Problem Child Movie

Two filmmakers voiced starkly different reactions to changes made in their films by the networks that will broadcast them for the first time Sunday night. A writer of "Problem Child" was pleased with NBC's cuts; the producers of "A Fish Called Wanda" protested ABC's deletions.

One naughty boy might spend a week with no Nintendo; another disobedient darling could go to bed without dessert. But 10-year-old Michael Oliver, who starred as the incorrigible Junior in Universal Pictures' "Problem Child" and "Problem Child II," has been slapped with a $190,000 lawsuit in a bitter contract dispute with Universal over his salary for the sequel.

The crashing guitar chords of George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" beat out their sinister vamp. The mean-little-devil features of 10-year-old Michael Oliver, as the infamous "Problem Child," Junior Healy, break into a sadistic smile. It's time for revenge, time for "Problem Child 2" (throughout San Diego County). We know somebody's gonna get it. Bad-little-kid stories have been endemic to American culture, ever since last century's Peck's Bad Boy.

Two filmmakers voiced starkly different reactions to changes made in their films by the networks that will broadcast them for the first time Sunday night. A writer of "Problem Child" was pleased with NBC's cuts; the producers of "A Fish Called Wanda" protested ABC's deletions.

The marketing staff at Universal Pictures must have had a lot of fun writing the blurbs for its ad campaign for "Problem Child"--for about 10 minutes anyway. How long could it have taken to come up with such howlers as " 'Two Thumbs Up!'--Captain Hook"? or " 'I Wish He Were My Son'--Darth Vader"? or " 'A 10+! Junior Had Me in Stitches!'--Frankenstein"? The gag blurbs are just about as inspired as the movie, so, in that sense, there is truth in advertising.

One naughty boy might spend a week with no Nintendo; another disobedient darling could go to bed without dessert. But 10-year-old Michael Oliver, who starred as the incorrigible Junior in Universal Pictures' "Problem Child" and "Problem Child II," has been slapped with a $190,000 lawsuit in a bitter contract dispute with Universal over his salary for the sequel.

The 11-year-old star of the "Problem Child" movies unjustly forced Universal Pictures to renegotiate his contract, a jury ruled Monday, and the young actor may have to return $170,000 to the studio. The Superior Court jury found that a signed agreement between Michael Oliver and Universal was unenforceable as it was signed under duress by the entertainment giant.

The crashing guitar chords of George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" beat out their sinister vamp. The mean-little-devil features of 10-year-old Michael Oliver, as the infamous "Problem Child," Junior Healy, break into a sadistic smile. It's time for revenge, time for "Problem Child 2" (throughout San Diego County). We know somebody's gonna get it. Bad-little-kid stories have been endemic to American culture, ever since last century's Peck's Bad Boy.

The marketing staff at Universal Pictures must have had a lot of fun writing the blurbs for its ad campaign for "Problem Child"--for about 10 minutes anyway. How long could it have taken to come up with such howlers as " 'Two Thumbs Up!'--Captain Hook"? or " 'I Wish He Were My Son'--Darth Vader"? or " 'A 10+! Junior Had Me in Stitches!'--Frankenstein"? The gag blurbs are just about as inspired as the movie, so, in that sense, there is truth in advertising.