Menendez Interview Actually A Sideshow
It was only a matter of time and, I suppose, it was Barbara Walters who was sure to do it.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, the Los Angeles brothers convicted of the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, are interviewed on ABC’s “20/20” at 10.
How fitting that this prime-time sideshow comes along within a few days after O.J. Simpson announced that he would offer, for a price, public tours of his Brentwood estate.
A renowned French cultural theorist once wrote that the reason that Disneyland is in Anaheim is to make Los Angeles seem real. Boy, I’ll say.
At press time, “20/20” had not made a transcript of the interview available. The chat took place June 16 at the Los Angeles County Jail.
Sentenced to life without parole, the brothers will be transferred to a California state prison next month.
Among the questions Walters will ask are how they plan to spend the rest of their lives and if they have fears about being moved to a state prison.
And, as teased in last week’s “20/20,” Walters will ask, “Why did you kill your parents?”
But the questions aren’t very important, are they? For if ever there was an interview that played to people’s baser interests, this is it. Surely Walters can’t ask more penetrating questions than were asked, at length, during the Menendez’s two trials.
Dominick Dunne calls Simpson a modern-day “Elephant Man” - a freak on display. That would make Lyle and Erik Menendez the “Elephant Boys.”
Highlights
“Sliders,” FOX at 8: In a spooky episode, the sliders arrive in a San Francisco that’s invaded by aliens. Quinn (Jerry O’Connell) shoots down one of the attacking ships but discovers that the invaders are not what they seem to be.
“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: A repeat broadcast includes a segment on the amazing survival of a teenager found frozen solid after being lost in a blizzard. Also included is a report on twins research and a 1992 murder of a Boston airline employee that may have been linked to her sexual harassment as well as a multimillion dollar credit-card scam.
“Wall Street Week,” KSPS at 7:30: A guest panel offers an assessment of financial markets at midyear.
“Diagnosis, Murder,” CBS at 9: Newspaper people. You’ve got to watch them like hawks. Steve Sloan (Barry Van Dyke) falls for a female reporter (Rebeccah Bush) who has a nasty habit of killing police officers. Sally Jesse Raphael has a cameo as a psychologist. Repeat.
“Dateline, NBC,” NBC at 9: Bob McKeown has an eye-opening report on how police officers charged with brutality and misconduct are allowed, under special laws, to stay on the job and on the payroll.
“Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” ABC at 9:30: Feeling her housekeeping effort is taken for granted, Geneva (Saundra Quarterman) moves out, followed by Vanessa (Holly Robinson Peete). When Cooper’s (Mark Curry) friends move in, the place is turned into a pigsty even he can’t live in. Repeat.
Cable Calls
“Singled Out,” MTV at 11: The dating-game series acknowledges Gay Pride Weekend with a same-sex show. Gay men and lesbians will “single out” members of the studio audience.
“Splash” (1984), USA at 9:10: Tom Hanks is the boy, and Daryl Hannah is the girl, except the girl is a mermaid.
There are lots of laughs in this romantic comedy in which Hanks displays his wonderful timing and Hannah sparkles as his unlikely soul mate. It’s as fun to watch as it was a dozen years ago.
“The Hand” (1981), TNT at 11: This is a truly bad horror movie, despite Oliver Stone’s direction and Michael Caine’s starring role.
Caine plays a cartoonist whose hand is severed in an auto accident. The hand takes on a life of its own, going on a killing spree and - oh, it’s just too silly to describe.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Dennis Rodman of the NBA-champion Chicago Bulls and comedian Richard Lewis.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Michael Keaton, actor Ving Rhames and music group Goo Goo Dolls.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Jane Pauley (“Dateline NBC”), actordirector Harold Ramis and musical guest “Los Straitjackets.”