‘Grammy Awards’ Sure To Entertain
Listen carefully when “The 38th Grammy Awards,” CBS at 8, get under way tonight. You may hear a sigh of relief.
Many are saying this year’s list of nominees helps restore credibility and gets the industry’s top awards back on track. If you recall, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences came under fire from music critics who decried how several cutting-edge artists were virtually ignored. That was compounded by the fact that the “3 Tenors” album and Tony Bennett’s MTV recordings were nominees in major categories.
This year, Pearl Jam’s “Vitalogy” and Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” are nominated for Album of the Year. Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” marks the first hard-core rap song that has won a place among nominees for Record of the Year.
A nomination for TLC’s “Waterfalls” also indicates the Academy is broadening its horizons.
Morissette and Mariah Carey lead the field with six nominations each, setting the stage for what could be the year of the woman artist. Joan Osborne, Babyface and Glen Ballard are each nominated in five categories.
Even if you have problems with the nominating process, the awards show still makes for one of the most entertaining evenings of the television season.
Ellen DeGeneres (“Ellen”) hosts the awards. Performers include Coolio, Carey, Morissette, TLC, Osborne, Boyz II Men, Dwight Yoakam, and Hootie & The Blowfish.
Highlights
“Ellen,” ABC at 8: It’s Ellen at the Grammys on CBS and in her regular ABC time slot. Ellen gets Paige’s engagement ring stuck on her finger. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Somewhere Lucille Ball is watching and getting a good laugh out of DeGeneres’s wonderful screwball antics.
“Ancient Prophecies,” NBC at 8: David McCallum (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”) returns with another special that’s part history, part science and part drivel. Segments question whether time travel is possible, if biblical predictions of the end of the world may be coming true, and whether our destiny is, in fact, written in the stars.
“Beverly Hills, 90210,” FOX at 8: Kelly (Jennie Garth) is shocked to find that Colin (Jason Wiles) and Valerie (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) have had an affair. What? She thought Colin was the only guy Val hasn’t seduced? Also, Brandon (Jason Priestley) meets Susan’s (Emma Caulfield) parents.
“Grace Under Fire,” ABC at 9: Nadine (Julie White) is pregnant, which thrills everyone but Grace (Brett Butler), who fears it will change their relationship. So when Grace starts spending more time with Bailey (Penny Johnson), Nadine’s feelings are hurt.
“Sailing Around the World Alone,” KSPS at 9: Taste the salt spray in an up-close look at the BOC Challenge. The 20 skippers who set sail in the 27,000-mile solo race face high winds, rough seas and mountainous icebergs.
“Law & Order,” NBC at 10: Actor-comedian Larry Miller (“The Pursuit of Happiness”) reprises his role as nightclub owner Michael Dobson.
Cable Calls “Remember WENN,” AMC at 5 and 10:30: The nostalgic and witty series brings you back to radio’s Golden Age. Tonight’s second episode at 5:30 and 11 features a guest appearance by Patti Lupone, who shows up as Hilary’s longtime rival, now a Broadway star.
“The Train” (1965), TNT at 5:30: An excellent cast powers this unique World War II drama about a group of determined French resistance fighters out to prevent the Nazis from transporting a pilfered art collection to Germany. Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield and Jeanne Moreau star, but it’s John Frankenheimer’s remarkable directing that pulls everything together. The film includes a spectacular train wreck, one of the most famous shots in film history.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Farrah Fawcett and Scott Wolf (“Party of Five”).
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actress Susan Sarandon, actor-comedian Rob Schneider and comedian Louie CK.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m. : Comedian Rowan Atkinson.