‘Crisis’ Counselor Faces Own Turmoil
NBC’s “Crisis Center” at 10 offers relief for viewers who may be missing the Friday lineup of CBS crime shows shelved for two weeks of NCAA basketball.
In tonight’s unusual episode it’s the counselors who are in trouble.
Tom Wopat (“Cybill”) guests-stars as Kathy’s (Kellie Martin) devoted father, who reveals plans to sell the home in which she grew up. This triggers unresolved issues stemming from her childhood.
Martin is well cast in this midseason series as a vulnerable junior counselor. In this episode she’s called upon to deal with her own personal crisis.
At the same time, as Kathy counsels a black teenager (Antwon Tanner) seeking employment, she gets a firsthand taste of the racism he faces.
Meanwhile, Lily (Nia Peeples) is terrorized by an obsessed former patient (Markus Flanagan). She turns to Rick (Matt Roth) for emotional support, but he’s too focused on Stephanie (Isabel Glasser) to be of much help.
I like the idea that these characters have flaws. The series’ premise wouldn’t go far if the “Crisis Center” good guys were always the perfect heroes.
This show, which has improved since the premiere, is best when it deals with the ambiguities of social issues rather than telling tidy feel-good tales that border on melodrama.
Don’t expect “Crisis Center” to go beyond its midseason run. But that may be mostly due to NBC’s overcrowded schedule.
There have been worse new dramas this season.
Highlights
“Basketball,” CBS at 4:30: March Madness continues with regional semifinal play.
“Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC at 8: A segment examines the recent discovery of life on Mars and a theory that life on Earth began on another planet. Repeat.
“Millennium,” FOX at 9: The series takes a break from its usual format when Black (Lance Henriksen) prepares a profile of a self-confessed killer (John Finn) and comes to the conclusion he could not possibly be guilty.
“Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,” ABC at 9: While Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) and Salem get into a mess at a cat show, Hilda and Zelda (Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick) ward off a lovesick mailman played by Bill Fagerbakke (“Coach”).
“Step By Step,” ABC at 9:30: JT (Brandon Call) accepts a marriage proposal from a Frenchwoman (Francoise Robertson) 10 years his senior. Jean-Luc (Bronson Pinchot) tries to convince him he’s being played for a sucker.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: Patty Hearst, who has been making the talk-show rounds, lands at “Dateline” for an interview.
Cable Calls
“Getting Away With Murder” (1996), MAX at 8: Dan Aykroyd plays a college professor who becomes convinced that his neighbor (Jack Lemmon) is a former Nazi. Lily Tomlin and Bonnie Hunt star in this dark comedy which, based on previews I’ve seen, should have been kept locked in a vault. Unavailable for review.
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: One of Hollywood’s most-loved and certainly classiest women is profiled in first-run “Audrey Hepburn: The Fairest Lady.” In addition to offering accolades for her acting, the hour shows her unselfish work on behalf of UNICEF, which took her to the four corners of the globe to comfort suffering children.
“Boxing,” HBO at 6:30: Explosive Roy Jones Jr. defends his WBC light-heavyweight title against Montell Griffin.
“The WWF Slammy Awards,” USA at 11: The World Wrestling Federation really outdoes itself with its annual awards show. Included are such campy categories as “Best Hair Day,” “Best Couple” and “Dressed to Kill.” Pro wrestling is at least 50-percent acting (I’m being kind), so why not an awards show?
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor James Spader and critics Siskel & Ebert.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Model Elle Macpherson, David Spade (“Just Shoot Me”) and singer D’Angelo. Repeat.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: P.J. O’Rourke, Dweezil Zappa and Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa).
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Barbara Walters (“20/20”) and actress Halle Berry.