As if audiences in mid-2002 weren't nervous enough about anticipated enemy attacks on America, this made-for-cable movie speculates on the disastrous possibilities of a tornado hitting a nuclear power plant. Racing against time, nuclear expert Corinne Maguire (Sharon Lawrence), sheriff C.B. Bishop (Corbin Bernsen) and deputy Jake Hannah (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) try to evacuate the locals and prevent the vaporization of Tennessee (if that power plant goes, "it'll make Chernobyl look like a firecracker"). Complicating matters is the fact that Sharon's 12-year-old Campbell (Daniel Costello) is nowhere to be found. Advertised on the strength of the presence of two NYPD Blue stars in the cast -- one former (Sharon Lawrence), one current (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) -- Atomic Twister made its TBS Superstation debut on June 9, 2002.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
