‘Working’ Still Has Its Work Cut Out For It
NBC’s “Working,” airing tonight at 8:30 and 9:30, is a work in progress.
I was unimpressed with the series premiere and still find Fred Savage without much impact as the star of this ensemble comedy. Clearly, it’s the actors and actresses playing his office mates and managers who are getting the laughs.
Not that there’s anything wrong with being a straight man.
“Working” has been inconsistent. Tonight’s repeat at 8:30 finds the staff undergoing sensitivity training intended to pre-empt sexual harassment in the workplace.
Half of the gags are crude, and most are tired. I did, however, laugh out loud at where the story takes frumpy Abby (Arden Myrin).
In a first-run episode at 9:30, Matt (Savage) is invited to lunch by a senior executive (Harry Groener), only to find that he’s there to be pumped for information that could lead to the firing of his snake-in-the-grass boss (Maurice Godin).
So far, the story lines on office politics have been well developed. But I still don’t care much about any of the characters, who are the familiar progeny of several decades of office comedies, most of them long forgotten.
Highlights
“Dynasty: The Nehru-Gandhi Story,” KSPS at 7: Says executive producer Zvi Dor-Ner of his three-hour-long documentary: “More soapy than soaps; more dramatic than melodramas. And yet, it’s history.”
The film documents four generations of India’s ruling family and speculates on a fifth generation.
“The Nanny,” CBS at 8: Fran (Fran Drescher) is hit with a nasty rash the moment Maxwell (Charles Shaughnessy) agrees to be her date to a Michael Bolton concert.
Come on. His singing isn’t that bad! Bolton guest-stars along with Scott Baio.
“Spin City,” ABC at 8: When the mayor’s New Year’s party gets cooking, Mike (Michael J. Fox) and Nikki (Connie Britton) end up together, which is a shock to both their systems.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 8:30: A con man (Alan Rosenberg, “Cybill”) tries to talk Murphy (Candice Bergen) into funding a breast-cancer research foundation.
“Party of Five,” FOX at 9: The series returns with Bailey (Scott Wolf) running the restaurant like a pro but Julia (Neve Campbell) proving she’s not cut out to be a waitress. Which leads to - what else - more family turmoil.
“Ellen,” ABC at 9:30: To recover from her recent breakup, Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) attends a feminist music festival. Sarah McLachlan and The Indigo Girls are featured.
And, my, hasn’t DeGeneres kept her word about not turning the series into a show about gay and lesbian issues: Judy Wieder, editor in chief of The Advocate, also guest-stars.
“Law & Order,” NBC at 10: A hit-and-run accident that kills a millionaire and his young son triggers traumatic memories for both Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) and McCoy (Sam Waterston).
Cable Calls
“Foot Soldier,” A&E at 7 and 11: A 13-week series begins with the role of the foot soldier in ancient Egypt. Richard Karn (“Home Improvement”) sorts out the facts, myths and legends of the men who fought for the pharaohs of Egypt.
“Extremities” (1986), TNT at 5: Farrah Fawcett’s career peaked with 1984’s “The Burning Bed.” Everyone expected more from her stage and subsequent TV-movie portrayal of a rape victim who evades her attacker (James Russo) and holds him captive in her home.
William Mastrosimone’s script, more so than Fawcett’s performance, makes the movie work. “Extremities” hit at a crucial time in raising public (and police) awareness of issues surrounding sexual assault.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Dennis Miller (“Dennis Miller Live”), actress Kelly Lynch and Michael T. Weiss (“The Pretender”).
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor-talk show host Charles Grodin, Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”) and comedian Arj Barker.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Mariel Hemingway, Patti Lupone, Jake Johannsen and Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.).