‘Class Of 2000’ Resorts To Shallowness
CBS’ “Class of 2000” reporting project is a smart, committed effort to explore issues young people are facing as the century ends.
Tonight’s installment, however, is so self-evident that it is practically a waste of time. “Too Soon For Sex? The Class of 2000” at 10 delivers the not-exactly earth-shattering news that most teenagers are sexually active.
CBS correspondents Harry Smith and Alison Stewart travel to Tillamook, Ore., where they talk with seven teens and several of their parents. The hour includes an interview with author Naomi Wolfe, whose book, “Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood,” examines the sexual permissiveness of the ‘70s that she says set the stage for an attitude in the ‘90s that “robs sex of its deeper connection to love and intimacy.”
True, some of these kids talk as if they felt they would be abnormal if they didn’t have sex at an early age. But is that a surprise?
This seems to be the obligatory “Class of 2000” that deals with sex. Talk about going out there and scratching the surface.
Highlights
“When Stunts Go Bad,” FOX at 8: This is a special for people who go to motor races in hopes of seeing a really bad crash. FOX dresses it up as some kind of psychological profile of stunt artists who risk their lives for fame and money. Yeah, right. Repeat.
“Diagnosis Murder,” CBS at 9: Barbara Mandrell and her daughter, Jaime Nicole Dudney, guest-star as a country singer and her daughter, each linked to a murdered country star. Billy Ray Cyrus, Eddie Rabbitt, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie, Billy Dean and Linda Davis make cameo appearances. Repeat.
“Turning Point,” ABC at 9: This fascinating repeat hour profiles Michael Kearney, who earned his college degree at 10. Other prodigies are also highlighted.
“3rd Rock from the Sun,” NBC at 9:30: Christine Baranski (“Cybill”) guest-stars as a mousy research assistant whose friendship with Dick (John Lithgow) turns into a hot romance.
Repeat.
“ABC News Special,” ABC at 10: The summer of John Stossel repeat specials continues with “The Mystery of Happiness: Who Has It & How To Get It.” Some of the hour is familiar: Money and the things it buys won’t make you happy. Emotional highs don’t last. Drugs can’t keep you happy. Increasing your leisure time may not help, either.
Stossel found that happiness seems to come from within, and not necessarily from religion. Research shows that happiness begins in the brain and, consequently, some of us may be born happier than others.
Stossel also talks with an expert who says acting happy can make you feel happy.
Cable Calls
“1997 MTV Video Music Awards,” MTV at 8: Jamiroquai tops the list of this year’s nominees, including Best Video of the Year and Best New Artist of the Year.
Jamiroquai, Puff Daddy and The Wallflowers are among the performers, featured from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Chris Rock hosts the awards.
“Football,” ESPN at 5: The sports network begins a 10-week stretch of Thursday-evening college games with Virginia hosting Auburn.
“Sea Tales,” A&E at 6 and 10: “Inferno on the Morro Castle” launches a new weekly series. The account of this fiery 1934 oceanliner disaster starts out slowly but builds steam.
It reads like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Hours after the captain was found dead in his cabin, the ship was in flames.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Alicia Silverstone, actor Alan Morgan and musical group Matchbox 20.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actress Geena Davis, actor Robert Carlyle, and Martha Stewart (“Martha Stewart Living”).
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: French Stewart, performance artist Karen Finley, cancer expert Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski and gynecologist Dr. Judith Reichman.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Helen Hunt (“Mad About You”) and producer Dick Clark. Repeat.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 2:05 a.m.: Actress Penelope Ann Miller and etiquette expert Letitia Baldridge. Repeat.