The Hidden Room (TV series)

Last updated
The Hidden Room
Created byGail Glaze
Lewis Chesler
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes33
Production
Executive producersLewis Chesler
David Perlmutter
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Network Lifetime
ReleaseJuly 23, 1991 (1991-07-23) 
November 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)

The Hidden Room is an American drama-horror anthology television series geared mainly towards women, [1] which aired on the Lifetime cable network for 33 episodes from 1991 to 1993. Each episode usually centered around a woman in a hardship, [1] but with a dark Twilight Zone -ish twist. [2] Most episodes starred a well-known actress in the lead role.

Contents

The first season was hosted by a mysterious woman (Mimi Kuzyk) who spoke cryptically. She was credited only as the woman in the hidden room. The second season had no host and in 1993, when Lifetime aired repeats of some first-season episodes, the scenes with the host were edited out.

Episodes

Season 1 (1991)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Dream Child" Jerry Ciccoritti Jane Anderson July 23, 1991 (1991-07-23)
After the stillborn birth of her child, a woman (Alice Krige) disconnects herself from her husband and retreats to the comfort of a fantasy world.
22"Splinters of Privacy" Eleanore Lindo A.H. Davis and Mona Simpson July 30, 1991 (1991-07-30)
A young woman (Lara Flynn Boyle) in college confronts and ultimately reveals that she is an incest victim at the hands of her father.
33"Wasting Away"Jerry Ciccoritti Larry DiTillio and Holly Huckins August 6, 1991 (1991-08-06)
During a long night spent alone, a tormented former model (Helen Slater) confronts her demons, which come to her in the form of her own shadow, which appears to be devouring all her food.
44"Spirit Cabinet" Leon Marr Naomi Janzen August 13, 1991 (1991-08-13)
An injured athlete (Melissa Gilbert) moves into a new house with her husband. Through a haunted cabinet she is transported through time and space to a Victorian seance, where the participants believe her to be a ghost.
55"To the Orchards" Christian Duguay Alison Lea BingemanAugust 20, 1991 (1991-08-20)
A police woman loses her partner in a near-death experience and must confront her guilt. Heidi von Palleske, Marc Gomes and Paul Popowich star.
66"A Friend in Need"Bruce PittmanSusan MartinAugust 27, 1991 (1991-08-27)
A successful writer (Marg Helgenberger) faces her painful childhood memories and feelings of resentment toward her mother. She finds strength by calling on her childhood imaginary friend.
77"Let Death Do Us Part" Graeme Campbell Marilyn Levy and Edithe SwensenSeptember 3, 1991 (1991-09-03)
When a young widow (Barbara Williams) is tempted to sleep with her hunky, shirtless hired hand (Chris Potter), her jealous husband's ghost intervenes.
88"Taking Back the Night"Jorge MontesiGail Glaze and Patrick McGrathSeptember 10, 1991 (1991-09-10)
A woman living in New York develops a strange power as a defense mechanism to help her cope with an overwhelming fear of the city. Dana Ashbrook and Krista Bridges guest star.
99"Little Nightmares, Little Dreams"Jerry CiccorittiAlison Lea BingemanSeptember 17, 1991 (1991-09-17)
An older couple finds an instructional book on how to share the same dreams in their sleep. Because the wife (Audra Lindley) worries that her ailing husband will die, their shared dream reflects this fear.
1010"A Type of Love Story"Leon MarrJane Anderson and Russell Banks September 24, 1991 (1991-09-24)
A plain-looking woman (Amanda Plummer) has a brief affair with a dashing executive (David James Elliott), who eventually fails to see her true beauty.
1111"Dream of the Wolf"Jorge MontesiPatrick McGrathOctober 1, 1991 (1991-10-01)
A businessman (Adam Arkin) becomes so consumed with his recurring dreams of being a wolf that it starts to interfere with his job and his marriage to his unfaithful wife.
1212"Death of the Right Fielder"Jerry CiccorittiNaomi JanzenOctober 8, 1991 (1991-10-08)
A young woman (Cheryl Pollak) is torn between her desire to be a baseball player and the responsibilities of adult life.
1313"Rogue in the Bathroom" Risa Bramon Garcia Susan RhinehartOctober 15, 1991 (1991-10-15)
Sheila McCarthy guest stars.

