Excellent Timing Enhances Walters’ First-Lady Interview
Timing is everything, especially in television news. And Barbara Walters couldn’t have picked a better time to interview first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The first lady of prime-time news sits down with Clinton at 10 on ABC’s “20/20.”
It’s one of those rare times that an interview timed with a book publication date turns into a news event.
Clinton’s “It Takes a Village” will be out later this month. Little did the author know that the ABC appearance would coincide with this week’s headlines that once again question her conduct in the Whitewater investigation.
Walters taped the interview Tuesday at the White House. The first lady has come under new scrutiny since the recent release of two documents that give credence to Republican charges that Mrs. Clinton and the president have been less than honest about their investment in an Arkansas real-estate deal.
Opponents say the new material spells out a White House cover-up.
Leave it to Walters to be at the right place at the right time. This one may have fallen into her lap, but you can be sure she’ll make the most of it.
Walters’ ability to land timely, often sensational, interviews is the main reason “20/20” has overtaken CBS’ “60 Minutes” in the prime-time newsmagazine race.
Highlights
“Family Matters,” ABC at 8: Waldo’s (Shawn Harrison) adventure in Mexico lands him in the slammer, prompting a rescue mission by Carl, Urkel and Eddie (Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White, Darius McCrary).
Mission impossible? You can imagine how these three stooges make out with the authorities.
“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: Included in the hour is a report on the alleged appearances of spirits in an area outside San Antonio, Texas, known as the Devil’s Backbone. Reportedly, various cultures who have inhabited the area over the past 300 years have recorded sightings.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: Tom Brokaw interviews computer security expert Tsutomu Shimomura, who helped nab the most-wanted computer hacker in history.
“The X-Files,” FOX at 9: When animals at a zoo near a reported UFO “hot spot” begin disappearing, it’s a case for Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson). As usual, there’s at least one shred of evidence that’s hard even for cautious Scully to ignore.
“Picket Fences,” CBS at 10: The Brocks are on edge when Matthew (Justin Shenkarow) must cope with a classmate’s suicide. Meanwhile, Kenny (Costas Mandylor) has reservations when Mayor Bey (Marlee Matlin) asks him to be her Lamaze partner.
Cable Calls
“Blue Sky” (1994), SHO at 8: Tony Richardson (“Tom Jones”) directed this multilayered drama just before his death. Jessica Lange stars as the unstable wife of an Army nuclear engineer (Tommy Lee Jones). Set in the ‘60s, it’s a well-acted study of a troubled marriage that endures infidelity and neglect.
“Blue Sky” was shelved for several years, caught up in the financial collapse of Orion Pictures. You’re seeing Jones before he starred in his Oscar-winning role in “The Fugitive.”
His performance seems relatively, and effectively, subdued.
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: A profile of Saddam Hussein is a hellish portrait of a child abused by his father and taught by his uncle to murder. Saddam rose to power by torturing and killing his rivals. Included is an interview with Latif Yahia, former security double for Saddam’s son Uday.
“An Evening of Country Greats: A Hall of Fame Celebration,” TNN at 6 and 10: More than a dozen entertainers are featured, including, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill. The celebration was taped at Nashville’s Opryland hotel. Repeat.
“Boxing,” HBO at 6:30: Light heavyweights Roy Jones Jr. and Merqui Sosa meet in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor-comedian Billy Crystal and singer Alan Jackson. Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Tim Robbins and chef Justin Wilson.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Jeff Foxworthy (“The Jeff Foxworthy Show”) and photographer David Hume Kennerly. Repeat.