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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Abc Looks Into ‘Mystery Of Happiness’

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

Are you happy right now? Do you know how to get happy? Do you know how to stay happy?

ABC’s John Stossel has been looking into what makes people happy, and he’s come up with fascinating answers in “The Mystery of Happiness: Who Has It & How To Get It” at 10.

Don’t tune in thinking the hour can turn your life around. Most of this you probably already know: Money and the things it buys won’t make you happy. Emotional highs don’t last. Drugs can’t keep you happy. Increasing your leisure time may not help, either.

Stossel found that happiness seems to come from within and not necessarily from religion. Research shows that happiness begins in the brain. And some of us may by born happier than others.

Stossel also talks with an expert who says acting happy can make you feel happy. And a researcher studying the Amish community - they’re happy - says that having a sense of communal values helps.

Once again Stossel has taken an everyday subject and opened it up into a thoughtful, reflective and entertaining special.

This time he reveals something about himself. He’s not that happy.

But he interviews his 91-year old father, who says he’s very happy.

So, John, there’s still hope.

Highlights

“Melrose Place,” FOX at 8: Brad Johnson (“Courthouse”) joins the cast in the recurring role of Dr. Dominick O’Malley, one of Matt’s (Doug Savant) medical school professors who specializes in child abuse. He’s called upon to determine if Laurie’s (Justine Priestley) son has been abused.

On a more melodramatic note, Kimberly’s (Marcia Cross) schizophrenia intensifies.

“High Incident,” ABC at 9: Marsh (David Keith) has to practice “tough love” when his teen daughter (Mena Suvari) breaks the law. Also, Richie’s (Julio Oscar Mechoso) preoccupation with his upcoming trial nearly costs Van Kamp (Catherine Kellner) her life.

“Deadly Web” (1996), NBC at 9: Deadly dull. Gigi Rice (“The John Larroquette Show”) stumbles through this alleged thriller about a hospital librarian (she goes to work in spike heels and midthigh miniskirts) who is harassed by an on-line sicko.

Andrew Lawrence (“Brotherly Love”) plays her son. Ed Marinaro (“Sisters”) is the softhearted cop. John Wesley Shipp (“The Flash”) is the resident physician who, gee, has a weird glint in his eye every time he flirts with the librarian.

“Profit,” FOX at 9: Just as they think they’re about to expose Profit (Adrian Pasdar), Joanne and Jack (Lisa Zane, Scott Paulin) walk into another of his diabolic traps. If you liked “Twin Peaks,” check out this intriguing new series.

Cable Calls

“100 Years of Olympic Glory,” TBS at 5:05 and 8:05: Atlanta-based TBS salutes the history of the summer games in this inspiring three-hour-long documentary. It recounts many familiar Olympic moments. But it’s strongest when it tells more obscure tales of glory in intimate detail.

“Carolina Skeletons” (1991), LIF at 9: Louis Gossett Jr. plays a soldier who returns to his South Carolina home to find that there’s plenty of reason to believe his brother was executed for a crime he didn’t commit. Bruce Dern co-stars in this above-average TV-movie drama.

“House of Style: Paris Edition,” MTV at 10:30: Hosts Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow invade Paris, checking out the big fashion shows, visiting with the director of the French film “Hate” and picking up advice from a chic hair stylist. Also shown earlier at 4:30.

Talk Time

“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Tom Berenger and Amy Pietz (“Caroline in the City”).

“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Bruce Willis, Heather Locklear (“Melrose Place”) and music group Red Hot Chili Peppers. Repeat.