Season 2 (1993)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Dangerous Dreams"Eleanore LindoNaomi Janzen and Jeremy LippJune 12, 1993 (1993-06-12)
A woman (Amanda Donohoe) marries a recent widower (Geraint Wyn Davies) whose teenage daughter (Sarah Polley) sees her as an impostor.
152"Love Crimes"Jorge MontesiJeannie EliasJune 19, 1993 (1993-06-19)
A woman (Helen Mirren) alters her identity to play a mysterious red-haired seductress who targets an antiques dealer named Jack.
163"While She Was Out"Jorge MontesiJeremy Lipp and Edward Bryant June 26, 1993 (1993-06-26)

After leaving a mall, a woman (Stephanie Zimbalist) is confronted by four teenage attackers intent on killing her.

*Note: This episode was later remade as the 2008 feature film While She Was Out starring Kim Basinger.
174"Hungry Girls"Unknown Joanna Russ July 3, 1993 (1993-07-03)
A businesswoman (Ally Sheedy) experiences a revelation after meeting a homeless girl.
185"Transfigured Night"Jorge MontesiUnknownJuly 10, 1993 (1993-07-10)
When Deborah is abandoned at a party by her husband, she is forced to make her way home. She accepts a ride from a female trucker.
196"Jillie"UnknownNaomi JanzenJuly 17, 1993 (1993-07-17)
A teenage girl (Mayim Bialik) runs away from home and is hidden in an attic by her younger cousin, who is enamored of her.
207"After the Crash"UnknownUnknownJuly 24, 1993 (1993-07-24)
An unmarried woman (Tess Harper) is inadvertently reunited with the son who never knew she existed.
218"The Faithful Follower"UnknownNaomi JanzenJuly 31, 1993 (1993-07-31)
A conflicted young political aide (Daphne Zuniga) defends her boss against allegations of womanizing. Later she is killed in an accident, while trying to rebuff his sexual advances.
229"Dreams About Water"UnknownUnknownAugust 7, 1993 (1993-08-07)
A gay psychologist's health deteriorates due to his HIV positive status. He gets comfort from his boyfriend and his coworker Lydia. Tom Hulce guest stars.
2310"Stark in Love"UnknownUnknownAugust 14, 1993 (1993-08-14)
A terrorist (Mariel Hemingway) who has been living a double life is forced to face the lover she has deceived.
2411"Happily Ever After" Bruce McDonald Gail GlazeAugust 21, 1993 (1993-08-21)
A new marriage turns nightmarish as a woman (Megan Follows) finally discovers the truth about her husband.
2512"The First Battle"UnknownUnknownAugust 28, 1993 (1993-08-28)
A career woman (Catherine O'Hara) and her husband are faced with the prospect of losing their adopted son.
2613"Her Life as a Dog"UnknownNaomi JanzenSeptember 4, 1993 (1993-09-04)
A struggling young artist (Linda Purl) learns the meaning of responsibility.
2714"Passages"UnknownUnknownSeptember 11, 1993 (1993-09-11)
A professor (John Glover) encounters a woman (Kathleen Robertson) who insists that her dreams reveal an incident from his past.
2815"My Sister's Keeper"UnknownNaomi JanzenSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)
A woman's life is disrupted by her younger sister's erratic behavior. Cynthia Stevenson guest stars.
2916"No Word for Mercy" Don McBrearty Naomi JanzenSeptember 25, 1993 (1993-09-25)
A nurse (Ann Magnuson) is faced with a fateful decision when her young lover threatens to tell her husband about the affair.
3017"Refuge"UnknownUnknownOctober 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
Kathleen Quinlan guest stars.
3118"Best Intentions"UnknownUnknownOctober 9, 1993 (1993-10-09)
Sheila Kelley guest stars.
3219"The Third Option"UnknownUnknownOctober 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
Henry Czerny and Faith Ford guest star.
3320"Marion and Jean" Joseph L. Scanlan Jeremy LippNovember 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
Two young women must come to terms with events from their teen years. Roxana Zal and Kim Huffman guest star.

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References

  1. 1 2 King, Susan (June 6, 1993). "On View : The Hidden Reality : Lifetime Series Seeks to Portray Women's Lives As They Are". LATimes.com. Los Angeles Times.
  2. "The Hidden Room (1991)". RadioTimes.com. Radio Times . Retrieved 17 August 2022.