‘Bella Mafia’ Characters Lacking Depth
If you got hooked on Part 1 of CBS’ “Bella Mafia,” you must have been thinking, “This thing has to get better.”
It doesn’t. Tonight’s conclusion at 9 quickly dissolves into a bloody mess. After the slaughter of the Luciano men, the widows (Vanessa Redgrave, Nastassja Kinski, Jennifer Tilly and Illeana Douglas) inherit the family business.
However, rival mafia threaten to snatch away their homes, assets and moneymaking operations by making offers the widows can’t refuse.
Novelist Lynda La Plante dangles a provocative scenario.
What if a powerful mob family fell into the hands of the women? What if they had more gumption than the sauce-stirring women of Mario Puzo’s “Godfather” saga?
You can’t say these “bella mafia” don’t have guts. But La Plante, who adapted the screenplay, turns them into laughably improbable characters.
Tilly, as the bimbo Moyra, uses every cliche handed down from Judy Holiday in an annoyingly vapid performance. Kinski’s Sophia is frightfully one-dimensional. Redgrave looks embarrassed as the matriarch Graziella.
Only Douglas gives her Teresa any texture.
With no depth of character, the women exist only to advance the plot - a series of vengeful murders and a “surprise” revelation about the assassin who is trying to take them out. By no means is “Bella Mafia” boring, but it’s impossible to take seriously.
And it’s a shame these women don’t amount to more.
Highlights
“Mad About You,” NBC at 8: Paul and Jamie (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) hire Mabel’s first baby sitter (Lili Taylor of “Mystic Pizza”), but, as can be expected, are totally paranoid. And as a result of a dry-cleaning snafu, Paul ends up wearing David Copperfield’s magic pants.
“Star Trek Generations” (1994), FOX At 8: Kirk (William Shatner) and Picard (Patrick Stewart) battle a madman (Malcolm McDowell) in the seventh of the “Trek” movies that’s really much ado about nothing.
“NewsRadio,” NBC at 8:30: Things at WNYX are a mess - a very funny mess. Dave (Dave Foley) is sulking over his demotion. Lisa is overwhelmed in her new role as news director. Bill (Phil Hartman) has become a “shock jock.” And Matthew (Andy Dick) is sleeping at the station after being evicted from his apartment.
“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: Tim (Tim Allen) turns to the Rev. Mike (Dan Aykroyd as his “Soul Man” character) when Randy’s (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) volunteer work in a hospice leads him to question his faith.
“NYPD Blue,” ABC at 10: Simone and Sipowicz (Jimmy Smits, Dennis Franz) search for the killer of two stripper-roommates.
Cable Calls
“Hidden Hollywood: Treasures From the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults,” AMC at 5 and 9:30: Joan Collins, a former Fox contract player, hosts this documentary featuring outtakes and screen tests from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s.
Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey sing “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” cut from “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”
Jimmy Durante and Shirley Temple dance in a scene dropped from “Little Miss Broadway.” Betty Grable and Victor Mature dance in a deleted number from “Footlight Serenade.”
Collins is seen in a make-up test with Robert Wagner in “Lord Vanity,” a 1954 film that was never finished.
It’s must-see viewing for fans of the great movie musicals.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor John Cusack, Traci Lords (“Profiler”) and musical group Jamiroquai.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Singer Elvis Costello.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Jason Alexander, Gail O’Grady and reporter Laura Ingraham.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Author Seymour Hersh.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: ABC News’ Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, comedian Carrot Top and musical guest Jackson Browne.