Nbc’s ‘Mother’ Follows Arduous Path
Mel Harris (“thirtysomething,” “Something So Right”) and Nicholle Tom (“The Nanny”) star in “What Kind of Mother Are You?” (NBC at 9), a fact-based movie that demonstrates the juvenile justice system can itself be a crime.
This may not come as a surprise to some viewers, and it certainly isn’t worth the agony of this sluggish and flatly acted TV movie to confirm that child-services workers, judges and public defenders sometimes work against the best interests of children.
Harris plays Laura Hyler, whose daughter Kelly (Tom) is a troubled and rebellious teenager who falls in with a troublemaking boyfriend.
On a night that Kelly is escorted home by the police, she and her mother get in a shouting match that culminates in the teen smacking her mom in the mouth. The police officer volunteers to teach Kelly a lesson by hauling her in, promising that Laura can “pick her up” the next morning.
Laura accepts but is horrified to find the next day that her daughter has been charged with assault. A series of misunderstandings land Kelly in a home for girls and sentenced to eight to 18 months confinement.
Harris renders scenes of teary guilt and angry outbursts, but none are very effective. Tom makes Kelly so one-dimensional it’s hard to pinpoint just when she makes the transitions from defiant to terrified to repentant.
The movie tries to illustrate the role of counseling in bringing mother and daughter to terms. But, as usual, it’s cinematic shorthand for a long and difficult process.
Come to think of it, long and difficult describes the movie itself.
Highlights
“Football,” ABC at 6: In a marquee matchup, the Green Bay Packers (8-2) take on the Dallas Cowboys (6-4).
“Cosby,” CBS at 8: Hilton (Bill Cosby) wins a chance to take home $1 million if he sinks a half-court shot at an NBA Nets-Magic game. Some of his friends make plans for spending the money even before he takes the shot. The Magic’s Penny Hardaway guest-stars.
“Melrose Place,” FOX at 8: It had been awhile since I’d dropped in on this series. Long enough, I guess, to have forgotten how it portrays women as either predatory, vengeful, petty, psychotic or stupid. And some of the characters fall into more than one category.
Kimberly (Marcia Cross) tells prostitute Megan (Kelly Rutherford) she no longer is needed to sleep with her husband (Thomas Calabro); Amanda (Heather Locklear) and Craig (David Charvet) strike a devious alliance; and Matt (Doug Savant) and Dan (Greg Evigan) go on a first date, but Dan wants to slow things down.
“Mr. Rhodes,” NBC at 8:30: Tom and Nikki (Tom Rhodes, Farrah Forke) arrange a date for stay-at-home Amanda (Jessica Stone) and a computer nerd (Andrew Berman). NBC apparently hasn’t given up on this lackluster series, recently green-lighting nine more episodes to close out a full-season order.
“Ink,” CBS at 8:30: Whatever happened to columnist Jack Stein? The acerbic writer played by Jay Thomas in CBS’ “Love & War” shows up when Mike (Ted Danson) and Kate (Mary Steenburgen) are at loggerheads over a new contract. Kate threatens to hire Stein to take Mike’s place.
Cable Calls
“I Know My First Name Is Steven” (1989), LIFE at 8: Stranger abduction is the subject of this gripping TV movie based on the 1972 California kidnapping of 7-year-old Steven Staynor. Corin Nemec stars in the title role (Luke Edwards plays Steven at 7).
Cindy Pickett and John Ashton play the parents. Arliss Howard portrays the abductor.
It’s every parent’s nightmare, but this story has an uplifting ending. Pickett delivers an emotionally charged performance.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Emilio Estevez, Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”) and singer Harry Connick Jr.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: The Duchess of York, New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and singer Reba McEntire.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor-comedian Jon Stewart, actress Natasha Henstridge and musical guest The Cure. Repeat.