Broadway Comes To The Small Screen On Sunday

Sat., June 1, 1996

Faye Zuckerman New York Times Syndicate

If it’s the first Sunday in June then it’s Tony time. This awards ceremony on CBS Sunday at 9 celebrates American theater.

The prestigious award show (this year hosted by the multitalented Nathan Lane of “The Birdcage”) turns 50 this year. To honor its golden anniversary, producers have reached into the vaults and pulled out old clips of winners in each category.

Some 21 accolades will be announced, accompanied by vintage clips of acceptance speeches. It could be a slow go - unless past winners have colorful thank-yous. Approximately 40 past Tony winners are expected to take part in a production number with Lane.

Highlights

“Picture Perfect” (1995), ABC Saturday at 9: Familiar TV faces Richard Karn (“Home Improvement”) and Dave Thomas (“Grace Under Fire”) co-star in this mildly funny comedy about the merging of two single-parent homes.

The families come together in hopes of winning a contest. You can predict the one-liners long before they occur. Repeat.

“The Only Way Out” (1993), ABC Sunday at 9: This mediocre “Fatal Attraction”-like thriller also delivers a cast of familiar TV faces: Henry Winkler, John Ritter and Julianne Phillips (“Sisters”). They easily fit into the roles of overwrought yuppies.

Winkler (“Happy Days”) is cast against type as a sociopathic graduate student named Tony who uses his charms to woo vulnerable divorcee Lynn Carlisle (Stephanie Faracy).

Lynn’s ex-husband (Ritter) tries to come to her rescue, and his live-in lover (Phillips) becomes jealous.

“The Simpsons,” FOX Sunday at 8: The motion-picture industry is mercilessly satirized when a crew for the film “Radioactive Man” comes to town. Millhouse and Bart compete for the role of radioactive boy in this episode that, at times, glows. Repeat.

Cable Calls

“Die Hard With a Vengeance” (1995), HBO Saturday at 8: In this volatile tale, Bruce Willis battles Jeremy Irons’ mad bomber character. The bomber has destroyed a department store and is moving onto bigger stuff.

“America’s Music: The Roots of Country,” TBS Sunday at 4, repeated Monday at 10:35: From its origins in Appalachia to its glitz and glitter in giant concert halls, this three-part documentary tells all about the country music genre. Part 1 traces the music’s start as a commercial art form.

Chet Atkins, Jimmie Rodgers, Marty Stuart and Dolly Parton are among the featured performers. The documentary will be shown in three parts (Part 2 is shown next Sunday and Monday and Part 3 is scheduled for the following Sunday and Monday, June 16 and 17).

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