‘Night’ Never Dawns Into Brilliance
“Judgment Night,” a 1993 movie airing on FOX at 8, preys on most folks’ urban fears of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In the drama, four buddies make a wrong turn and run afoul of a gang of deadly drug dealers.
Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Denis Leary star with Leary, of course, playing the meanest gangster.
It sputters midway through, never exceeding its familiar premise.
Highlights
“NewsRadio,” NBC at 8:30: In a fantasy-special effects episode, WNYX boldly goes where no sitcom radio station has gone: deep space. But it’s monkey business as usual for the staff. Repeat.
“A Mother’s Instinct” (1996), CBS at 9: How many times has this plot been reworked?
Lindsay Wagner and Debrah Farentino star as two women who discover they’re married to the same man (John Terry), a scoundrel who has run off with the children from his first marriage.
“Frasier,” NBC at 9: Ted Danson guest-stars as Frasier’s old buddy, Sam Malone. He shows up in Seattle after leaving a woman (Tea Leoni of NBC’s “The Naked Truth”) at the altar. Repeat.
“The Excellence Files,” KSPS at 8: This 90-minute-long special focuses on eight organizations that are breaking new ground in the global marketplace. Companies include Coca-Cola, Rubbermaid and Southwest Airlines.
Cable Calls
“Mystery Science Theater 3000 First Annual Summer Blockbuster Review,” SCI at 3:30: Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo make like Siskel and Ebert in this amusing - albeit late - review of the summer’s top movies. You’ll hear lots of great lines from these spaced-out critics.
“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” TNT at 4: Repeats of the Teri Hatcher-Dean Cain series move to cable. The series will air Monday through Saturday at 4.
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Classic TV Week” resumes with a profile of “MASH” star Alan Alda. Hear how he overcame childhood polio and drove a cab to support his family as he performed in the Second City improvisational group.
Wayne Rogers, Mike Farrell and Loretta Swit are among those contributing to the bio.
“Conversations with Burt Reynolds,” TNN at 7: Reynolds chats it up with Waylon Jennings, Joe Diffie, Jerry Reed and Tracy Lawrence.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Model Veronica Webb, reptile expert Clyde Peeling, writer-comedian Steve Oedekerk, and members of the Mission Viejo, Calif., team that represented the United States in the Little League World Series.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Steven Seagal, 6-year-old basketball phenom Brittany Starr and musical guest Beck.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m. : John Larroquette, Debbie Allen and authors Naomi Wolf and John Gray.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actress Farrah Fawcett and Arianna Huffington. Repeat.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 2:05 a.m.: Author Frank McCourt and former CIA officer Patrick Eddington.