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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘48 Hours’ Examines Lying

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

CBS’ “48 Hours” at 10 has always had a knack for taking an everyday topic and turning it into an intriguing thematic hour.

The subject of deception is fertile ground for the correspondents to examine why and how some people avoid the truth.

The main story is a profile of a Faison, N.C., preacher known for more than a decade as Calvin Jackson. The small community was shocked when he was arrested by FBI agents, identified as Curtis Jackson and charged with second-degree murder in a Florida killing. Jackson says he killed in response to a racially motivated attack.

Susan Spencer looks at how the preacher managed to live a lie for so many years, tapping University of California psychologist Paul Ekman, an expert on lying. Ekman uses former Los Angles Police Department Detective Mark Furhman and convicted child killer Susan Smith as examples.

Also, Alison Stewart talks with an expert on children and lying who says lying is a natural behavior that kids learn from their parents. And you’ll meet a man who came forward to clear his conscience 30 years after finding a missing wallet and making no effort to return it and the cash it contained.

Highlights

“NBA Basketball,” NBC at 6: Utah Jazz visits the Houston Rockets for game 6 of the best-of-seven game conference championship series. Utah leads the series 3-2.

“Martin,” FOX at 8: Martin (Martin Lawrence) gets called for jury duty at a critical time in his and Gina’s (Tisha Campbell) baby-making schedule.

“Mystery!” KSPS at 8: In “The Red Circle,” Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is approached by a boardinghouse owner who is troubled by a boarder who demands to be left to himself. The sleuth finds that the suspicious tenant is linked to a murderous secret society.

“Moloney,” CBS at 9: In a sluggish repeat, Moloney (Peter Strauss) works with a police officer (Jeremy Roberts) who accidentally shoots and kills his partner. Meanwhile, he must decide whether to punish his daughter (Ashley Johnson) for sneaking off to see an R-rated movie.

“Murder One,” ABC at 9: Wyler’s (Anthony LaPaglia) harrowing association with serial killer Clifford Banks (Pruitt Taylor Vince) concludes with a remarkable turn of events and a shocking revelation. And there’s a surprise from Esther Kettering (Ellen Albertini Dow) concerning the death of her twin sister.

The six-episode “miniseries” is evidence that this is the best drama to be canceled in a long time. LaPaglia is terrific, and the writing here is in a league with “Law & Order” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” two series that struggled early, but NBC had the good sense to keep on the air long enough to build an audience.

Cable Calls

“The Paleface” (1948), AMC at 4:15: A daylong AMC celebration of Bob Hope’s 94th birthday includes “Paleface,” followed by “Son of Paleface” at 6. In the original, Hope plays a hapless dentist who has gone West, where he encounters Calamity Jane (Jane Russell).

The two stars were joined by Roy Rogers in the 1952 sequel. These are two of Hope’s better films and still fun if you like sight gags and zany comedy.

“Poison Ivy” (1992), TNT at 5: A fair amount of talent is squandered in this made-for-cable melodrama about a very bad girl (Drew Barrymore) who disrupts a well-off but troubled family (Tom Skerritt, Cheryl Ladd, Sara Gilbert).

Dad’s a drunk, mom is dying, and the teen daughter is pathologically shy. Take two Prozac and enjoy.

Talk Time

“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Kelly Preston, commentator George Stephanopoulos and musical group Verve Pipe.

“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Jerry Seinfeld (“Seinfeld”), David Duchovny (“The X-Files”) and singers Bonnie Raitt and Bryan Adams. Repeat.