‘Bridges’ Soars Above Turkeys
CBS fell flat on its face this season when it abandoned its traditional audience in favor of shows that intended to pump new life into the lineup and appeal to younger viewers. “Dweebs,” “If Not for You” and “Central Park West” were notable disappointments.
By midseason, “Diagnosis Murder” was back on the air, and CBS even returned “Murder, She Wrote” to Sundays for a while. The youth movement had failed.
There was still time, however, for a success story, and it came from Don Johnson’s midseason “Nash Bridges.” It gave the network some of its healthiest Friday ratings in years. Great news for CBS. Johnson, after all, is still in his 40s.
The police drama returns to prime time as CBS repeats the first run of episodes. If you missed the series the first time, check it out. The role of the fast-talking charmer Bridges is perfect for Johnson.
Tonight at 10, Clarence Clemons (the saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band) guest stars along with female impersonator Ru Paul.
San Francisco’s gang violence escalates after a gang gets its hands on a stolen anti-tank gun. Clemons plays an informer who helps Bridges track down the stolen weapon.
Meanwhile, Bridges’ young partner Evan Cortez (Jaime P. Gomez) goes undercover to stop a rash of hate crimes against transvestites.
Highlights
“Family Matters,” ABC at 8: Urkel (Jaleel White) is again over his head when he challenges one of Laura’s suitors (J. Lamont Pope) to a drag race. Urkel converts his tiny Isetta into a top-fuel dragster. Part of the half-hour was shot at Pomona (Calif.) Fairplex dragway. Repeat.
“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: A segment examines nonsense about a ghost that haunts Los Angeles’s famed Comedy Store nightclub. Also, an unsettling report on a serial rapist and murderer still at large. Repeat.
“Due South,” CBS at 8: When sibling street urchins (Amy Stewart, Shawn Mathieson) unknowingly pick the pocket of a murderer, they need a friend like Fraser (Paul Gross). That’s because what they’ve stolen is the address book of a popular Chicago madam the killer has just bumped off. Repeat.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: Maria Shriver updates the story of 8-year-old Jill Bond, an outspoken child caught in a nasty custody battle. “Dateline” says the original story generated thousands of viewer responses.
“The X-Files,” FOX at 9: After a rare artifact is unearthed in South America, people start dropping like flies. Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson) go digging for clues pointing to a psychic explanation. Repeat.
“Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” ABC at 9:30: This repeat from October reminds me of how much I’ll miss Mark Curry’s uninhibited comedy. When Cooper boasts that he would make a better ROTC instructor than Ken (Kevin Jackson) he gets a chance to find out as he leads a team in a mock war game.
“Homicide: Life on the Streets,” NBC at 10: In another episode from the 1993 season, Bayliss and Pembleton (Kyle Secor, Andre Braugher) continue their pursuit of the killer in the Adena Watson case, with rookie Bayliss making an important discovery.