Try Your Hand At Judging Ice Skaters
Remember the scoring controversy over the judging of ice dancers at the Nagano Winter Olympics? If you’re a skating fan, it probably wasn’t the first time you wished you could give skaters a fair shake.
That’s part of the appeal of CBS’ “The Great Skate Debate” at 9.
World-class skaters will compete in this event that will be televised live for East Coast viewers. The judging will be by 5,000 fans equipped with hand-held computers.
Television viewers can post their marks via the Internet on http:/ /www.skate.excite.com. When a taped version of the event airs on the West Coast, more online voters may cast their votes, setting up the possibility for different results.
Among the skaters set to compete are Olympic gold medalists Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Katarina Witt as well as world champions Kurt Browning, Brian Orser, Paul Wylie and Yuka Sato. Nagano golden girl Tara Lipinski, who is skipping next month’s world championships, will not be on the ice.
Skaters will perform an original program similar to the free program in Olympic competition. They will be scored on a range of 1 to 10.
The competition, which will take place at the University of Illinois ‘ Chicago Pavilion, is the first of its kind, but it probably won’t prove anything.
What exactly is the point of turning over scoring to folks who don’t know a triple lutz from a double flip? But it adds a different dimension to make what has become a too-familiar gathering of skaters a little more exciting.
Highlights
“Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction?” FOX at 8: Everyone is capitalizing on the success of “Titanic.”
This hour features a writer’s account of a luxury liner that sinks on its maiden voyage, with many details identical to the Titanic disaster. It was written 20 years before the liner sank.
Is it a true story or a fictional tale created for the series?
“Kids Say the Darndest Things,” CBS at 8: Among the highlights, host Bill Cosby gets a lesson in spaghetti and meatball eating from several youngsters.
“Boy Meets World,” ABC at 8:30: Cory and Shawn (Ben Savage, Rider Strong) are threatened when Topanga and Angela (Danielle Fishel, Trina McGee-Davis) go dancing with a pair of very suave waiters. Repeat.
“Candid Camera,” CBS at 8:30: Included is a stunt catching a trio of TV critics in the act of being themselves. The only funny thing about it is that they don’t recognize host Peter Funt posing as a bellboy at the hotel where the January meeting of the Television Critics Association is being held.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: In an interview with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, Klugman credits his friend of 25 years with saving his life by putting him back on the stage in their new Broadway play.
“Millennium,” FOX at 9: In a repeat from November, Black (Lance Henriksen) asks for help when a self-proclaimed prophet, convinced that World War III has begun, abducts a busload of children and buries them in an abandoned quarry.
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Lloyd Bridges,” a profile of the late actor, with interviews of his two sons, both actors, Jeff and Beau.
“Booty Call” (1997) MAX at 8: Tommy Davidson, Vivica Fox, Jamie Foxx and Tamala Jones star in this crude - I mean really crude - but funny comedy about two couples on a double date.
Although vulgar at times, the message is “safe sex or no sex.”
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor-comedian Robin Williams and Tracey Ullman (“Tracey Takes On …”). Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Gary Oldman and singer Ani DiFranco.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Penn Jillette, Neil Patrick Harris and musician Cy Curnin.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Bob Hoskins.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Michael Keaton, Denver Broncos offensive linemen Tom Jones, Mark Schlereth and David Diaz-Infante, and actress Angelina Jolie. Repeat.