Special to pop

When the TV movie and internet series "Inspector Mom" premieres this weekend on the Lifetime Movie Network, it will have a special Norman connection.?Longtime local actor and Norman resident Chris Freihofer appears in the recurring role of Donny Haskins.

The film and following "webisodes", that can be downloaded from the Lifetime Channel Web site, star Danica McKellar (formerly known as Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years") as crime-solving soccer mom Maddie Monroe. McKellar also serves as the project's executive producer.?The two-hour movie airs this Saturday night at 7 p.m. Central time on Lifetime Movie Network (Cox Cable channel 209).?It will re-air at 10:30 p.m.

Freihofer appears as Maddie's lazy and somewhat dull neighbor Donny, husband to her good friend Bernice.?When the coach of their daughters' pee-wee soccer team turns up murdered, Maddie sets out to solve the crime.

Freihofer earned his degree in acting from the University of Oklahoma and served for many years on the board of directors of the former Stone Soup Theatre, also serving as the artistic director, where he produced, directed and acted in dozens of plays at the old Corner Stage on campus corner, and at the Sooner Theatre in downtown Norman.?He has also worked with Oklahoma City Theatre Company, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, and recently directed a play for Sooner Theatre Presents.

He has appeared in movies and television for the past 10 years now, acting in films in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Louisiana.?He returned from shooting another webisode in the Inspector Mom series ("Inspector Mom: The Haunted House Horror") just in time to attend the OU-Texas Tech game.?His wife Beth is a teacher and coach at Norman North High School.

"'Inspector Mom' is a blast," Freihofer said.?"It is a very fun set, a great crew, and Danica is wonderful to work with.?It's clever, it's a little campy, it's funny. It's like doing a play. And I love playing Donny. He has gone through a life change between the movie and the webisodes we just shot so we got to play with him a little bit. Danica makes that very easy.?She encourages us to have fun and explore -- she's a very giving actor and producer."

According to the Lifetime Movie Network Web site, once the film airs this weekend, there will be additional episodes available for download at a rate of two per week.?For now, there are two TV movies for broadcast and 10 webisodes.

Freihofer has appeared in 6 films this year, all out of state.?The next project will be the Christmas film "The Year Without a Santa Claus," to air December 11 on NBC.?In the remake of the 1974 claymation classic, Freihofer appears in a small role as Sparky the Elf's lead attorney.?The film stars John Goodman and Delta Burke as Mr. -- Mrs. Claus, Chris Kattan as Sparky, and Ethan Supplee and Eddie Griffin as Jingle and Jangle.?The film is directed by Ron Underwood ("City Slickers," "Mighty Joe Young").

When he is not acting, Freihofer works behind the camera as a casting director.?Working out of his office on the west side of Norman, Freihofer has cast film -- television projects for Paramount Pictures, The History Channel, the BBC, VH-1 and recently for Fox Television.?Since setting up office in 2004, he also has cast several commercials, including campaigns for Blue Cross -- Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Deaconess Hospital, Integris Hospital, Toyota, the OERB "National Anthem" spot, and all campaigns for the Oklahoma Lottery, among others.

"I really hope 'Inspector Mom' does well this weekend," he said.?"I hope it is as much fun to watch as it was to shoot."

For more information, and to watch the trailer, visit www.lmn.tv.