Sex-Abuse Report On Abc Falls Short

It was just a week ago that I chastised “Turning Point” (ABC at 10) for the way it stacked the deck in an hour on same-sex marriages. I found more disappointment in tonight’s provocative installment examining sexual child abuse.

Forrest Sawyer reports on the case of Scott and Brenda Kniffen, a California couple who received 240-year sentences for child molestation. They were convicted mainly on the testimony of their two young sons, who were among the children they were charged with abusing.

The hour’s thesis is that the Kniffen case came at the height of child molestation hysteria coinciding with the infamous McMartin preschool case and others.

In press materials, a “Turning Point” spokesperson says that the rash of charges resulted from overzealous prosecutors who asked children leading questions.

A “Turning Point” press release says the Kniffen case is one “which many say fueled a nationwide witch hunt.”

But how many sources does the hour present to support that claim? One. Journalist Dorothy Rabinowitz, who is used in four sound bites totaling about one minute. Rabinowitz, by the way, didn’t cover the Kniffen case.

I was also offended by the phony suspense that “Turning Point” builds into this story, waiting until the final five minutes of the show to reveal that the couple’s convictions were overturned - three months ago. They served 12 years.

Highlights

“You Gotta See This!,” ABC at 8: Daisy Fuentes is the host of this odd collection of ordinary personalities with extraordinary daily routines. Action photography using high-tech helmet cameras shows life from their perspective.

Included is a window washer working outside the 98th floor of an office building; the mother of quintuplets; a Chicago bicycle messenger who braves city traffic; and circus performers who fly high on the trapeze and are shot out of a cannon.

“New York Undercover,” FOX at 9: Nina (Lauren Velez) returns to duty, going undercover as a waitress after four people are murdered in an uptown restaurant. The killing appears to be the work of a merciless Chinese hit man.

Nina copes with the danger, as well as the demons, that almost forced her to quit the force.

“ER,” NBC at 10: Ross (George Clooney) is second-guessed in separate cases - first by Benton (Eriq La Salle) and then by Greene (Anthony Edwards). Also, a surprising romantic turn develops for Carter (Noah Wyle).