fri-sun
Picks for Saturday and Sunday follow Friday’s picks.
Miss the two fab Sports Night (Comedy Central, 5pm and 5:30pm) reruns late night on Comedy Central? Maybe you opted to watch ER instead. Anyway, there’s no excuse not to see ‘em, you can catch them today. The second one, “Intellectual Property,” is one of my favorites.
Speaking of favorites, “Z’ha’dum” is one of my favorite episodes of Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed). When I first saw it, it completely knocked my socks off . . . I was barefoot for weeks afterwards. It’s gonna look wonderful letterboxed. I was reading some quotes from the episode and got chills just from the opening and closing monologues (which is part of why I’m not picking them as today’s quote, because if you haven’t seen this episode, you should experience them in the episode, first).
Syd is “flooded with memories” as she helps a dying patient on a new Providence (NBC, 7pm). There’s also a new episode of The Fugitive (CBS, 7pm). C.S.I. and S.V.U. (NBC, 9pm) are reruns.
Series premiere of Black Scorpion (Sci-Fi, 7pm and 10pm). How do I describe this series? It’s co-created by Roger Corman. Adam West, Frank Gorshin, Lou Ferrigno, and Soupy Sales are among the folks who guest star as super villains. Oh just got to the website already, words fail me.
The first episode of the four-part season finale of Farscape (Sci-Fi, 8pm and 11pm) airs tonight. And no, I’m not giving away any details.
Freakylinks (FOX, 8pm) returns with a new episode in case you know anyone who actually watched and liked the show (I tried to watch it, honest I did).
Series premiere of The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne (Sci-Fi, 9pm and midnight, letterboxed). The commercials and premise for this one have intrigued me so I may check it out. Tracy Scoggins guest stars.
Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffanies (TCM, 9pm, letterboxed).
George Takei, Walter Koenig, Wil Wheaton, Bill Mumy, Grace Lee Whitney, and other sci-fi stars guest star on a fun rerun of Diagnosis Murder (PAX, 9pm).
On Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, 10pm): Officer Chris Thormann (Lee Tergeson) is shot in the line of duty and Crosetti (Jon Polito) wants to work on the case ‘cuz Thormann is a friend of his. Meanwhile: Kay and Beau encounter Calpurnia Church (believe it or not, the Calpurnia Church case is based on a real one . . . proving that truth is stranger than fiction). Edie Falco guest stars as Eva Thormann. Another great episode of a great series.
Bruce Willis and Charles Barkley are the guests on a very funny rerun of The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Richard Lewis, Everclear on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Peter Sellers, David Niven, and Robert Wagner in The Pink Panther (TCM, 11pm, letterboxed).
Tom Brokaw, Elisa Donovan, Joan Osbourne on Late Night w/ Conan (NBC, check your local listings).
Some new comedy series premieres in the timeslot where Friday Night (NBC, after Conan) used to be.
Saturday, January 6, 2001
This weekend’s TV Land marathon is of I Love Lucy (TV Land, 5am Saturday - 5am Monday).
What’s that you say? You still haven’t seen the “Married with Fishsticks” episode of Xena, Warrior Princess (WGN, 4pm)? You better watch it on WGN on Saturday, then. Gabrielle is mom to a sea urchin and a squid and . . . I can’t possibly explain. It’s weirder than weird. Trippy. Freaky. And very funny.
Marilyn Monroe stars in the film version of Bus Stop (AMC, 5pm; letterboxed version at 11:30pm).
Cary Grant is my favorite movie star, he excelled at both comedy and drama and starred in many of my favorite movies. On Saturday night, you can catch five of his films on Turner Classic Movies: Father Goose (TCM, 7pm); Bringing Up Baby (TCM, 9pm); I’m No Angel (TCM, 11pm); Arsenic and Old Lace (TCM, 12:30am); and Operation Petticoat (TCM, 2:30am). All are good, they span four decades of his work. You can read more about them on the TCM website.
New episode of That’s Life (CBS, 7pm). This show grows on you. I like the supporting characters better than the lead, though. There’s also a new episode of The District (CBS, 9pm) which would be better if Craig T. Nelson weren’t around (but then I say that about everything).
Alton Brown explains cookies, more or less, on Good Eats (Food Network, 8pm and 11pm).
Sunday, January 7, 2001
A “chain reaction” (marathon) of First Wave (Sci-Fi, 8am-6pm).
The Lot returns with a new episode (AMC, 4:30pm, 9pm, 1:30am).
Humphrey Bogart plays Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (TCM, 5pm).
Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich star in a new four-hour version of Les Miserables (Fox Family Channel, 6pm-10pm)
Back to back to back to back episodes of Farscape (Sci-Fi, 6pm-10pm).
Bender, et al are stranded on a planet with some amazons on a new Futurama (FOX, 6pm).
Homer undergoes experimental treatment to make him smart (oh-oh) on a new Simpsons (FOX, 7pm).
Ned Beatty is the guest on Inside the Actor’s Studio (Bravo, 7pm and 11pm).
Bob Newhart is profiled on a new two-hour Biography (A&E, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm).
Season premieres of Huntress (USA, 7pm) and Cover Me (USA, 8pm).
New episode of Strong Medicine (Lifetime, 7pm).
Bob Newhart and Kelsey Grammer star in the new cable movie The Sports Pages (Showtime, 7pm).
Scully and Doggett investigate a series of (what else?) unbelievable murders on a new episode of The X-Files (FOX, 8pm).
Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Tracey Needham, Lisa Vidal, and Lela Rochon star in a new series about five female detectives who work for the San Franscisco police. It’s called The Division (Lifetime, 8pm and 9pm). Pilot episode airs at 8pm and is followed by another new episode at 9.
Kevin James hosts The People’s Choice Awards (CBS, 8pm).
Ally Sheedy and Roger Rees guest star on the season premiere of OZ (HBO, 9pm).
La Femme Nikita (USA, 9pm, 11pm) returns with the first of eight new episodes.
Bobby and Jimmy reach a breaking point on a new The Practice (ABC, 9pm).
New episodes of The Man Show (Comedy Central, 9pm) and Strip Mall (Comedy Central, 9:30pm).
