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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

News Shows Hold Most Appeal

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

With the only first-run shows of the night coming in the form of canceled series, you may want to turn to the newsmagazines.

On “Dateline NBC” at 9, Maria Shriver profiles David Mixner, a political activist who was a key adviser in the 1992 Bill Clinton presidential campaign.

Mixner is making news with his new book, “Stranger Among Friends,” in which he criticizes Clinton for his position on gay issues.

Switch over to “PrimeTime Live” (ABC at 10) and see the touching story of playwright and composer Jonathan Larson, who died of an aortic aneurysm on January 25. His Broadway musical “Rent” earned a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize. Larson, who was 36, passed away on the evening “Rent” was having one of its final dress rehearsals.

Larson’s family has filed wrongful death suits against two New York City hospitals where, they contend, he was misdiagnosed.

Highlights

“Live From Lincoln Center,” KSPS at 7: The 30th season of “Mostly Mozart” begins with two of music’s most dynamic and endearing violinists, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman. The program includes Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat for Violin and Symphony No. 41 in C Major.

“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: Among the repeat segments is the story of minor-league baseball player Tony Marabella, who doubled his batting average and made it to the big leagues after suffering a sudden case of amnesia.

“Dave’s World,” CBS at 8: Dave (Harry Anderson) calls on Shel (Meshach Taylor) to help him buy a once-in-a-lifetime Valentine’s Day gift for Beth (DeLane Matthews). He gets a great deal on a diamond ring, which he later fears is stolen. Repeat.

“Ellen,” ABC at 8: This sounds like a TV-movie plot. When “Buy the Book’ is robbed, police use Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) as bait in a sting operation. The crooks never have a chance with Ellen on the case. Repeat.

“American Gothic,” CBS at 9 and 10: “Rosemary’s Baby” will come to mind in the first episode when Gail (Paige Turco) is rushed to the hospital with abdominal pain. She’s told she’s pregnant - which is a shock - but nothing compared to how she feels when Lucas (Gary Cole) informs her that he is the father!

At 10, Buck is discovered murdered. Is it possibly true? Find out in the conclusion of a two-part episode - in all likelihood the series finale - tomorrow at 9.

Cable Calls

“Honky Tonkin’ at the Wildhorse Saloon With Aaron Tippin,” TNN at 5 and 9: Tippin is joined by Mark Collie, Junior Brown, Micky Gilley, Hank Thompson and Johnny Paycheck.

You’ve gotta love the titles: Collie sings “Lipstick Don’t Lie.” Paycheck belts out “Take This Job and Shove It,” and Gilley performs “The Girls All Get Pretty At Closing Time.”

“The Real World,” MTV at 10: Seven young adults descend on Miami’s South Beach where MTV has added a new ripple for the fifth season. The roommates have been given $50,000 to start a business - if they can agree on how to go about it.