This ‘Stand’ Just Isn’t Worth Taking
With a few exceptions, this has been a pitiful season for made-for-TV movies. And NBC’s Monday night fare has become a monotonous parade of starlets in some form of distress.
And so, we have fact-based “Stand Against Fear: A Moment of Truth Movie” at 9. It’s a movie with a message: Sexual harassment is bad. After watching, you feel as if you’ve been hit over the head with that message so many times that you may qualify for temporary disability benefits.
I don’t mean to make light of the subject. It’s just that “Stand” is such a typical example of taking what would be a strong 12-minute segment on a television newsmagazine and padding it out to two hours.
Members of a high school cheeerleading squad are groped by macho members of the football team. When head cheerleader Krista Wilson (Sarah Chalke, the “other” Becky of ABC’s “Roseanne”) complains, she’s assaulted by two players. Krista’s parents are outraged - especially her mother Anne (Shanna Reed), the school’s counselor.
The coach and principal “investigate” the incident and believe the star players, who say the cheerleader is lying. Adding insult to injury, they disband the cheerleading squad.
The villains in this story are oafishly overdrawn, and Chalke spends a lot of time recoiling from the unfairness of it all. It seems she lives in an entire town of cretins who care more about winning a state championship than the dignity of high school girls.
Any doubt who prevails?
Highlights
“Football,” ABC at 6: Buffalo (9-5) takes on Miami (6-8).
“The World of National Geographic,” KSPS at 8: The beauty and mystery of Egypt is captured in “Egypt: Quest for Eternity.” The colorful hour focuses on King Ramses II, regarded as the greatest builder of all time.
“Ink,” CBS at 8:30: Mike (Ted Danson) must decide if he will support picketing printers or pursue a hot column idea. Jonathan Katz (“Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist”) guest stars as the paper’s contract negotiator.
“Reckless” (1995), KSPS at 9: A woman (Mia Farrow) discovers on Christmas Eve that her husband plans to have her murdered. Scott Glenn, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephen Dorff, Eileen Brennan and Giancarlo Esposito co-star in this “American Playhouse” presentation. Unavailable for review.
“TV’s All-Time Funniest Christmas Moments,” FOX at 9: Amanda Bearse and Ted McGinley (“Married … With Children”) are back for a second consecutive week, reeling off vintage clips from Yuletide specials and the series’ Christmas episodes.
These things look awful on paper, but they always strike a nostalgic chord with TV fans. Included are scenes from “All in the Family,” “Cheers,” “Barney Miller,” “Dragnet” and “Happy Days.”
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Kathie Lee Gifford: Having It All” examines the rise of the talk-show host and singer. Attention is paid to her squeaky-clean background: Maryland Junior Miss; Anita Bryant employee; Oral Roberts University student and member of the World Action Singers.
“Stars on Ice,” TBS at 5:05: This stellar road show taped Nov. 30 in Lake Placid, N.Y., features Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Paul Wylie, Kurt Browning and others.
“Ice Tales With Katarina Witt,” ESPN at 6: Witt is featured in an exhibition taped Dec. 7 in Long Beach, Calif.
“Bing Crosby Christmas,” DISN at 10: A generation grew up with annual holiday specials hosted by Crosby and featuring some of Hollywood’s top stars as guests. This 50-minute special includes highlights from the shows, which aired from 1962-77.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”), Ron Eldard (“Men Behaving Badly”) and singer Vanessa Williams.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actress Drew Barrymore, 12-year-old weatherman Mathias Pakula and singer Faith Hill.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Comedian Jon Lovitz, Ally Walker (“Profiler”) and musical guest Rusted Root. Repeat.