Abc Serves A Delectable ‘Cracker’
Fans of Robbie Coltrane’s gritty British series “Cracker,” seen here on A&E, were dubious when it was announced that ABC would air an American version starring Robert Pastorelli (“Murphy Brown”).
Would Pastorelli come close to capturing the intensity of philandering, alcoholic psychologist Gerry “Fitz” Fitzgerald? Would the network take on the twisted crimes that the police consultant is called upon to investigate, or would it offer a watered-down “Cracker”?
Tonight’s premiere at 9 (a two-parter that concludes next week) puts these questions to rest.
“Cracker” is first-rate psychodrama with Pastorelli rising smartly to the occasion.
“Fitz” investigates a serial killer whose fetish is to pick up college men, convince them they’re in for an evening of kinky sex and then electrocute them.
To his horror, “Fitz” discovers that the suspect, possibly a female student on one of the campuses where he is a lecturer, is in love with him.
As in the British series, “Fitz” has problems at home with a fed-up wife (Carolyn McCormick) and a son (Josh Hartnett) who suffers from the instability of his parents’ marriage.
Pastorelli is no Robbie Coltrane. But the American “Cracker” is no cheap imitation, either.
Highlights
“Nothing Sacred,” ABC at 8: Kevin Anderson plays a young urban priest who has practically lost faith in God but still is compelled to do God’s work.
In the premiere, as his liberal views on abortion get him into trouble with church hierarchy, he helps a troubled student whose mother (Wendy Gazelle) is his former lover.
I like Anderson a lot, particularly the way he conveys his character’s mental and physical weariness. The script’s guarded altruisms are credible, although the dialogue often seems a bit unlikely.
Brad Sullivan is swell as Father Leo.
“Diagnosis Murder,” CBS at 9: In the fifth-season premiere, Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) helps investigate the suspicious death of a politician’s wife. The guest cast is a reunion of TV cops: Angie Dickinson (“Police Woman”), Kent McCord and Martin Milner (“Adam 12”), James Darren (“T.J. Hooker”) and Fred Dryer (“Hunter”).
“413 Hope St.,” FOX at 9: In the series’ second episode, Carlos (Vincent Laresca) enters the program as Juanita (Shari Headley) continues her effort to adopt his son. Also, Thomas (Richard Roundtree) discovers that a boy at the center is being abused by his father.
Michael Easton joins the cast as Nick Carrington, an addict-turned-counselor who heads the center’s sports programs.
“48 Hours,” CBS at 10: The newsmagazine reports on “road rage,” frightening incidents involving people who have snapped while behind the wheel.
Dan Rather talks with a church deacon who killed another motorist with a crossbow after a driving altercation. Susan Spencer reports on a another run-in that ended in the deaths of five people.
Cable Calls
“Rocky” (1976), TNT at 5: Honor the late Burgess Meredith by tuning in the Oscar-winning boxing film and 1979’s “Rocky II” at 8.
Meredith plays Mickey, the unfailing manager of fighter Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). These films may be mostly about the boxer’s iron determination, but there’s also a clear message that without the people around him - Mickey and his wife Adrian (Talia Shire) - he couldn’t keep going.
Both Shire and Meredith were nominated for Oscars as supporting actors in the 1976 picture.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Noah Wyle (“ER”) and actress Kate Capshaw.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, actress Drew Barrymore, comedian Al Franken and opera singer Placido Domingo. Repeat.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Alan King, talk-show host Bob Larson, website president Danni Ashe and screenwriter Paul Rudnick.