‘Murder, She Wrote’ Misfires
Someone must have said, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” But the idea to develop a murder tale set behind the scenes of a “Friends”-like sitcom misfires on CBS’ “Murder, She Wrote” at 8.
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is in Hollywood filming her segments of an Alfred Hitchcock special, a pet project of the producer (Cindy Katz) of the hit comedy “Buds.” But under pressure by the network to cut costs, one of the six “Buds” cast members has to be written out of the series.
You’re not exactly surprised when the producer is murdered (bludgeoned with her lap-top computer) and her “top-secret” script revealing who gets the ax turns out to be a phony rewrite.
“Murder” producers have done such a poor job of imitating “Friends” that it’s a constant distraction. It points to how anachronistic the mystery series has become after 12 seasons.
I adore Lansbury, but this show is worlds apart from the rest of television; it’s a dinosaur that CBS doomed to extinction when the network moved it from its Sunday night slot.
“Who would have thought a group of twentysomething young people sitting around all day discussing their sexuality would turn out to be a top TV show?” Jessica asks a friend at lunch.
She just doesn’t get it. And apparently no one else at “Murder” does either, because this hour is a real clunker.
Highlights
“Friends,” NBC at 8: When we last left Ross and Rachel (David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston), they were in the middle of a deep, wet kiss. This week, they are expected to consummate their refound romance.
Reportedly, viewer reaction to their earlier breakup caused producers to get them back together. We’ll see how they fare this time.
Also, Tom Selleck guest-stars as an old family friend of Monica’s (Courteney Cox), whom she now sees in a new light.
“The Single Guy,” NBC at 8:30: The gang suspects that Sam (Joey Slotnick) is messing around with - unlikely as it may seem - Grammy-winner Paula Abdul. She’s working on a record at his studio, and he’s putting in a lot of extra hours.
It’s just unlikely enough to produce laughs.
“Boiling Point” (1993), ABC at 9: Wesley Snipes is a federal agent out to get a deadly con artist (Dennis Hopper) who murdered his friend and colleague. An ordinary action-thriller, it heats up, thanks largely to Snipes, but never comes to a boil.
“New York Undercover,” FOX at 9: A searing episode involves the investigation of a pair of organized crime related murders, apparently the work of a trio of teenage Rwandan refugees recruited as mob hit men.
“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: The newsmagazine often handles soft topics as well as its weightier challenges. This hour addresses home repairs, with a focus on ways you can avoid costly mistakes.
“ER,” NBC at 10: As foreshadowed last week, Benton confronts Vucelich (Ron Rifkin) after discovering he’s been manipulating his study of the “clamp and run” procedure. Ross (George Clooney) is surprised by his father (guest-star James Farentino), who shows up to heal old wounds.
A rumor spreads that Greene and Lewis (Anthony Edwards, Sherry Stringfield) are dating, and we see a new side of Carter (Noah Wyle).
Cable Calls
“The Life and Times of Tennessee Ernie Ford,” TNN at 5 and 9: If you are old enough to remember country legend Ford (1919-91), you’ll delight in this nostalgic hour. Home movies and interviews with friends and family supplement footage from his two television series and other tube appearances.
You’ll learn that the quiet, unassuming star had a pea-pickin’ heart of gold.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: The NBA’s Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Lauren Holly (“Picket Fences”) and singer Tori Amos.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Music group Soul Asylum and comedian George Wallace.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actress Samantha Mathis and strong-man Mark Henry.