‘Hiller, Diller’ Interplay Short On Energy
ABC’s “Hiller and Diller,” premiering at 9:30, stars Kevin Nealon (“Saturday Night Live”) and Richard Lewis (“Anything But Love”) as comedy-writing partners dealing with fatherhood in very different ways.
Hiller (Nealon) is happily married and the father of well-adjusted overachieving kids.
Diller (Lewis) is - you guessed it - just the opposite. His marriage is breaking up, and he’s an irresponsible father to bratty kids destined either for reform school or political fund-raising jobs.
My suggestion: Tune in tonight, because this could be one of the season’s early casualties. Though I’m a fan of both actors, the chemistry is lacking, and the kids - the good ones and the bad ones - are a waste of time.
Tonight, Diller tries to get his kids into the same private school Hiller’s daughter attends. Naturally, he uses dishonesty and deceit to pull it off.
The lines aren’t particularly funny, but mainly what’s lacking is any spark to make us care about any of the characters.
Highlights
“The Drew Carey Show,” ABC at 8: Drew finds his dream come true: a diet pill that works when taken with copious amounts of beer. He agrees to pose for a seminude “before” picture that ends up on a Cleveland billboard.
There are big laughs for the big guy.
After tonight’s season premiere, the series airs Wednesdays at 9.
“Mad About You,” NBC at 8: Jamie and Paul (Helen Hunt, Paul Reiser), home from the hospital with their unnamed daughter, turn to Jamie’s mom (Carol Burnett) for emergency advice. Laughs abound as the newborn turns the Buchmans inside-out with new-parent fears.
“Steel Chariots” (1997), FOX at 8: I’d call this poorly acted stock-car soap opera a cross between “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Melrose Place.” Two brothers (Ben Browder, Scott Gurney) fight over who’s the better driver in the NASCAR family team.
Randy Travis is downright awful as a driver-turned preacher. The authentic racing footage is the movie’s only saving grace.
“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: A lackluster season premiere, shot on location on the shores of Lake Michigan, finds Tim (Tim Allen) determined to head off a midlife crisis. A repeat episode airs at 8:30 in the slot originally marked for the Tim Curry-Annie Potts comedy, “Over the Top,” which ABC has removed from the fall schedule.
“Frasier,” NBC at 9: You’ll split a gut when Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) dates a supermodel (Sela Ward). But his friends and family, who never see her, believe his dream woman is only an imaginary friend.
“Dellaventura,” CBS at 10: Danny Aiello plays a former New York City cop making a living as a private eye. Unavailable for review.
“The Practice,” ABC at 10: John Larroquette guest-stars in a smartly executed story of a client accused of murder.
Cable Calls
“The Secret World of Alex Mack,” NIK at 8: In the fourth-season premiere, Alex takes an unappealing job to earn money to buy a car. Kids love this fantasy about a girl who, thanks to an industrial mishap, can “morph” into liquid and shoot bolts of electricity from her hands.
Wouldn’t she be the perfect candidate to enroll at the Citadel?
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Tony Danza (“The Tony Danza Show”), 10-year-old lizard boy Charlie Perkins and music group The Wallflowers.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:30: Actress Nicole Kidman, Gregory Hines (“The Gregory Hines Show”) and gospel group God’s Property Featuring Kirk Franklin.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: To be announced.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:30 a.m.: San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and author Melissa Ludtke.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Jaleel White (“Family Matters”) and musical guest Jon Bon Jovi.