‘Mysteries’ Looks At Shakur’s Murder
With the drive-by murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G. still fresh in the news, it is fortuitous timing for NBC’s “Unsolved Mysteries” at 8 to air its report on the September 1996 Las Vegas murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Shakur’s violent demise has all the elements of a perfect “Unsolved” presentation. The 12-minute-long segment, complete with slickly produced simulations, presents three theories, each suggesting that Shakur’s murder was, as one friend puts it, not the random act of “some idiot who decided to pick up a gun.”
Typically, “Unsolved” raises numerous questions but comes up with no real answers whatsoever. That makes the segment little more than a summary of what’s known about the unsolved crime.
But it’s a fascinating case.
Explored are the three possible explanations: that the murder was the result of a rivalry between two rap record companies; that it was a gang “hit” that followed a scuffle Shakur was involved in in the lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel just before he was shot to death; that it was an inside job engineered by a Shakur associate.
The biggest mystery is why police have yet to interview many witnesses, including a key bystander who himself was murdered two months after Shakur’s death.
Highlights
“Basketball,” CBS at 4:30: There’s more first-round action in the NCAA tournament with a regional triple-header and highlights from around the country.
“Family Matters,” ABC at 8: This doesn’t sound like inspired comedy to me: Carl (Reginald VelJohnson) reluctantly invites Harriette (JoMarie Payton Noble) to sit in on his all-male poker game and - surprise - she hits a lucky streak.
“Sliders,” FOX at 8: A bit of “Alien” invades the fantasy series when a stop in a parallel world, where human organ-donor experimentation is out of control, exposes Maggie (Kari Wuhrer) to a terrifying parasite.
“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” ABC at 9: Raquel Welch guests stars in this delightful repeat from November. Welch plays Sabrina’s (Melissa Joan Hart) Aunt Vesta, who lives in a place called the Pleasuredome. She tempts the teen witch to take up permanent residence there.
“When Disasters Strike,” FOX at 9: Video footage of man-made and natural disasters on land, water and air make up this hour hosted by Martin Sheen. Repeat.
“Crisis Center,” NBC at 10: Kathy (Kellie Martin) advises a date-rape victim (Lisa Dean Ryan, “Doogie Howser, M.D.”) to press charges against her attacker, a fraternity president (Eric Dane). But doing so may expose the young woman’s secret past.
Meanwhile, Lily (Nia Peeples) is perplexed when Rick (Matt Roth) rekindles his romance with Dr. Kahn (Isabel Glasser).
Cable Calls
“Leaving Las Vegas” (1995), SHOW at 8: Nicolas Cage’s Oscar-winning performance and Elisabeth Shue’s equally powerful portrayal make this painful love story well worth tuning in.
Cage is an unemployed, suicidal alcoholic who lands in Vegas in a destructive state of despair. Shue plays a hard-luck prostitute. “Pretty Woman” this isn’t.
Director Mike Figgis maximizes the contrast of Vegas’ neon gaudiness with these bleak characters in the absorbing, brutally frank romance.
“The Dogfighters” (1996), MAX at 8: Cinemax’s 8 p.m. Friday movies often provide a surprise. This, however, is a pretty routine action-thriller about an ex-Air Force pilot pitted against a deranged scientist who threatens to bring about a nuclear holocaust.
Robert Davi, Alexander Gudunov and Ben Gazarra star.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Radio personality Robin Quivers.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Roseanne (“Roseanne”), actor Martin Lawrence (“Martin”) and musicians Brooks and Dunn. Repeat.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m. : Phil Hartman, writer Merrill Markoe, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and authorastronomer Clifford Stoll.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Bateman (“Chicago Sons”) and actor William H. Macy.