This ‘Frontier’ Has Been Repeatedly Explored

“The Last Frontier” (FOX at 8:30) is such a typical FOX comedy that if you tune in you might think for a minute that it has resurfaced from some past season.

Devoid of pretense, it’s the latest in a long line of sitcoms about oversexed young males who are put in tempting proximity to beautiful young women. There’s usually a handsome, together guy who is unlucky in love. And there’s always one who is the ultimate nerd.

FOX, it should be noted, doesn’t exactly have the market cornered on unoriginal comedies.

“The Last Frontier” takes its name from its location. It’s about three single guys (Anthony Starke, John Terlesky, Patrick Labyorteaux) who share a house in Alaska. In the pilot, they rent out a room to a beautiful Los Angeles woman (Jessica Tuck) who has just been dumped by her live-in boyfriend. She moves in because she loves the bathroom.

Frontiers are usually uncharted territory. But this “Frontier” takes us along an all-too familiar trail of tired one-liners and juvenile antics.

Highlights

“Backdraft” (1991), NBC at 8: Kurt Russell and William Baldwin play firefighting brothers in this film by director Ron Howard. The pyrotechnics will make your temperature rise, but the plot is more burdensome than necessary.

“World Music Awards,” ABC at 9: Monte Carlo is the setting for the ceremonies hosted by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Natalie Cole. Michael Jackson, who performs, will receive five World Music Awards, including World’s Best-Selling Album of All Time for “Thriller.”

Other scheduled performers include Celine Dion, Hootie & the Blowfish, Seal, TLC and Shania Twain. Taped May 8.

“L.A. Firefighters,” FOX at 9: Let’s see. “L.A. Law” was a hit, so why not “L.A. Firefighters”? Actually, this drama is more like “Baywatch” in less-revealing garb. Action and romance are the kindling for this new series that will get a six-week summer run before, FOX says, it will return in the fall.

The cast is largely unknown. You may recognize Christine Elise from “ER.”