WATCH-O-RAMA THE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS OF THE COMING TV WEEK.Byline: David Kronke ``Inside the Actor's Studio'' (Bravo; 8 tonight) Think: James Gandolfini, best known as Tony Soprano, opens up, and without Dr. Melfi to prod him. Don't think: Host James Lipton has more reason than usual to be fawning fawn 1 intr.v. fawned, fawn·ing, fawns 1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing. 2. : Not only does Gandolfini generally avoid interviews, but if the questions get tough (fat chance!), Tony's henchman Silvio might whack Lipton. In a nutshell: Unsurprisingly, Gandolfini is a smidgen reticent, but he tells a couple of entertaining anecdotes. ``Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars'' (Sci Fi; 9 tonight and Monday) Think: Crichton (Ben Browder) and Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black) were killed when the series ended, but they're back for another chance to be killed since, as one character notes in this miniseries, ``We are now officially engaged in the last war of our era!'' And all this kooky couple wants is to get married, settle down and start a family. To achieve that, Crichton gets mixed up in that last war, between the Scarrans and the Peacekeepers, two groups competing to see who has the ickiest makeup and costumes. Don't think: This show always felt like it was shot in another language and dubbed with dialogue that didn't quite mesh upwith the on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. action. In a nutshell: Hardcore fans - who felt the series' cancellation was premature - will rejoice at this blur of action sequences, bizarre characters and occasionally cool special effects. Everyone else will be watching ``Desperate Housewives.'' ``Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. Channel 4; 9 tonight) Think: Detective Goren's (Vincent D'Onofrio) arch-nemesis Nicole Wallace (Olivia D'Abo) returns for more manipulations, but her fate is unsure: The East Coast and the West Coast will see different versions - one in which she's killed and one in which she yet again escapes. Viewers are then advised to go online, see the alternative version, and vote for their favorite. Don't think: Not only do I have to watch the show, but then I have to figure out for the producers how they should end it? In a nutshell: A cute gimmick for a show that shouldn't need them. I vote kill her - her escape is too cheesy cheesy (che´ze) caseous. , as has been the whole ``arch-nemesis'' idea in the first place. ``John Cleese's Wine for the Confused'' (Food Network; 10 tonight) Think: The former Python attempts to explain wine appreciation, but concedes that even if your taste runs to Thunderbird thunderbird In North American Indian mythology, a powerful spirit in the form of a bird that watered the earth and made vegetation grow. Lightning was believed to flash from its eyes or beak, and the beating of its wings was thought to represent rolling thunder. , that's OK, too. Don't think: Cleese has hit upon a great scam - getting paid for drinking a lot of wine and making an occasional joke. Who wouldn't want this job? In a nutshell: Miles Raymond of the upcoming film ``Sideways'' might object to the anti-snob sensibility, but he'd applaud its educational efforts. Then he'd guzzle guz·zle v. guz·zled, guz·zling, guz·zles v.tr. 1. To drink greedily or habitually: guzzle beer. 2. from a spittoon at a wine tasting. ``Model Citizens'' (Pax; 8 p.m. Monday) Think: Reality series about do-gooding fashion models. Tonight: They build an aviary aviary Structure for keeping captive birds, usually spacious enough for the aviculturist to enter. Aviaries range from small enclosures to large flight cages 100 ft (30 m) or more long and up to 50 ft (15 m) high. Enclosures for birds that fly only little or weakly (e.g. for injured birds in Calabasas. Don't think: The models doubtlessly agreed to participate because they're altruistic souls and certainly not because they'd be getting some quality face time with TV cameras. In a nutshell: One of the models insists that tree stumps ``grow back.'' It's that kind of show. ``Broadway: The American Musical'' (KCET KCET Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (Japan) KCET Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology ; 9 p.m. Tuesday) Think: ``The Broadway musical has sung the promise of America,'' enthuses host Julie Andrews in this six-hour documentary about the history of New York
New York, the "Empire State" has been at the center of American politics, finance, industry, transportation and culture since it was created stage spectacles. Don't think: Show people sure like to talk about themselves. In a nutshell: Tons of clips, lots of interviews with major players, loads of anecdotes make this quite the wallow wallow mud bath frequented by pigs, elephants, red deer, hippopotami as a cooling aid. for aficionados. ``He's a Lady'' (TBS; 10 p.m. Tuesday) Think: Yet another (ir)reality series mining in easy laughs: Regular guys try to convincingly pass themselves off as women. Don't think: Please, God, isn't there baseball on? In a nutshell: Who is this aimed at - guys who want to watch other guys dress as women or women who want to watch guys humiliate themselves? Either way, count me out of any viewing parties. ``Genius: A Night for Ray Charles'' (CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. Channel 2; 9 p.m. Friday) Think: Part tribute to the late soul legend, part bald advertisement for the upcoming Jamie Foxx movie, featuring B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Elton John and others performing Charles' best-known songs. Don't think: At the live event at Staples Center, Bruce Willis' harmonica harmonica. 1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. solo lasted longer than B.B. King's guitar solo during their cover of ``Sinner's Prayer'' - Willis kept wailing even after the Teleprompter instructed him to cede the stage to his hero. Go figure. In a nutshell: Highlights include Usher's lush reading of ``Georgia on My Mind'' and, particularly, Al Green's electrifying e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. ``What'd I Say.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: ``HE'S A LADY'' |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion