Suspense Moves ‘Seduction’ Along
All you need to know about the “The Babysitter’s Seduction” (NBC at 9) is in the title.
But despite the murder-mystery’s copious plot gaps and a theme that panders to a societal taboo, it dashes along with a what-can-happen-next suspense.
Stephen Collins stars as a rich businessman in his mid-40s who, after his wife’s shocking suicide, seeks comfort in the arms of the family’s 18-year-old babysitter (Keri Russell).
The spark ignites too soon for a grieving husband. And you don’t have to be Mickey Spillane to figure out the death in the family was no suicide.
Police (Phylicia Rashad plays a detective) eventually rule the death a murder and focus their investigation on the babysitter as well as a man with whom the dead woman had recently ended an affair.
Russell is beautiful. Too bad her character is not nearly as well developed as her body. What? Tori Spelling was unavailable?
Collins opens up the movie with an intentionally over-the-top performance.
He’s better than the material but makes the most of it as a wide-eyed, maniacal caricature, turning the 1996 telefilm into one of those B-movie babysitter horror pictures. Not exactly what the producers originally intended, one suspects.
Highlights
“Innocent Victims” (1996), ABC at 8: In concluding Part 2, defense lawyers (Rick Schroder, Tom Irwin) win convicted murderer Tim Hennis (John Corbett) a retrial.
Moving at a faster pace than last night’s opening two hours, the story mixes investigative legwork and courtroom drama.
But the payoff is an anticlimax, and Schroder never persuades us he is the determined young lawyer.
“Melrose Place,” FOX at 8: Jack’s father (David Groh) returns, angry enough at Amanda (Heather Locklear) to want her dead.
Brooke and Billy (Kristin Davis, Andrew Shue) try getting help from a marriage counselor, but Jake and Jane (Grant Show, Josie Bissett) get together without any guidance.
“The American Experience,” KSPS at 9: A two-hour biography of Richard Daley, the Chicago mayor and political boss whose six-term reign defined machine politics.
“He changed the nature of urban politics,” says producer Barak Goodman.
But as the film shows, he failed to respond to the tide of change brought by the civil-rights movement and the Vietnam War.
This is a must-see for political junkies.
“Murder One,” ABC at 10: Finally, the Jessica Costello murder trial begins. But Hoffman (Daniel Benzali) is immediately shocked by news from outside the courtroom.
And that snake-in-the-grass Cross (Stanley Tucci) gives the lawyer further reason to suspect he’s the killer.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Sandra Bernhard (“Roseanne”) guest stars as a new lawyer who defends Hancock (Vondie Curtis Hall) in a negligence suit. Giancarlo Esposito (“Bakersfield P.D.”) guest-stars as an HIV-positive drag queen.
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: “Rush Limbaugh: Always Right” profiles the conservative talk-show host whose influence, some say, paved the way for the 1994 “Republican Revolution.”
Former George Bush presidential campaign manager Mary Matalin discusses Limbaugh’s role as conservative catalyst.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Jay Thomas and actress Salma Hayek.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley and blues singermusician B.B. King.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Larry King (“Larry King Live”), comedian Jeff Garlin and musical guest Johnny Johnson. Repeat.
xxxx Cable Calls New York Times Syndicate “The Super Bowl at 30: Big Game America,” TNT at 5, 7 and 8: You may have forgotten that there were 30,000 empty seats for the first AFL-NFL World Championship game. People scoffed at the postseason affair that, 30 years later, has developed into a national ritual. The highlights and interviews with NFL greats Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann and Joe Montana, among them - are such a treat for grid fans that the super hyperbole can be overlooked.