Laurel's TV Picks for Tuesday, April 4

Featured pick:

Now this is hardly fair: what's an X-Files fan to do?

Gillian Anderson is the main guest tonight on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm) while David Duchovny is a guest on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm). Both episodes are new. Both Anderson and Duchovny are fine talk show guests. Duchovny's done more appearances than Anderson. Letterman is a better interviewer and just plain more entertaining than Leno. Duchovny and Letterman get along well, but Anderson and Leno seem to get along well, too. Duchovny's plugging his new movie-- Return to Me. Anderson's plugging this weeks episode of The X-Files which she wrote and directed.

Alas, it used to be in Minneapolis Leno aired a half hour later than Letterman so I might've been able to flip between the two and catch the best bits. Ach well, who am I kidding? I'll tape one and watch the other or tape both (I've a couple of VCRs, fortunately).

Which would I pick if I had to flat out choose? It's a tough call. I've seen Duchovny on a lot more shows, so I'm inclined to pick Anderson's appearance. Plus, I like Scully better than Mulder, of course. But I hate Leno and love Letterman.

Duchovny was scheduled first, Anderson was a late addition to the lineup for The Tonight Show. Musical guest on The Late Show is Lou Reed, musical guest on The Tonight Show is N'Sync. Now that's no contest, I'll be watching The Late Show far longer than The Tonight Show, that's for sure.

More picks:

Magnum's locked in a bank vault with Carol Burnett on a memorable episode of Magnum, P.I. (A&E, 4pm).

There's a new slayer in town (wonder how the Buffster will deal with that?) plus Buffy's still rather peeved with Riley on a new episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 7pm).

Angel (WB, 8pm) tries to protect an actress from some nasty stalkers and ends up with his hands more than full. Yes, it's a new episode.

Celeste Holm guest stars as Zane's grandmother on a new episode of the Levinson/Fontana series The Beat (UPN, 8pm). This episode was written by Sean Whitesell, directed by Jay Tobias. Lee Tergeson (of OZ, Homicide) and Erik Todd Dellums (Homicide's Luther Mahoney) also guest star in what look to be recurring roles (they'll be around next week as well). Mike and Zane arrest a child-killer and later must guard a body that's been dead for a week (ooooh, how fun).

The staff of Sports Night (ABC, 8:30pm) fears that their jobs are in jeopardy due to low ratings and budget cuts. Sadly, this mirrors reality all too well as ABC may very well cancel Sports Night and they surely are pulling it early in favor of airing new shows. This is probably my favorite series currently on the air and you should be watching it. Why watch? For the sharp dialogue. The interesting characters. Because it's a show that takes chances and when it succeeds it's flat-out amazing. I laughed a lot at last week's episode and I also shed tears. It's that kindof show. Name another half-hour series that can do that? I can't think of any since M*A*S*H that affected me this way.

Jason Gedrick stars in Falcone (CBS, 8pm and 9pm). Gedrick plays an FBI agent who goes way-undercover in a mob family, the series is based on the movie Donnie Brasco which was based on a true story. Titus Welliver, Lillo Brancato Jr., and Eric Roberts also star. The show was made over a year ago, but then pulled because CBS thought it too violent in the wake of Columbine events. Now they're dragging it out for eight (yes, eight) episodes on consequetive nights (two of which air tonight). I suspect most of us will just find it just all-too-painfully reminds us of how CBS mistreated EZ Streets which was (in all likelihood) a far better series that also featured Gedrick.

New episode of NYPD Blue (ABC, 9pm).

David Duchovny, Lou Reed on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Gillian Anderson, Judge Greg Mathis, 'N Sync on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).

Jimmy Smits, Jack Black (of High Fidelity), Foo Fighters on Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien (NBC, check local listings).

Luna on Later (NBC, check local listings).

Other possibilities:

Nothin' but Xena from 6-10pm on the Sci-Fi channel.

Mac and Harm clash more than usual in an intense new episode of JAG (CBS, 7pm) where Mac is accused of a crime.

Straight from the TV Grid description for Secret Agent Man (UPN, 7pm): " 'Supernaked' Monk (Costas Mandylor) infiltrates the world of high fashion to stop a voluptuous assassin (Rhona Mitra) who has been physically enhanced by a villainous tycoon (Mackenzie Gray). With Dondre T. Whitfield and Dina Meyer."

On The Ropes (The Learning Channel, 8pm) is an Oscar-nominated documentary about three amateur boxers and their trainer. It follows them as they prepare for a big tournament.

Don Cheadle, Leslie Bibb, Guster on The Late Late Show (CBS, check local listings).

More links and commentary about TV and other things in my Weblog (it's back!) and at the weblog Annex.

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This page was updated on April 4, 2000 by Laurel Krahn who can be reached via email to laurel@windowseat.org. TV Picks graphic by Jeremy Wilker.

Copyright ©2000 Laurel Krahn unless otherwise noted. May not be redistributed without permission.