Delinquent Faces Last Chance On ‘E’

CBS hits a home run with the latest in its series of “Before Your Eyes” up-close and personal documentaries.

“Before Your Eyes: One Last Chance” at 9 is the story of Juan Carlos Castro, a 14-year-old Tampa, Fla., juvenile delinquent who gets a chance to avoid adult prison by serving time in a state “boot camp” and being placed in a foster home.

Film crews followed the teenager for a year and a half, beginning at the time of his arrest. The son of a prostitute mother and a drug-dealing father, Castro was already an accomplished carjacker.

After his arrest, he was enrolled in SHOCAP (Serious Habitual Offenders Comprehensive Action Program), a program that identifies, assesses and tracks repeat teen offenders.

Castro develops relationships with the arresting officer, the commander of the boot camp and the middle-class family that agrees to help him restart his life.

You will see the vulnerable, confused, repentant side of the obviously bright Hispanic youth. You will see his arrogant, anti-social and self-destructive side as well.

Arrested numerous times and bounced through a total of 30 foster homes, Castro has one last chance to avoid prison.

The two-hour-long documentary, narrated by actor Laurence Fishburne, leaves Castro’s fate in doubt to the very end. Yet it does so without the kind of teasing suspense that shorter newsmagazine reports often employ.

“One Last Chance” is superb storytelling - vivid, touching and thought-provoking. Take this opportunity to walk in this young man’s shoes.

Highlights

“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993), FOX at 8: Mel Brooks takes on the legend with typical screwball results. Brooks hasn’t scored since “Young Frankenstein” (1974), yet you can’t help laughing at the naughty humor and slapstick antics. However, the material runs thin after awhile.

Cary Elwes (“Twister”), Richard Lewis, Amy Yasbeck, Tracey Ullman and Patrick Stewart star.

“3rd Rock From the Sun,” NBC at 8: Dick (John Lithgow) learns that Earthlings aren’t always careful about what we say when he repeats some of Albright’s (Jane Curtin) opinions at a committee meeting. Funnier yet, Sally and Harry (Kristen Johnston, French Stewart) decide it’s time to get their driver’s licenses. Repeat.

“Roseanne,” ABC at 8: Laurie Metcalf is the only cast member who has been consistently funny over the past couple of inconsistent “Roseanne” seasons. She’s in top form in this repeat from February, when she buys a home computer and is quickly “hooked on the Net.”

“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: Long-suffering Jill (Patricia Richardson) finds agony outside the family circle when she gives a little friendly advice to Randy’s girlfriend’s father. The root of the problem: He thought she was a psychologist, not a psychology student.

“P.O.V.,” KSPS at 10: “a.k.a. Don Bonus” is a revealing first-person video by an 18-year-old San Francisco high school senior. Cambodian refugee Sokly Ny - who goes by his American name, Don Bonus - takes you into the world of a poor Southeast Asian-immigrant family struggling to survive in one of San Francisco’s toughest neighborhoods.

Cable Calls

“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: An entertaining hour traces the history of Zorro. The mysterious hero first appeared in a pulp magazine story titled “The Curse of Capistrano.”

He would live on in comics, movies and television.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr., one of many who played the masked rider, is among those who comment.

“MTV Unplugged,” MTV at 9: Tori Amos performs material from “Boys for Pele” and previous albums. Songs include “Cornflake Girl,” “Blood Roses” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Taped in April at New York City’s Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Talk Time

“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Two-time NCAA golf champion Tiger Woods.

“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Musician Jimmy Buffet.

“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Lenny Clarke (“The John Larroquette Show”).