‘Essence Awards’ To Cite Contributors

Seven African Americans are honored as FOX broadcasts “The Essence Awards” at 8.

Their stories are inspiring examples of how, despite the bombardment of negative news we get from the media, individuals do make a difference in their communities. What has been interesting about these awards is that the editors of Essence magazine take a creative approach when they pick the winners.

Two years ago, you may recall, black men were in the spotlight. This year, the focus is on people who have gone the extra mile to help black youths.

And these hard workers are honored in high style.

Sinbad and Halle Berry host the two-hour-long salute. Whoopi Goldberg, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters are among the honorees.

Presenters include Seal, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Glover, Jesse Jackson, James Earl Jones, Eriq LaSalle and Terry McMillan.

An impressive list of performers includes Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, Chante Moore, Bebe Winans, D’Angelo, Aretha Franklin, Cassandra Wilson, Patti LaBelle and Tony Rich.

Highlights

“Friends,” NBC at 8: In this repeat from February Tom Selleck makes his first appearance as Dr. Richard Burke, Monica’s (Courteney Cox) older friend of the family. Their romance perked along until the question of children came up at season’s end.

“Murder, She Wrote,” CBS at 8: Japan is the setting as Jessica (Angela Lansbury) visits Osaka and innocently contributes to the murder of a motorcycle racer. Pat Morita plays the victim’s father. Tom Wopat (“Cybill”) also guest-stars. Repeat.

“Sinatra: 80 Years My Way,” ABC at 9: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Little Richard, Hootie & the Blowfish, Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Gregory Peck, Roseanne and Ray Charles are among the luminaries who turned out for Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birthday bash.

It’s an emotional and entertaining gala. Sinatra, however, shows his age, especially in a strained “New York, New York” finale.

“Mystery!” KSPS at 8: In “Rumpole and the Children of the Devil,” Rumpole (Leo McKern) comes to the assistance of a family accused of devil worship when a young woman begins displaying strange behavior. Repeat.

“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: A hidden-camera investigation exposes doctors and insurance companies working together to commit fraud. And you pay the bill.

“ER,” NBC at 10: Benton (Eriq La Salle) tries to get a woman (Jennifer Tighe) to protect herself from her police officer-husband (Thom Mathews). Lewis considers putting Chloe’s baby up for adoption, and Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) and Greene (Anthony Edwards) make a shocking discovery about a patient with a missing arm. Repeat.

Cable Calls

“Face Value: The Marla Hanson Story” (1991), LIF at 9: I remember having mixed feelings when NBC made this movie.

Hanson’s story is both horrifying and inspiring. Yet it’s telling is a classic example of exploitive, fact-based TV movies that heighten the suspense leading up to a tragedy or act of violence that we know is coming. Rarely is the rest of the story well told, and this is no exception.

Cheryl Pollak plays the New York model whose rejection of an unwanted admirer (Kirk Baltz) led to having her face slashed. The attack is one of the most disturbing scenes ever filmed for television.

“The Terminator” (1984), USA at 10: His latest films may have fallen into a rut, but you can’t erase memories of Arnold Schwarzenegger in this action-packed sci-fi thriller that made his career. The big guy plays a 21st-century cyborg dispatched to present-day Los Angles to assassinate a woman (Linda Hamilton).