Find Fresh Comedy In ‘Usa High’
Here are the choices: Kick off the evening with “Monday Night Football” (ABC at 5) or check out a few comedies, including a new one on USA.
As for the rest of the comedies, you know the summer routine: It’s repeat city.
Football action gets under way in Mexico City, where the Denver Broncos take on the Miami Dolphins in an exhibition game.
The repeat comedy action is found on both NBC and CBS.
USA has fresh material from “Saved by the Bell” creator Peter Engel.
His new comedy “USA High” at 5:30 is “Bell” with new faces and an international appeal. The series is set in Paris.
The action centers around six teens, one of whom (Josh Holland) wants to go home. He devises a plan to get back to the states and then regrets his move after meeting one of his new roomies.
It’s clean, wholesome fun, the kind you would expect from Engel. This series, clad with a strict headmaster (Nicholas Guest), is for a whole new generation of teens who were too young to appreciate “Saved by the Bell.”
Highlights
“Cosby,” CBS at 8: Red Buttons steals the show in this repeat in which his character - confused and befuddled - dates Pauline (Madeline Kahn).
“Suddenly Susan,” NBC at 8: This suddenly-not-so-funny half-hour spoofs the music scene in San Francisco.
A lead singer in an alternative rock band falls for Susan. Vicki decides it’s time for her to do a makeover. Repeat.
“Fired Up,” NBC at 8:30: Few got fired up over this episode in which Gwen nearly breaks a nail over Terry’s latest limit: Gwen’s bathroom usage is to be only 30 minutes. Repeat.
“Cybill,” CBS at 9: You can catch the rerun in which Morgan Fairchild offers up some laughs as Cybill’s rival. Fairchild announces she’s getting married to Maryann’s ex.
“Roar,” FOX at 9: Failed efforts to join with a rival clan cause Conor to question his leadership skills. Aren’t these episodes and Conor’s dilemmas becoming too familiar? Where’s some new material?
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 9:30: Cameos by Jane Seymour and Hector Elizondo do little to bring giggles to this show about Jim trying to find romance with the receptionist (Mary-Margaret Humes).
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Geiger (Mandy Patinkin) returned for a short stint in a show about Aaron’s med-school roommate (Sam McMurray), who is dying of cancer.
Have some hankies handy. This intense hour will bring on tears.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 10: A moving profile reveals how a self-confessed punk became a college-educated professor devoted to helping troubled kids.
Cable Calls
“Angry Beavers,” NIK at 8: This week, the cable channel presents the animated antics of the mischievous beavers Monday through Friday in this time slot. In a repeat of the series pilot, two boys must build their own dam and start to fend for themselves.
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1988), COM at 8: Michael Caine and Steve Martin teamed up for this lightweight comedy set on the French Riviera. The location shots are as hard to resist as the Martin-Caine pairing. They play competing con men out to fleece Glenne Headly.
“Poirot,” A&E at 6 and 10: Whodunit fans will be guessing throughout “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest.” Even Poirot (David Suchet) seems baffled at times, especially by a woman (Caroline Langrishe) who fears her husband.
“Apache Drums” (1951), AMC at 9:15: This so-so western sticks to the age-old formula: Gambler (Stephen McNally) single-handedly defends a town against attacking Native-Americans. I’d like to think that these movies prove we’ve come a long way since those racist days.