‘No Laughing Matter’ A Shallow Movie
There’s nothing funny about USA’s “No Laughing Matter” at 9, a disease-of-the-week movie starring Suzanne Somers.
Like many efforts of this sort, the plot can be summed up in a sentence or two: Somers plays a widowed alcoholic who finds redemption for the sake of her Yale-bound son (Chad Christ) when he gets his girlfriend (Selma Blair) pregnant.
It’s probably wrong to give up so much of the story, but that’s just the problem. There’s not much meat to the 1998 cable film.
Somers plays one of those glib drunks who thinks she’s funny as she becomes a pathetic embarrassment. She turns herself around, however, after making a fool of herself at her prospective in-laws and almost losing her job. Robert Desiderio plays a suitor who, initially, wants no part of the mess.
She goes to Alcoholics Anonymous, but you never see how it works for her. She never seeks counseling to address the pain she feels from the loss of her husband, a police officer killed in the line of duty.
Somers’ character seems to overcome a serious dependency problem simply by stopping drinking.
Her alcoholism was precipitated by a family crisis. How can a family crisis trigger her recovery?
The only place it’s that easy is in a soap opera, which is exactly what this is.
I’m not saying that Somers isn’t entertaining nor that some won’t find this tale inspirational. But when it comes to its subject matter, it barely scratches the surface.
Highlights
“Spin City,” ABC at 8: After the pope visits City Hall, the mayor (Barry Bostwick) has an urge to lead his flock with the same divine inspiration.
Meanwhile, Mike (Michael J. Fox) has something of a religious experience himself.
“Cybill,” CBS at 8:30: Cybill and Maryann (Cybill Shepherd, Christine Baranski) plot to kidnap Ira (Alan Rosenberg) and whisk him off to a courtside seat at a Lakers game. But something goes wrong, and they end up abducting a total stranger.
“The Drew Carey Show,” ABC at 9: In a clever episode, Drew is left in charge of the store, whereupon he declares a new “no firing” policy.
Aside from that, ABC is running a “What’s Wrong with the Episode?” contest in which viewers vie for a cash jackpot by identifying the correct number of goofs and mistakes in the halfhour.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Grad (Jayne Brook) goes into premature labor. With Kronk (Peter Berg) nowhere to be found, she’s stuck with Austin (Christine Lahti) as her birth coach.
Also, an abuse victim brings her 5-year-old son into the hospital hoping the child can be treated before her abusive husband finds them.
Cable Calls
“The Life and Times of Jeff Foxworthy: The Platinum Series,” TNN at 5: Probably the funniest country comedian since Minnie Pearl, Foxworthy turned his “You know you’re a redneck if …” one-liners into an industry. He is the largest-selling comedy recording artist in history.
And yet he maintains a relatively modest - redneck, if you will - lifestyle.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Damon Wayans (“Damon”), actress Dana Delany and musician Richie Sambora.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Alec Baldwin, actress Heather Graham and music group Barenaked Ladies.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Lori Petty, John Schneider and talkshow host Jim Hightower.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: Kathy Griffin (“Suddenly Susan”). “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor Edward Burns and comedian Dana Gould.