‘Connections’ Suffers From Lack Of Talent
Showtime’s “The Right Connections” at 8 is built on a worn premise and gets no help from a cast that has connections but little talent.
It’s the story of four siblings who try to win a talent show to help their single mom pay for her unfinished education and spare her from her deadend job.
Typically, they get help from an unlikely source.
The Thompkins kids are played by Brian, Elizabeth and Emily Hart, and Alexandra Hart-Gilliams. They’re the younger sibs of Melissa Joan Hart (“Clarissa Explains It All,” “Sabrina, The Teenaged Witch”), who appears in a small role.
Their mother, Paula Hart, produced the cable movie.
The kids set out to help their mom (Belinda Metz) by winning the cash prize in an amateur hip-hop contest. With the help of a wiley cab driver (Melissa Joan Hart), they trick a failing hip-hop star (MC Hammer) into becoming their coach.
The Hart children have a long way to go before they match big sister’s charm and talent.
But Hammer is the theatrical equivalent of a pair of cement overshoes. His clownish, over-the-top performance sinks the effort before it has a chance.
Whether the kids win or lose is always irrelevant to this plot. Either way, something good will come in the end.
But I can’t imagine who will stay with this one long enough to find out.
Highlights
“Football,” FOX at 5: The St. Louis Rams meet the Dallas Cowboys in NFL preseason play.
“Step By Step,” ABC at 8: Carol and Jean-Luc (Suzanne Somers, Bronson Pinchot) go into business together, leaving Frank (Patrick Duffy) worried that he will assume all the household duties.
“Ordinary/Extraordinary,” CBS at 8: You’ll be inspired by young burn victims attending a special camp near Houston and amazed by quick-draw champion Bob Munden of Montana.
“Boy Meets World,” ABC at 8:30: Eric (Will Friedle) pretends to be a Harvard student in order to win a spot on “Singled Out.” Chris Hardwick of the MTV game show guest-stars. Repeat.
“JAG,” CBS at 9: Tracey Needham fans will want to catch this repeat that predates her departure from the series as Rabb’s (David James Elliott) associate, Lt. j.g. Meg Austin. This time, they’re at odds over the case of an AWOL Marine officer (Dan Lauria) who takes flight with his son, the object of a heated custody battle.
Cable Calls
“Grace of My Heart” (1996), MAX at 8: Illeana Douglas stars in this nostalgic and entertaining film about a singer-songwriter named Edna, clearly fashioned after Carole King. It moves from the late ‘50s through the ‘70s as Edna falls in with a succession of men played by Eric Stoltz, Matt Dillon and John Turturro.
The music provides a colorful backdrop, and Douglas nails the role, making for a first-rate film.
“Elvis Presley’s 1968 Comeback Special,” VH-1 at 6: With the Beatles setting the standards of rock ‘n’ role, Elvis was supposed to be washed up in ‘68.
Not so. He’s as full of raw energy and sex appeal as ever.
This broadcast is a TV classic, worth watching again.
“Split Screen,” BRAVO at 7: John Pierson returns with his quirky half hour dedicated to independent filmmaking. Tonight’s episode features a bright parody of “Sling Blade” and “Swingers” titled “Swing Blade.”
He also visits the Florida Film Festival and interviews director John O’Brien (“Vermont Is for Lovers”).
“Girl Happy” (1956), TNT at 9: An Elvis Presley film festival runs non-stop through Sunday morning. Nine feature films and three documentaries are on tap.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Kevin Sorbo (“Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”).
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:30: Actors Mel Gibson and Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”). Repeat.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Alan Thicke, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Jeremy Northam and child musician Michael James II.