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On Television |
 Nothing to watch lately? How about the $27 million CBS miniseries "Comanche Moon," the final chapter in the "Lonesome Dove" saga. The six-hour, three-night "Comanche Moon," based on the Larry McMurtry novel, starts Sunday night --and it's free to anybody who wants to tune in. That's Steve Zahn, who plays Gus McCrae, the role played by Robert Duvall in the original "Lonesome Dove." |
Even with a strike, there's
still stuff to watch on TV
of TheColumnists.com
Yes, it’s
2008 and many of you are saying “There’s nothing to
watch on TV.” The “nothing to watch” meaning episodes
of favorite TV dramas and comedies that are either not airing
or are in reruns due to the continuing strike by WGA writers.
But, fear not. There are plenty of new shows to watch on TV --
and not all of them are in the vein of “Singing and Dancing
With The Stars and Dealing With Smart 5th Graders Who are the
Biggest Losers.” In other words, not all new shows are of
the “who cares” reality genre. After all, the only
really good reality shows are “The Amazing Race,” “Survivor”
(a new one is scheduled for sometime in 2008) and “American
Idol, which returns on Fox with a two-night premiere at 8 p.m.
Jan. 15 and 16.
Here are a few new shows worth a look in coming weeks:
“How Much is Enough?,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays on GSN (Game Show Network)
beginning Jan. 8. Corbin Bernsen is the host for this game show
pitting four contestants who try to figure out how greedy their
fellow contestants will be in a battle of wits, nerve, strategy
and psychology. The winner takes home all the money and the three
losers going home with nothing.
“Comanche Moon,” 9 p.m. Jan. 13, 15 and 16 on CBS. Remember that great
western “Lonesome Dove?,” well this is a prequel to
that saga. Val Kilmer, Steve Zahn. Karl Urban, and Rachel Griffiths
head the cast of the three-part drama about the middle years
in the lives of Texas Rangers Gus McRae and Woodrow Call, played
by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones in the original miniseries.
The drama is from the “Lonesome Dove” team of Larry
McMurtry and Diana Ossana and is the fourth TV miniseries drawn
from the "Lonesome Dove" characters.
“Masterpiece: The
Complete Jane Austen,” 9 p.m. Sundays
on PBS beginning Jan. 13. Yes, this really is the venerable “Masterpiece
Theatre,” only with a new look, new name and a new host.
First off is “Masterpiece Classic,” hosted by Gillian
Anderson and featuring all six Austen novels. Four of the Austen
works are new productions:
“Persuasion” (Jan. 13), “Northanger Abbey”
(Jan. 20), “Mansfield Park” (Jan. 27) and “Sense
and Sensibility” (March 30 and April 6). “Pride and
Prejudice” (Feb. 10 and 24) previously aired on A&E,
and “Emma” (March 23) was a theatrical release.
“Andrew Jenks, Room
335,” 7 p.m. Jan. 15 on Cinemax.
Teen (he’s 19) student and filmmaker Jenks spent his vacation
in a Florida assisted living facility bonding and hanging out
with its elderly residents. This 90-minute documentary chronicles
his experiences.
“The Pirate Code,” 8 p.m. Jan. 21 on National Geographic Channel. Salvage
expert Barry Clifford and his team search for treasure buried
at the bottom of the ocean. The riches they seek are from the
pirate Black Sam Bellamy’s ship, sunk off the coastal area
of Cape Cod 300 years ago.
“Torchwood,” 9 p.m. Jan. 26 on BBC America. Captain Jack Harkness
(John Barrowman) had disappeared in the first season finale of
this sci-fi series. But he’s back in this first episode
of season two, and he’s just in time to battle a rogue Time
Agent played by James (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”)
Marsters.
“In Treatment,” 9:30 p.m. Jan. 28 on HBO. Gabriel Bryrne is a psychotherapist
with problems at the office and at home in this half-hour drama
series airing Mondays-Fridays for nine weeks. Each episode shows
a session between Byrne and one of his patients. Also starring
are Josh Charles, Embeth Davidtz, Melissa George, Blair Underwood,
Dianne Wiest and Michelle Forbes.
“Lost,” 9 p.m. Jan. 31 on ABC. Yes, it’s back. At least
for a while with the eight episodes that were completed prior
to the WGA strike. If you have forgotten (and how could you if
you are a true “Lost” fan?), check out the following
synopsis from ABC:
“With only 48 original episodes left until the final
episode airs in 2010, this season truly is the beginning of the
end with the promise of rescue at hand. Jack has radioed a freighter
stationed somewhere off the island. But when it's disclosed that
Charlie's dying warning was that these people may not be who
they say they are, the castaways are split as to what to do.
Jack is convinced that the freighter people are there to rescue
them, while Locke is not. A division occurs among the survivors.
Who is on the freighter? What was the significance of the flash-forward
showing Jack and Kate off the island at some point in the future?
What will the consequences be when the characters once again
encounter Michael, who seemingly escaped the island after murdering
two of the survivors? These are some of the questions "Lost"
will explore
during the action-packed fourth season.”
Or, you could rent--or buy--“Lost” Season 3 on DVD.
It’s worth it, even if you slog your way through some of
those early Season 3 yawner episodes for the jackpot final minutes
of that “wow” season-ending episode from last May.
“Lost” is not to be missed!
©2008 by Donna J. Plesh. The photo is courtesy of CBS. This
column first posted Jan. 7, 2008.
You can comment
on this column online. Please address your message to either
"The Editors" or Donna J. Plesh. To send an email,
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