‘Primetime’ Revisits Multiple Birth Stories
ABC’s Diane Sawyer revisits America’s six most famous siblings in a heartwarming, entertaining “PrimeTime Live” special, “Baby, Oh Baby: The Six-Pack Talks Back” at 10.
Sawyer returns to Indiana to meet up with the Dilley sextuplets, who have recently turned 4. She finds parents Keith and Becki with their hands full. But, at least everyone is out of diapers. These beautiful kids and their devoted parents are a sight to behold.
However, these are tough financial times for the Dilleys, who aren’t sending their four sons and two daughters to preschool because they can’t afford it. And they’ve had to sell their house in favor of a smaller (yikes!), less expensive dwelling. Sawyer points out that one-third of parents of multiple-birth families split up before the kids reach age 3. The Dilleys seem to be beating the odds.
Sawyer also catches up with Cheryl Brown, who at age 50 and already a grandmother, gave birth to quadruplets.
The hour shifts gears somewhat abruptly for a report on Mandy Alwood, the British woman who was carrying eight fetuses before she miscarried at 20 weeks, losing all eight. Like Becki Dilley, Alwood took fertility drugs. Unlike the Dilleys, Alwood and her boyfriend tried to make money off their children even before they were born.
Highlights
“The Nanny,” CBS at 8: Fran (Fran Drescher) calls on Dr. Joyce Brothers to decide whether she or C.C. (Lauren Lane) is best suited for Maxwell (Charles Shaughnessy). Also, Niles (Daniel Davis) walks out when he mistakenly believes he’s being paid less than Fran.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 8:30: Corky (Faith Ford) moves into Murphy’s (Candice Bergen) townhouse as she recovers from breast-cancer surgery. But she’s not prepared for how hard it is to please Murphy and stay on top of things back at “FYI.”
“3rd Rock from the Sun,” NBC at 9: It’s not like this cast has to dress up in funny outfits to get a laugh, but you’ll be howling as the gang celebrates Halloween.
Dick and Harry (John Lithgow, French Stewart) are convinced the house is haunted by a ghost.
“Party of Five,” FOX at 9: Charlie (Matthew Fox) bumps into Kirsten (Paula Devicq) and is stunned to find out that she’s moving back to San Francisco. This promises to lead to interesting developments. Producers recently disclosed that come November, Charlie, now in love with Nina (Jessica Lundy), will be diagnosed with cancer.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Shutt (Adam Arkin) is back on his feet following his aneurism, but his colleagues fear his brain is damaged. Stacy Edwards joins the show as competent neurosurgeon Dr. Lisa Catera.
Cable Calls
“It Ain’t Love,” MAX at 8: This emotion-packed film looks at the work of a teen theater group based in Brooklyn, N.Y. The program is aimed at helping kids bring their true stories of dating violence to the stage. The exercise helps the teens understand themselves and teach others. The problem with this 75-minute-long film is that it is often hard to tell if the kids are pouring out their true feelings or just acting them out.
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Oliver North: Beyond the Call of Duty” profiles the controversial former Marine and radio talk-show host. The hour asks whether his role in the Iran-Contra affair marks him as a patriot or a dangerous zealot.
“Trucks” (1997), USA at 9: Stephen King wrote the short story that is the basis of this made-for-TV movie about a small town terrorized by driverless trucks. Timothy Busfield (“twentysomething”) and Brenda Bakke star in the wild tale, which USA did not make available for review.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Musical group The Cure.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actress Ellen Barkin and singer Johnny Cash.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: TBA.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks and author Doris Kearns Goodwin.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Martha Stewart.