick' in "3rd Rock from the Sun" (not to be confused with "30 Rock"). Lithgow played the head commander to a group of aliens, who come to earth, masquerade as humans, and study life on this planet. Lithgow is hilarious, especially with former SNLer Jane Curtain. Check him out on Netflix (all six seasons of the show are on instant play).

Flick of the Day

Film: THE PELICAN BRIEF

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Actors: Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, John Heard, Stanley Tucci, Tony Goldwyn, John Lithgow, Hume Cronyn

Year: 1993

Synopsis: A young law student uncovers a government conspiracy and asks a reporter to help her expose it.

One of the best John Grisham novels and subsequent films. Julia Roberts plays Darby Shaw, a student who stumbles upon a government cover-up. Her professor is murdered and her life is threatened and so she goes into hiding. She contacts Denzel Washington, a famous reporter and together they go on a mission to expose the corporation involved. Roberts, who was early in her career at the time, shines and really proved that she could do all kinds of roles. Denzel, as always, was spectacular and worked well off of Roberts (the two have been friends ever since).