Cbs Hopes New ‘Ink’ Will Be Indelible
At long last, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen star in CBS’ “Ink” at 8:30.
As you must know, CBS decided not to air the decidedly unfunny pilot and first few episodes, fired the original producer, and hired Diane English, creator of “Murphy Brown,” to salvage the series.
She’s worked a miracle.
Tonight’s premiere is an astounding improvement over the original, which was filled with yap-yap-yap and no real laughs. Ironically, these two real-life lovebirds had zero on-screen chemistry.
Now, they share fewer scenes, with more lines playing off a brace of wry co-stars. When they are together, English has found a way to make them soar.
They play Mike Logan and Kate Montgomery, reunited at the New York Sun 10 years after their divorce. He’s the crack columnist. She’s his new boss.
They’ve been apart long enough to be warily attracted. But they’re still plagued by the same old differences.
The supporting cast includes Charlie Robinson (“Night Court,” “Love and War”), Christine Ebersole (“Saturday Night Live”), Saul Rubinek (“Unforgiven”) and Alana Austin, who plays Logan and Montgomery’s 15-year-old daughter, Abby.
Highlights
“Mr. Rhodes,” NBC at 8:30: There’s an old-fashioned moral to this story. Heary (Stephen Tobolowsky) thinks about becoming a professional photographer when a New York gallery shows one of his photographs. Trouble is, the “great” photo was created when Tom (Tom Rhodes) dropped the headmaster’s camera.
“Great Performances,” KSPS at 8: The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with pianist Peter Serkin opens the series’ 24th season with an all-Brahms program.
Selections include Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83. Taped Oct. 3 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 9: In a bittersweet episode, the “FYI” gang mourns the death of Phil (Pat Corley, who left the show after last season). The decision is made to buy the bar and preserve it in his memory. But each of the strong-willed reporters has “a few” changes in mind.
Former vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and talk-show host Larry King have cameos.
“Football,” ABC at 6: The Oakland Raiders (3-4) take on the San Diego Chargers (4-2) in an AFC-West battle.
“Danielle Steel’s ‘The Ring”’ (1996), NBC at 9: The two-part melodrama concludes with Ariana (Nastassja Kinski) continuing her masquerade as a Jewish refugee in New York. A typical Steel tear-jerker, this one is filled with a ration of heartache and triumph.
Kinski, however, makes this heroine less than captivating.
“When Disasters Strike,” FOX at 9: Martin Sheen hosts this hour that revisits chilling man-made and natural disasters. Though interviews with survivors suggest that this is upbeat, it’s morbid entertainment, the television equivalent of slowing down to catch a glimpse of a bad car accident.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Susan Ruttan (“L.A. Law”) shines as an expectant mother whose life is endangered by her and her husband’s insistence that she deliver a severely deformed baby. Back from the wilds of Africa, Kronk (Peter Berg) gets a death threat from a 12-year-old gang member. Shutt (Adam Arkin) goes on a disastrous date.
Cable Calls
“Lifetime Applauds: The Fight Against Breast Cancer,” LIFE at 9: Grammy Award-winner and breast-cancer survivor Olivia Newton-John hosts this inspirational two-hour-long telecast taped in Los Angeles. Among the performers are Sheryl Crow, Kathy Mattea and Bryan Adams. Newton-John sings songs from her 1994 album, “GAIA: One Woman’s Journey,” which was based on her battle with breast cancer.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Paul Reiser (“Mad About You”), actress Jennifer Tilly and a performance by Cirque du Soleil.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Model Cindy Crawford and singer Lyle Lovett.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Yasmine Bleeth (“Baywatch”), actor-director Ed Burns and musical guest Shania Twain. Repeat.