‘Law & Order’ looks to ‘Sopranos’ actor
Is Christopher Moltisanti going straight?
The “Sopranos” character may have misgivings after the murder of his longtime love, Adriana. Don’t worry, though – “Chris-ta-fuh” remains in the bosom of Tony’s crime family.
But Michael Imperioli, the actor who plays him, will join the cast of “Law & Order” for a short run while Jesse L. Martin appears in the movie version of the Broadway musical “Rent.”
“I’m glad to be on the right side of the law,” says Imperioli. He will play a young detective who’s the nephew and partner of Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina) for the final few episodes of “Law & Order’s” current season. In other words, look for him during the all-important May sweeps period.
Meanwhile, on tonight’s “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC, a suspect in a rape case winds up on the wrong side of a speeding car’s bumper.
Now here’s something we’ve been waiting for. The wits behind “The 2004 Billboard Music Awards” (8 p.m., Fox) have announced a new music category: Ringtone of the Year. These are the tunes downloaded over the Internet for use on mobile phones.
George and Ira Gershwin would have been proud.
The songs nominated for the year’s best ringtone include “In Da Club,” by 50 Cent; “P.I.M.P.,” also by 50 Cent; “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” from Jay-Z; and “Hey Ya! ” by OutKast. The winner will not be chosen by a panel of judges or a faculty of ringtone-ologists, but reflects the musical snippet that achieved the highest number of legal downloads over the course of the year.
Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” fame hosts the “Billboard Awards.” Scheduled performers include Usher, Nelly and Green Day, with special appearances by Nick Lachey, Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Ashlee Simpson, Duran Duran and Chingy.
Seacrest won’t be the only “Idol” talent on display. Beaten by Ruben Studdard for the 2003 “Idol” honors, North Carolina native Clay Aiken has his own holiday special, “A Clay Aiken Christmas” (8 p.m., NBC). The hourlong studio special features guest star Barry Manilow as well as gospel singer Yolanda Adams and NBC’s “Will & Grace” star Megan Mullally.
Usher fans should have their remote controls handy. The singer appears on both the “Billboard Awards” and “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2004” (9 p.m., ABC). He sits down for an interview along with other designated fascinators, including talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, real-estate mogul and reality-TV star Donald Trump, heiress and “actress” Paris Hilton, filmmaker Michael Moore and Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, among others.
Bill Nye, the Emmy-winning host of the PBS series “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” hosts “100 Greatest Discoveries” (8 p.m., The Science Channel), an eight-part roundup of the “Eureka!” moments that have significantly changed the way we understand our world.
More than just a list-and-clip show, “Discoveries” is a visually compelling production featuring interviews with several Nobel Prize-winning researchers and scientists. It’s worth noting that 10 of the 100 discoveries are in the field of evolution, a well-established area of science that some people – with ever-increasing political power – still consider a “controversial” theory.
Other highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (8 p.m., CBS): GIs avoiding service in Canada; the growth of Christian pop music; Kevin Spacey discusses his portrayal of Bobby Darin.
A new mystery surfaces on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).
A Republican senator (new cast member Alan Alda) has his eye on Bartlet’s job on “The West Wing” (9 p.m., NBC).
Would-be designers on “Project Runway” (10 p.m., Bravo).
A case grows in Brooklyn on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
A punk rocker and a religious wife trade families on “Wife Swap” (10 p.m., ABC).
“Biography” (10 p.m., A&E) profiles Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.
Cult choice
Betty Hutton stars as the singing sharpshooter in the 1950 Irving Berlin musical “Annie Get Your Gun” (5 and 8 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).
Series notes
Only four remain on “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN) … Lois Lane arrives on a two-hour episode of “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB).
Doug worries about his parents’ marriage on “King of Queens” (9 p.m., CBS) … A hockey star’s secret on “Kevin Hill” (9 p.m., UPN, TV-14) … A loss of innocence on “Center of the Universe” (9:30 p.m., CBS).