‘Murder One’ Opens With New Format
Two things kept ABC’s “Murder One” from being a hit last season: its format and its time slot.
This season, executive producer Steven Bochco has abandoned the idea of stretching a single murder case through the entire season. Instead, Bochco promises several story “arcs.”
That’s a lot less intimidating to viewers who apparently hesitated to commit to the series or never came back after missing a week, fearing they’d be lost or confused.
Unfortunately for Bochco, when “Murder One” makes its second-season premiere at 9 it will be right where it aired last season - opposite NBC’s “Seinfeld.”
Daniel Benzali is gone as attorney Ted Hoffman. Tonight, you’ll see the somewhat convoluted manner in which prosecutor James Wyler (Anthony LaPaglia) makes his way from the district attorney’s office to departed Hoffman’s swanky criminal law firm.
Wyler’s first case is a sensational one. He defends a woman (Missy Crider) arrested in the double-murder of the governor of California and his mistress.
Highlights
“Baseball,” FOX at 5: St. Louis and Atlanta meet in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
“Diagnosis Murder,” CBS at 8: The Sloans (Dick and Barry Van Dyke) race to find a serial killer (guest star John Schneider) before he claims another victim. But when he’s captured, the murders continue, leading the crime doc and his son to fear that a copycat killer is on the loose. CBS hopes the two-hour-long episode will blunt the “Murder One” premiere at 9.
“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: A murder in Ohio raises the question of whether foster parents are adequately warned of the potential violent nature of children in their custody.
“Turning Point,” ABC at 10: You’ll be amazed at what Diane Sawyer finds out about the mental abilities of animals. She meets a talking parrot that can distinguish colors and shapes and even count objects, as well as dogs that can warn their masters that they are about to a have a seizure.
Scientists say we know very little about how smart animals truly are, but researchers are recording some impressive examples of how they use their brains.
The hour’s most memorable segment finds Sawyer turning over her own pet - her dog George - to a consultant who says she can “read” animals’ thoughts.
“ER,” NBC at 10: Carter (Noah Wyle) makes a bad decision that will cost him, and Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) surprises Greene (Anthony Edwards) with the suggestion they go on a Hawaiian vacation together.