Victim’s Mother Encounters Drunken Driver On ‘48 Hours’
You will witness an extraordinary meeting between the mother of a drunken-driving victim and the man who killed her daughter and four other people on CBS’s “48 Hours” at 10.
“Under the Influence” looks at various aspects of problem drinking, but none of the segments compares to the story of Edna Vivian, whose daughter was killed seven years ago. Since that time, she’s dedicated her life to raising awareness about drunken driving.
But she shows real courage when she goes to prison to confront the young driver serving a 5- to 15-year sentence for slamming his vehicle into the truck in which her daughter, her daughter’s fiance and their three friends were riding.
The rest of the hour is less compelling. Included is an exercise that’s been repeated countless times on local television news.
With the help of North Carolina state police, a pair of Duke University students consume enough alcohol to become legally drunk. They then attempt a number of sobriety tests and a short driving test.
Grown-ups have seen this experiment many times. However, if you have a teen driver in your home, it may be worth watching together.
Viewed after watching Edna Vivian’s story, it could be a valuable, possibly lifesaving, lesson.
Highlights
“America’s Funniest Home Videos Salute to Boneheads,” ABC at 8: No, it’s not a special dedicated to CBS’s prime-time programmers. And it has nothing to do with politicians, either. It’s just a collection of “America’s Funniest” home-video moments that show everyday people doing dumb things and, usually, paying painful consequences.
“The Single Guy,” NBC at 8:30: Jonathan (Jonathan Silverman) dates his publisher’s assistant (Cassidy Rae), but has a decision to make when he finds out that she’s still in her teens. Also, Janeane (Jessica Hecht), fearing she’s turning into her mother, takes flight on a wild night out.
“Mystery!” KSPS at 8: In “The Red Circle,” Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) comes to the aid of a woman (Betty Marsden) who knows there’s something not right about her mysterious lodger.
“The Client,” CBS at 9: A friend of Reggie (JoBeth Williams) is killed in a drive-by shooting, and Reggie then must protect the victim’s son (Sean Nelson), who seeks revenge by joining a rival gang.
“The Commish: Redemption” (1995), ABC at 9: The latest two-hour “Commish” finds Scali (Michael Chiklis) pitted against a gang of firebombing white supremacists. The clues, however, implicate Rachel’s (Theresa Saldana) father.
“N.Y. Undercover,” FOX at 9: In a chilling repeat, J.C. and Eddie (Malik Yoba, Michael DeLorenzo) search for a pedophile and possible murderer who has lured Lt. Cooper’s (Patti D’Arbanville-Quinn) daughter via the Internet.
“Caroline in the City,” NBC at 9:30: Richard (Malcolm Gets) sets up Caroline (Lea Thompson) with an arts council member (Beau Gravitte) who could boost his career. But he finds out after the fact the date is a married man.
Cable Calls
“The Birds”(1963), TNT at 5 and 9:35: Make a night of it with Alfred Hitchcock’s classic tale of terror, and at 7:45 pm. and 12:20 a.m., with “The Birds II: Land’s End.” The latter, a 1994 Showtime cable movie, can’t touch the original.
The sequel’s shock factor is high, but the story isn’t as well told. And how do you compare Brad Johnson and Chelsea Field in “Birds II” and Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren in the original? (Hedren is featured in the ‘94 flick, as well.)
“13 Rue Madeleine” (1946), AMC at 7 and 10:30: James Cagney is the hero in this documentary-style World War II drama about the OSS search for German missiles hidden in occupied France. Look for E.G. Marshall, Karl Malden and Red Buttons in supporting roles.