Look For Romance, Mystery In TV Movies

With the start of the new season, so begins the long parade of made-for-TV movies, most of which will be more of the same suds and sentiment we’ve become accustomed to.

That is certainly the case with CBS’ “All the Winters That Have Been” (Sunday at 9).

“Winters” is a predictable love lost, love gained story with Richard Chamberlain and Karen Allen (“Starman,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark”).

Chamberlain plays federal agent Dane Corvin who falls for Hanna Raven (Allen). Their relationship is based on a lie, and when Raven learns the truth, she drops Corvin like a hot potato.

Twenty years later, hoping to win her back, he goes to the remote Pacific Northwest island where she lives. Now, she’s living a lie, and it could break them apart again.

My favorite part is the flashback in which Chamberlain attempts to play a twentysomething federal agent with a fake-looking wig and beard. You’ll titter at his lack of youthful enthusiasm and be stymied by the lack of chemistry between these two leads.

Over on ABC, the network kicks off its season of made-fors with a dark comedy about beauty pageants called “Crowned and Dangerous,” Sunday at 9.

The only person to lighten up the piece is Jill Clayburgh as a jittery stage mother who might be a killer.

Clayburgh is a gem as she tries to push her daughter (Yasmine Bleeth) into being a winner. The mother-and-daughter team have an archrival played by Cassidy Rae.

In the opening scene, Rae’s character, who wins every pageant she’s in, is murdered. Then there’s the requisite flashback to show us how much these girls disliked each other.

All the while, you’re supposed to guess the killer’s identity.

Where are Dr. Sloan and Matlock when you need them?

NBC’s Sunday movie starts at 8:30, and it’s a network premiere of the theatrical “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991). Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as a friendly robot and teams up with Linda Hamilton to fight the evil T-1000 Terminator (Robert Patrick).

Movie magic is not on the docket this weekend. You might be better off checking some of the series premieres.

Highlights

“The Practice,” ABC tonight at 10: The legal eagles return for a second season of defending the innocent and the not-so innocent.

Wondering about the guilt of these lawyers’ clients is half the excitement of this fast-paced ensemble drama starring Dylan McDermott as Bobby Donnell.

Lara Flynn Boyle (“Twin Peaks”) joins the cast as a prosecutor determined to win a conviction against an alleged femme fatale named Victoria Keenan (Kim Raver). Donnell has been having an affair with Keenan, which leads to the theme of this show: doubting a client.

Donnell begins to suspect his client-lover may be a liar.

“Mad TV,” FOX tonight at 11: The sketch-comedy series kicks off season No. 3 with Sandra Bernhard taking part in the shenanigans.

If you were worried about your favorite characters, such as the Vancome Lady and Michael Jackson, not returning, don’t fret. They’ll be back.

“Touched By an Angel,” CBS Sunday at 8: The fourth season begins with a two-part episode that which also features the cast of its spinoff “Promised Land.” (The conclusion is on Thursday at 8 on “Promised Land,” where the cast members of “Angel” will play a major role.)

Richard Thomas brings honesty and sentiment as Russell’s troubled brother.

Guess which prime-time good-deed doers help this brother come to grips with his despair over a car accident?

“The Simpsons,” FOX Sunday at 8: Homer in the Big Apple! It’s true.

On the ninth-season premiere, the Simpsons take on Manhattan to retrieve their car and spoof the city’s citizens, traffic problems and Broadway musicals.

“King of the Hill,” FOX Sunday at 8:30: In the second-season opener, Hank and Bobby enter a sharpshooting contest, but it turns out Hank is incompetent with guns. Where is the humor?

Cable Calls

“The Glimmer Man” (1996), HBO tonight at 9: Steven Seagal and Keenen Ivory Wayans joined forces for this fast-paced, violent tale about a serial killer.

Seagal is a rogue cop and the natural murder suspect. He manages to get into lots of fights.

This tale, however, doesn’t have a fighting chance.

“The Execution Machine: Texas Death Row,” HBO tonight at 10:30: In a look at the pros and cons of the death penalty, inmates on death row in Texas speak candidly about their lives, how they are coping and about other inmates.

(Three of the men profiled in this hour were executed during the filming.)

Movie Marquee

“Beverly Hills Cop III” (1994), ABC tonight at 8: In the repeat of this action-comedy tale, Eddie Murphy returns to Los Angeles as fast-talking Axel Foley. This time he’s chasing after counterfeiters, and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) is along for the ride as well.

Bronson Pinchot returns as Serge, a character from the first “Cop” movie. He brings in most of the laughs in this tale that’s heavy on action.