‘Arsenio’ Still Has Some Fine-Tuning To Do
Arsenio Hall, who’s been scarce since his decision to get out of the late-night talk-show racket, stars in his own ABC sitcom at 9:30.
At first blush, “Arsenio” suffers from the sameness that marks most prime-time comedies for a short, sure death. It’s - here’s the dreaded word - a relationship show.
Hall plays Michael Atwood, an anchorman for an ESPN-like cable sports network. His recent marriage to an attractive, intelligent young lawyer (Vivica A. Fox) is changing his life.
Hey, I like Arsenio a lot, but I can’t say I doubled over with laughter watching him cope with the dilemma of sleeping with a woman who snoozes in the middle of the mattress.
And how many comedies play on the idea that men don’t understand women and only make things worse when they try harder to do and say the right things?
Making up for this, however, is an inviting chemistry between the two stars as well as some funny business from Alimi Ballard, a fresh young talent who plays Atwood’s well-educated freeloader of a brother-in-law. And unless I miss my guess, we’ll see more laughs from Atwood’s workplace.
If Arsenio can show us more, who knows. Maybe fan will strike up that “Whooop! Whooop! Whooop!” thing again.
Highlights
“The New Explorers,” KSPS at 8: “Walking Among Sharks” showcases the latest deep-water exploration equipment as scientists go 650 feet below the ocean’s surface to catch a glimpse of a rare six-gill shark.
“Temporarily Yours,” CBS at 8:30: Debi Mazar stars in a comedy that begs comparison with “The Nanny,” and only partly because Mazar’s nasal New York whine is an assault on the ears.
She plays a talented woman who goes to work for a temp agency that will, no doubt, take her into various comic work experiences. In “Civil Wars” and “L.A. Law,” Mazar’s native New York spunk was endearing. Here, it seems more of a cartoonish gimmick.
“Feds,” CBS at 9: The latest drama from Dick Wolf (“Law & Order,” “New York Undercover”) is a hard-hitting, instantly engaging ensemble piece depicting the war against crime and civil abuse fought by New York City FBI agents and federal prosecutors.
Blair Brown (“The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd”) plays a U.S. attorney. Regina Taylor (“I’ll Fly Away”), Adrian Pasdar (“Profit”) and Dylan Baker (“Murder One”) co-star.
Wolf gives us another reason to stay home and watch crime drama.
“Wings,” NBC at 9: NBC does a little lineup shuffling, moving “Wings” to the 9 o’clock slot as it flies to its May 21 series finale. “NewsRadio” lands at 8 a week from tonight.
“Party of Five,” FOX at 9: Bailey (Scott Wolf) seeks help for his alcoholism and reconciles with Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Grace (Tamara Taylor) decides to run for office.
Cable Calls
“TNN Chronicles: Humor in the Heartland,” TNN at 7 and 11: Country comedy from Mark Twain to Jeff Foxworthy is explored in an hour hosted by Terry Bradshaw (“The NFL on Fox”).
“Any Place But Home” (1997), USA at 9: Here’s a USA original movie that throws serious issues - kidnapping and child abuse - at the screen. Half the time it’s slapdash and the rest of the time it’s with hopeless sentimentality.
Joe Lando (“Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) and Mary Page Keller co-star as a couple who rescue a kidnapped boy. But the freed lad begs not to be returned to his abusive father.
Alan Thicke is cast ineffectively against type as the bad dad in this uneven drama.
“The Jenny McCarthy Show,” MTV at 10:30: The former “Singled Out” party girl has her own sketch comedy series. Overrated? Absolutely! We’ll see if she looks good acting or just looks good. The premiere was unavailable for review.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and Anthony Clark (“Boston Common”).
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Chevy Chase, actress Mary McCormack and music group Phish.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Lawyer Leslie Abramson, commentator Lawrence Otis Graham and Zubin Mehta.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Comedian Don Rickles, talk show host G. Gordon Liddy and music guest John Hendricks. Repeat.