‘Hired Heart’ Offers Romantic Tale
Are you ready for a love story?
Lifetime’s “The Hired Heart” (1997) at 9 is the tender and often humorous story of a small-town Colorado doctor (Penelope Ann Miller) who has been grieving the death of her husband.
Enough time has passed that her gruff but bighearted father-in-law, colorfully portrayed by Barry Corbin (“Northern Exposure”), is bullying her into saddling up with a new pardner.
Take one look at the local cowboys, and you’ll realize she has more than one reason to stay on the sidelines.
To put him in his place, she hires a musician (Brett Cullen) she mistakenly thinks is a professional gigolo to pose as a Los Angeles boyfriend who has come out for a visit.
It’s no surprise that they instantly dislike each other. And no less a surprise that they fall in love.
But this otherwise cleverly scripted and handsomely filmed tale is a charmer to the end. Graham Greene co-stars.
Who the heck misses those Monday women-in-jeopardy thrillers that NBC dropped this fall? I’ll gladly trade Miller for an entire squad of “90210” bimbos and other flyweights fending off stalkers, rapists and murderers.
Highlights
“Baseball,” FOX at 5: The Indians and Orioles meet in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, if necessary.
“Suddenly Susan,” NBC at 8: Susan’s (Brooke Shields) mother (Swoosie Kurtz) and Nana (Barbara Barrie) tangle over burial plans for Susan’s grandfather. Vicki, Todd and Luis (Kathy Griffin, David Strickland, Nestor Carbonell) take a detour on the way to the funeral.
“Timecop,” ABC at 10: Chicago in the Roaring ‘20s is the time frame when Pascoe (Tom O’Brien) kidnaps Claire (Cristi Conaway). Logan (T.W. King) follows and finds himself caught in the war between Al Capone and Eliot Ness.
“Stephen Hawking’s Universe,” KSPS at 9: Hawking, now regarded as the best-known scientist since Albert Einstein, discusses time and the cosmos in a six-part series. “Seeing Is Believing” explores theories of the universe developed as long as 3,000 years ago.
“Football,” ABC at 6: The Dallas Cowboys (3-2) take on the Washington Redskins (3-2).
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 10: Scheduled is an interview with country singer Lori Morgan, who talks about, among other things, her marriage to singer Keith Whitley and his battle with alcoholism.
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: A profile of actor Vincent Price reveals that the villain of some of Hollywood’s most memorable terror films was a charmer off screen. Director Roger Corman and actor Dennis Hopper are among those interviewed.
“The Wonder Years,” NIK at 8:30: Revisit primetime’s innovative 1988-93 coming-of-age series in a 40-episode marathon that spans five nights. Fred Savage stars as Kevin Arnold, with Danica McKellar as his true love, Winnie Cooper.
“Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice,”’ A&E at 6 and 10: A&E repeats this outstanding British adaptation of Austen’s novel, starring Jennifer Ehle as outspoken Elizabeth and Colin Firth as handsome and aloof Darcy. The second installment of the two-parter begins Tuesday at the same times.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Goldie Hawn, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and country singer Bryan White.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: David Duchovny (“The X-Files”), Yancy Butler (“Brooklyn South”) and comedian Todd Barry.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: To be announced.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Storyteller Tom Bodett.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Martin Sheen, “Miss Manners” columnist Judith Martin and musical guest Curtis Salgado with Steve Miller. Repeat.