‘Child’ Points To Kids’ Crucial Early Years
ABC’s well-intentioned “I Am Your Child” at 8 spreads a critical message about what we owe our children.
Television wastes so much of our time and is so frequently both off the mark and off-color, we should welcome the effort. The hour stresses that a child’s first three years set a developmental pattern that lasts a lifetime.
Are we doing enough? What is the cost of compromising the love and affection children need to flourish? Certainly, these are questions worth pondering.
Tom Hanks hosts the hour, produced and directed by Rob Reiner and featuring appearances by Billy Crystal, Michael J. Fox, Rosie O’Donnell, Colin Powell, Charlton Heston, Roseanne, Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton.
Celebrity skits are mixed with profiles of parents who are working hard to nurture their children.
But … whoever wrote Hanks’ dialogue should have given it another try. It’s annoying and generally unfunny.
Hanks looks uncomfortable with it. He is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but this isn’t one of his best roles.
Highlights
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 8:30: The fading series moves to a new time as Murphy (Candice Bergen) is stunned by an on-air proposal from a billionaire media mogul (Ian Ogilvy). Garry Marshall is a guaranteed hoot as network chief Stan Lansing.
“From the Files of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’: The Sleepwalker Killing” (1997), NBC at 9: Zzzzzzz. Oh, sorry. Drifted off even thinking about this turgid fact-based movie about a young man (Charles Esten) who murders his mother-in-law in a late-night attack.
Lawyers mount a defense based on the theory that he was sleepwalking.
Hilary Swank plays the killer’s wife who, after some doubts, stands by her man. There’s very little suspense or depth of character as this thing drags on to its anticipated end.
It would have made a better 10-minute-long “Unsolved” segment.
“The American Experience,” KSPS at 9: “Around the World in 72 Days,” an enlightening journey back to the early days of American journalism, profiles reporter-adventurer Nellie Bly. The hour highlights her amazing 1890 feat of circling the globe in 72 days, topping Phileas T. Fogg’s journey in Jules Verne’s popular novel, “Around the World in 80 Days.”
“Cybill,” CBS at 9: To obtain a piano audition for Zoey (Alicia Witt), Cybill agrees to make a speech honoring Dr. Dick’s new wife (Morgan Fairchild) for charity work that Maryann (Christine Baranski) launched.
“Stephen King’s ‘The Shining”’ (1997), ABC at 9 and Thursday at 9: Jack (Steven Weber) discovers old newspaper clippings detailing a murder at the Overlook. Danny (Courtland Mead) enters room 217, where you’ll see the first of many chilling scenes.
Don’t give up on the TV adaptation of the King novel. It gets better each night.
“Married … With Children,” FOX at 9: Al (Ed O’Neill) makes a deal with the devil (Robert Englund) to get the Bears into the Super Bowl.
In a second episode at 9:30, Al befriends Marcy’s cousin Mandy (Amanda Bearse plays both roles), who is rejected by Marcy when she tells her she’s a lesbian. This is pretty heavy stuff for this usually insensitive comedy.
Cable Calls
“Larry King Live,” CNN at 6 and 11: King begins a week celebrating his 40 years in broadcasting with guest Colin Powell.
“Invisible Places,” DISC at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.: This series, which runs over the next three nights, explores life in the underworld. From catacombs, crypts and dungeons to salt mines, tunnels and military bunkers, it’s a fascinating, theme-driven mosaic.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Debrah Farentino.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Kurt Russell, actor-comedian Sinbad and singer Paula Cole.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Montegna and model-author Emme.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: The show celebrates its 500th show on CBS.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Phil Hartman and film critic Roger Ebert.