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A trio of angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese), and Andrew (John Dye) are dispatched from heaven with a special mission: to inspire people facing sometimes unseen crossroads in their lives. Monica, an angel who at times still needs some guidance with her earthly assignments, reports to Tess, her tough, wise and always loving supervisor. Also on hand is Andrew, who, in addition to his duties as the Angel of Death, now helps out as a caseworker on carious assignments. Gloria, an angel for the 21st century, continues to seek guidance from Monica performing her angelic duties. While the angels may not bring solutions to every problem, they always deliver a message of hope. .com ---- Viewers who complain that every story on Touched by an Angel resolves in the exact same way--the divine intervention of angels--are missing the point. This show's fans aren't interested in psychology or clever plot twists; they want to know that rosy-cheeked angels, with caring eyes and soothing voices, will be there for them when their lives seem hopeless. Touched by an Angel gives shape to that wish in the form of beatific Roma Downey, prickly but loving Della Reese, and staunch John Dye as a trio of angels sent all over America to remind troubled souls of God's love. Though the message is consistent, the writing is not. Episodes are sometimes earnest but silly (a painfully sanitized portrait of homeless teens) or outright absurd (a farmer plagued by a drought decides to sue God). But at its best (as in an episode about HIV-positive girls at a summer camp who decide to form a suicide pact), Touched by an Angel can be thoughtful and warm. As in previous years, the fourth season pulls in guest stars of all stripes, including young stars on the rise like Thora Birch (American Beauty), Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember), Meagan Good (Waist Deep), and Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous); actors well into their careers, like Janet Leigh (Psycho), Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele), Swoosie Kurtz (Citizen Ruth), Robert Guillaume (Benson); and genuine old-hand superstars like Carol Burnett and Rita Moreno. The Fourth Season, Vol. 1 has no extras. --Bret Fetzer