Abc Special Explores The Need For ‘Greed’
“Greed With John Stossel” (ABC at 10) takes an innocent question and turns it into a thoughtful and engaging news special, one that restores one’s faith that television news doesn’t have to beat you over the head with sensational subject matter or bore you with politics.
Essentially, Stossel asks if greed is a bad thing. Of course it is. That’s everyone’s first impression. But in a variety of clever ways, Stossel and several experts explain that, without greed, civilization would probably collapse.
We might even starve. Stossel holds up a couple of steaks from a supermarket meat department.
Economist Walter Williams says they are there for Stossel only because people in the farming, trucking and retailing industries are greedy.
“Do you think it’s because they love people in New York?” Williams says. “No, they love themselves. And by promoting their own self-interest, they make sure New Yorkers have beef.”
Stossel’s experts even make a case that junk-bond king Michael Milken did more for the world than Sister Teresa.
Ridiculous, you say? Tune in and find out why some agree it makes sense.
Highlights
“Cool Runnings” (1993), FOX at 8: Just in time for the Olympics is this entertaining comedy based loosely on the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team. Doug E. Doug (“Cosby”), Malik Yoba (“New York Undercover”) and John Candy star.
“Nova,” KSPS at 7: Familiar format, interesting twist: In “Animal Hospital,” cameras follow students in their first year at Tufts University Veterinary School.
“Soul Man,” ABC at 8:30: In a repeat from October, John Goodman (“Roseanne”) gueststars as Mike’s (Dan Aykroyd) old Air Force buddy, who shows up with problems of guilt compounded by drinking. Goodman reprises the role a week from tonight in a first-run episode.
“Frasier,” NBC at 9: Just when Niles (David Hyde Pierce) thinks he and the always-unseen Maris are headed for reconciliation, he makes a discovery that seemingly dooms any hope. Look up neurotic in the dictionary, and there’s a picture of Niles. See also: Hilarious.
“Nagano: Gateway to Glory,” CBS at 9: Let the games begin. Well, not quite. But CBS offers a two-hour-long preview special filled with stories of athletes who have trained relentlessly, many overcoming injury and hardship, to compete in the XVIII Olympic Winter Games.
“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: Tim and Jill (Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson) rent a fixer-upper to Al (Robert Karn), who turns out to be a troublesome tenant.
“Frontline,” KSPS at 8: “My Retirement Dream,” a film by Marian Marzynski, gets you up close and personal with retirees in Miami Beach - some of whom aren’t living out their dream.
Cable Calls
“Marx Brothers in a Nutshell,” AMC at 7: You may have seen this entertaining documentary when it ran on PBS. All you’d probably ever want to know about the Marx Brothers, including their rather saddening fade from glory (Groucho not withstanding). Followed at 8:30 by the boys’ 1949 romp, “Love Happy.” Not one of their better films, but it includes a memorable bit with Marilyn Monroe.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Chow Yun-Fat and golfer Jeper Parnevik.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor John Goodman and race-car driver Jeff Gordon.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Songwriter Bernie Taupin.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Actress Shelley Winters.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Comedian David Brenner.