High School Drama Series Will Stay Off Honor Roll
Montel Williams is a can-do kind of guy, a former naval intelligence officer who has become a successful talk-show host. Now he stars in CBS’ “Matt Waters” at 9.
Williams can act, though just barely, and this may be a perfect vehicle. He plays a retired naval officer who returns to his high school as a science teacher.
But whether anyone will care much about the romanticized ups-and-downs of life in a tough urban school remains to be seen.
The problem with Matt Waters is that we’ve seen it for years in shows such as “Mr. Novak,” “Room 222,” “Fame,” “The Bronx Zoo” and as recently as 1990’s short-lived “Hull High.”
And these days, just about everyone knows that the problems of America’s city schools are too complex for television’s cavalier in-rides-the-hero treatment.
Powers arrives on the scene enthusiastic and overconfident. That he’s not 100 percent successful gives this series some credibility.
In tonight’s premiere, he blows it more than once. Next week’s episode, however, is more old-fashioned and altruistic.
Sam McMurray co-stars as football coach Charlie Sweet. Kristen Wilson plays African-American studies teacher Nicole Moore.
Williams is a fresh face, and that’s good. But don’t expect “Matt Waters” to make the grade.
Highlights
“All-New All-Star TV Censored Bloopers - Unplugged!” NBC at 8: Outtakes from “Baywatch” and a number of NBC comedies are featured. Also, Tim Conway shares news bloopers he collected years ago while working as a TV news director.
“Ellen,” ABC at 8: Paige (Joely Fisher) invites Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) to an exclusive birthday party for John Travolta. You won’t see Travolta, but the half-hour includes a cameo by Ron Palillo, the unforgettable Horshack of “Welcome Back Kotter.”
“Dave’s World,” CBS at 8: Here’s a story line as old as time: Dave and Beth (Harry Anderson, DeLane Matthews) find out they’re not legally married. To straighten things out, they revisit the hippie “minister” (Tim Thomerson) who performed the ceremony.
“Beverly Hills, 90210,” FOX at 8: Nepotism: It’s not pretty. Randy Spelling - Tori’s brother and Aaron’s son - guest-stars as one of Steve’s (Ian Ziering) stepbrothers. Also, Brandon (Jason Priestley) is uneasy when Susan (Emma Caulfield) is visited by a former boyfriend (Carl Evans).
“Great Performances,” KSPS at 8: Sweden’s Inger Aby adapted this film version of Stravinsky’s neo-Mozartean opera, “The Rake’s Progress.” It’s the tale of country lad Tom Rakewell (Greg Fedderly), who is lured to London, where he’s offered riches and pleasures of the flesh by the evil Nick Shadow (Hakan Hagegard).
“Bless This House,” CBS at 8:30: Burt and Alice (Andrew Clay, Cathy Moriarty) face off in a bowling match to determine who will visit the doctor for a permanent solution to their birth-control concerns. Tacky.
“American Gothic,” CBS at 10: The dark drama returns to prime time on a new night with Merlyn (Sarah Paulson) returning from the dead to romance a teenager (Danny Masterson) disliked by Sheriff Buck (Gary Cole).
“Law & Order,” NBC at 10: In an emotionally charged hour, Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) try to determine if a high school student (Jack Vinson) linked to an anti-Semitic yearbook prank murdered an art teacher. In court, McCoy (Sam Waterston) takes on a “Klan” lawyer (Chris Cooper).
Cable Calls
“American Justice,” A&E at 6 and 10: Seeing is not believing. This compelling hour examines four great hoaxes of the 20th century: The ‘50s quiz-show scandals; Clifford Irving’s faked biography of Howard Hughes; a Salt Lake City forgery scam that led to two deaths; and the explosive case of Tawana Brawley, a black teenager who a grand jury determined made up a story of being raped by six white men.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: David Schwimmer (“Friends”).
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Singer-musician Bruce Hornsby.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Singer Meat Loaf.