Outdoor Buffs May Click With ‘Survival’
A husband and wife on a mountain-climbing trip are caught in a freak blizzard followed by a series of avalanches that cut them off from the rest of the world.
With her husband injured, the courageous woman beats incredible odds and saves them both from certain death.
How many times has this movie been made?
NBC gives it one more try in “Survival on the Mountain” at 9, a frosty, fact-based adventure set in the Himalayas and starring Markie Post and Dennis Boutsikaris.
OK, there have been variations on the theme. And, fortunately, this one isn’t about campers who run into escaped convicts or psycho-killers.
But do you have any doubt from the beginning how it will end? Maybe that’s why the network did not make this 1997 movie available for review.
Post (“Night Court,” “Hearts Afire”) has failed to impress in her dramatic roles. But Boutsikaris (currently appearing in CBS’ “The Last Don”) is always sharp.
If you like the great outdoors and you’re partial to familiar territory, this may be a movie you’ll warm to.
Highlights
“Cosby,” CBS at 8: Hilton (Bill Cosby) works for a children’s television show produced by his daughter’s new boyfriend (Darryl M. Bell) and costarring “Happy” Haliday (Tim Conway), a oncepopular kids-show star who has fallen on hard times. Hilton takes it upon himself to make “Happy” happy again - at his boss’s expense.
“I Survived a Disaster II,” ABC at 8: “Rescue 911” fans will dig this collection of first-person stories (told through home videos, news footage and dramatizations) of people who survived natural and man-made disasters.
“All-New All-Star TV Censored Show Me the Bloopers,” NBC at 8: Here we go again. Dick Clark hosts the latest collection of miscues and slipups.
“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1997), ABC at 9: The adventure leads to the lost city of Atlantis as this slow two-part adaptation of the Jules Verne classic winds down. Michael Caine’s and Patrick Dempsey’s talents get washed away in a muddled, soggy affair.
“The American Experience,” KSPS at 9: Slow-moving “Gold Fever” examines the 1898 Klondike gold rush, which drew more than 100,000 people to the icy north in search of a fortune.
“Video Justice: Crime Caught on Tape” FOX at 9: Criminals are caught in the act, often by civilians with camcorders in the right place at the right time. Unavailable for review.
“Ink,” CBS at 9:30: Candice Bergen makes a guest appearance as Murphy Brown, who has maintained a decadelong “same-time-next-year” sexual relationship with Mike (Ted Danson). Joe Regalbuto (“Murphy Brown”) directed and guest-stars.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: In a continuation of last week’s episode, Nyland (Thomas Gibson) is arrested for manslaughter in the Nathan Jessup case. Also, Watters (Hector Elizondo) fears true love will slip through his fingers, and Shutt and Austin (Adam Arkin, Christine Lahti) battle to become chief of surgery.
Cable Calls
“The Best Intentions” (1992), BRAVO at 5: Bravo kicks off “Cannes Week,” featuring winning films from the French festival. “Intentions” is director Bille August’s moving story of the courtship of filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s parents.
Bergman wrote the script. Federico Fellini’s “Amarcord” (1974) follows at 8:10.
“Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel,” HBO at 10: Embattled NHL Players Association President Alan Eagleson is profiled by Frank Deford, Mary Carillo goes one-on-one with NBA bad boy Charles Barkley, and James Brown attacks the pesky question of why major-league baseball still lacks a full-time commissioner.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: John Lithgow (“3rd Rock from the Sun”) and Australian tap ensemble Tap Dogs.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Cybill Shepherd (“Cybill”) and comedian George Carlin.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Chris Rock and Kathleen Quinlan.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: To be announced.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Kevin Bacon, actress Bonnie Hunt and comedian J.R. Havlan. Repeat.