wednesday
“Dear Louise” is one of my favorite episodes of Sports Night (Comedy Central, 1:30pm and 12:30am).
Sinclair returns to Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed) in part 1 of the 2-part “War Without End” episode. Remember Babylon 4? If not, you’re gonna be confused. Oh heck, you may be confused anyway. But this is a good episode and does answer quite a few questions (while posing some others).
Conclusion of the pilot movie of China Beach (History Channel, 1pm and 6pm).
Richard Belzer on a rerun of The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 6pm) from last night.
The Cleveland Indians face the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome (ESPN, 6pm in some markets, subject to blackout). I was at Monday night’s amazing game that the Twins won 11-10 and which featured four infield hits by Guzman. It was really cool.
TCM airs all four and a half hours of The Sorrow and the Pity (TCM, 7pm). It’s an influential film by Marcel Ophuls’ about public acquiescence to Nazi barbarity during their occupation of France.
The President gives a state of the union address and something in it upsets the First Lady on The West Wing (NBC, 7pm). One of the better episodes of the season.
Hal decides to leave work behind and become an artist on a memorable (and funny) episode of Malcolm in the Middle (FOX, 7pm).
Good lord, we can’t be that desperate can we? CBS has unearthed previously unaired episode of Ladies Man (CBS, 7pm and 7:30pm). From more than a year ago. Alfred Molina and Sharon Lawrence star. With Betty White, Stephen Root, and Dixie Carter in supporting roles. It’s pretty awful.
There’s a new timeslot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 8pm) this summer. Yes, reruns will air this summer before The Buffster and the Scooby Gang move to Tuesday nights on the UPN. Tonight’s rerun is of the one where the Watcher’s Council comes to test Buffy. I love the last couple of scenes in particular.
Backstory looks at The Longest Day (AMC, 8:30pm) and then you can watch The Longest Day (AMC, 9pm) right afterwards. It’s an amazing account of D-Day with Henry Fonda, Peter Lawford, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, and John Wayne.
Dennis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, Elizabeth Mitchell, Andre Braugher, and Noah Emmerich star in Frequency (Starz, 9pm). It’s one of my favorite films from last year. Part thriller, part mystery, part family drama, with a science fiction twist.
Dan Futterman (of Judging Amy) guest stars in the “A Case of Do or Die” episode of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, 10pm) which was written by Anya Epstein. Futterman and Epstein (a writer and producer on Homicide) met for the first time during the filming of this episode and are now married (awwwww).
Al Roker on The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).
“A roundtable discussion on ‘Home Run’ with George Plimpton, Garrison Keillor and John Updike” is one of the items scheduled for tonight’s episode of Charlie Rose (PBS, check your local listings). Though they juggle the schedule so often it’s anybody’s guess if it’ll actually air tonight or will be on tomorrow instead.
Jimmy Fallon, the Black Crowes on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Parts 4-6 (of 6) of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City (Showtime, 11pm-1:30am).
Kirsten Dunst, Ben Harper on The Tonight Show (NBC, 11:05pm, may be delayed ‘cuz of basketball).
David Duchovny, Al Franken, Frank McCourt on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien (NBC, 12:05am, may be delayed ‘cuz of basketball)
Hugh Jackman, Black Rebel Motorcyle Club (which is a band I’ve actually seen open for someone or other, though I don’t remember being impressed) on The Late Late Show (CBS, check your local listings).
