Avoid Getting Tied Up In ‘Abduction’
NBC’s “Moment of Truth” series of TV movies have been hit and miss, ranging from gripping tales of admirable human courage to mundane movie-of-the-week fare.
“Abduction of Innocence: A ‘Moment of Truth’ Movie,” a 1996 entry repeated at 8, falls squarely in the latter category. Katie Wright stars as Clare Steves, the reticent teen daughter of a wealthy businessman (Dirk Benedict of “The A-Team”) who is abducted and held for ransom.
Steves’ kidnappers are a former boyfriend (Lochlyn Munro) and his accomplice. She’s returned unharmed after her father pays a $250,000 ransom.
She identifies the abductors, who are quickly arrested. But when $100,000 of the ransom is unaccounted for, police suspect that the abduction was a scam Steves masterminded herself.
Unfortunately for Steves, her stern father believes she’s capable.
This is all supposed to be special because, one way or the other, it points to the extremes that can befall a father and daughter with a bad relationship.
But a tepid performance by Wright depletes the story of any emotional punch. It’s amazingly pro forma.
Nothing director Jim Contner does catches your attention, much less strikes a sympathetic chord.
Watch this “Moment of Truth” for two hours and you’ll feel as if you’ve been held for ransom.
Highlights
“The Drew Carey Show,” ABC at 8: He wouldn’t perform surgery on himself, but Drew (Drew Carey) has no problem defending himself in his sexual-harassment suit. Actually, he has some very funny problems.
The second repeat episode at 9 is last spring’s May sweeps special episode that features a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” dance-off between Drew’s gang and Mimi (Kathy Kinney) and her crowd.
“Oops! The World’s Funniest Outtakes 6,” FOX at 8: Harry Anderson hosts this hour featuring foul-ups from television and film. Repeat.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 8:30: Everyone at “FYI” mourns the passing of Phil in this repeat from October. Geraldine Ferraro and Larry King have cameos as Murphy and her pals decide to buy the hangout.
“Coast to Coast,” CBS at 9: In an interesting piece, Bernard Goldberg accompanies a 52-year-old woman from Nepal on her first visit to the United States. She provides a unique, fresh impression of America as she visits Disneyland, Las Vegas, Nev., and Beverly Hills, Calif.
“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: A Navy man living in Jacksonville, Fla., shoots and kills a teenager he says he believes was a threat to his family’s safety. This repeat hour examines the legal battle that followed.
“PrimeTime Live,” ABC at 10: Is anyone safe from an assassin? Cynthia McFadden talks with security expert Gavin de Becker.
“Law & Order,” NBC at 10: The case involves the attempted murder of a black Congressman and the death of his bodyguard. Repeat.
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: If you watched Gary Sinise’s performance in this week’s “George Wallace” on TNT, you’ll be interested in this bio of the former Alabama governor and notorious segregationist.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Singer Tom Jones and actor Will Smith. Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Katz (“Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist”) and singer Paula Cole.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Queen Latifah and Dick Van Patten.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Kevin Nealon, Tim Russert (“Meet the Press”) and author Anka Radokovich. Repeat.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 2:05 a.m.: Football analyst Lou Holtz and author/radio host David Brudnoy.