Fox’s ‘Roar’ Likely To Fade Quickly
“Roar,” premiering at 9 on FOX, is one of those ideas that made its way to prime time because network executives couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon.
With “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” big hits in syndication, it was inevitable that someone would think that a mythical series set in the year 400 A.D. would fly. It’s the kind of copycat programming that rarely succeeds.
Playing catch-up with a trend is risky business. By the time you get a show on the air, the audience can move on to the next big thing.
Aside from that, “Roar” is fundamentally lacking.
Heath Ledger stars as Conor, the young warrior who leads his Celtic people in a quest to escape the oppression of the Roman Empire. He’s handsome but not naturally charismatic.
That leads to stiff, forced-sounding dialogue that makes “Roar” whimper anytime the action slows, which is often.
Conor’s comrades include Tully (Alonzo Greer), an apprentice magician; Catlin (Vera Farmiga), a dark and beautiful former slave; and Fergus (John Saint Ryan), his ever-ready protector. Conor defers to his trusted adviser, an old wizard named Galen (played by Norman Kaye as if he prepared for the role by studying the life of Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi).
Hard-core fans of medieval lore will be mildly enthused. But there’s nothing in the premiere that indicates “Roar” will be more than a footnote in FOX history.
Highlights
“Evening at Pops,” KSPS at 8: Jason Alexander tears up the room in this repeat from the 1996 season. The evening includes a tribute to Jerome Robbins as well as Glenn Miller. Alexander reminds us that his roots are in song and dance in several rousing numbers.
“The X-Files,” FOX at 8: The hit series airs on consecutive Mondays to help launch “Roar” at 9. Tonight, a repeat from February finds Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson) trying to explain why Scully has the same form of brain cancer as a woman who claims she and the FBI agent were abducted by aliens.
“Trial By Jury” (1994), ABC at 9: Joanne Whalley plays a juror coerced by the mob to ensure that an organized crime figure is declared innocent. After the trial, she’s marked for death, but eliminating her proves to be no easy task.
William Hurt co-stars.
“Caroline in the City,” NBC at 9: Wimpy Richard (Malcolm Gets) gets a chance to win $100,000 by making the half-court free-throw shot at a New York Knicks game. He gets help from Del (Eric Lutes) and Charlie (Andy Lauer), whose ineptitude leads to plenty of laughs. Repeat.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Wilkes (Rocky Carroll) attempts to save a man riddled with cancer by amputating the lower half of his body. Austin (Christine Lahti) finds the man of her dreams. Repeat.
Cable Calls
“The New Adventures of Robin Hood,” TNT at 7: A second season of this campy take on the Sherwood Forest saga gets under way with Robin (Matthew Porretta) battling to save his former combat instructor. Barbara Griffin is this season’s new Marion, and former heavyweight kickboxing and full-contact karate champion Hakim Alston joins the cast as battle-tested mercenary Kemal.
“Road Rules,” MTV at 10: A new season will take the cast on adventures in the Caribbean.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Fitness guru Richard Simmons and actor-comedian David Alan Grier.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor-comedian Don Rickles, actor Brendan Fraser and music group En Vogue.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: John Bradshaw, Jimmy Walker, Nora Dunn and former Secretary of Energy Hazel O’Leary.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Luke Perry, actress Joey Lauren Adams and comedian Ian Bagg. Repeat.
xxxx SAWTOOTH WOLVES “World of Discovery,” ABC at 8: Spectacular “Wolf: Return of a Legend” takes you to Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains to trace the trials and tribulations of one of our country’s most unpopular animals, the wolf. Also explored are popular wolf legends and myths such as “Little Red Riding Hood.” Repeat.