Skating Slips With ‘Battle Of Sexes’

Fri., Jan. 2, 1998

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

I love skating, but I cringed when I saw the first press release for “Battle of the Sexes II,” airing at 8 on FOX.

Once was more than enough.

This “battle” is the worst of the pseudo-competitions spawned by America’s passion for televised skating events. It pits male and female pros in a silly showdown over who’s best.

Last year’s opening number, in which the skaters took the ice to strut and taunt the other side, was neither clever nor cute. It seemed to accentuate the fact that these great athletes are better off skating in no-frills exhibitions.

And those ads with the skaters squaring off wearing boxing gloves are an insult to a sport based on grace and beauty. The rink - this is so tacky - has been outfitted to resembled a boxing ring.

Kurt Browning, Nancy Kerrigan, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Caryn Kadavy, Brian Orser, Viktor Petrenko, Josef Sabovcik and Katarina Witt take part in this year’s event, which is judged by celebrities, not skating experts. The men won last year’s event. Which counts for absolutely nothing.

Highlights

“Football,” CBS at 5: The Orange Bowl in Miami pits Nebraska (12-0) against Tennessee (11-1).

“Players,” NBC at 8: Ice (Ice-T), Alphonse (Costas Mandylor) and Charlie (Frank John Hughes) try to nail a mob boss (Jon Polito) by grabbing a rare and valuable baseball card he wants. But another con, Charlie’s long-lost father (Jack Kehler), is trying to sell the gangster the same card.

“Boy Meets World,” ABC at 8:30: In a repeat from October, Shawn (Rider Strong) neglects his high school work when he throws himself into a college philosophy course. Meanwhile, Eric and Jack (Will Friedle, Matthew Lawrence) pull a fast one to convince Dean Borak (Paul Gleason) that their fraternity is legitimate.

A second repeat airs at 9:30.

“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 9: John Larson’s scheduled report profiles death-row inmate Patrick Rogers.

“Homicide: Life on the Street,” NBC at 10: This series is known for effectively turning real-life headlines into engrossing drama. This time, it’s the case of a handsome bar owner (guest-star Peter Gallagher) suspected of killing several rich gay men.

Cable Calls

“The Crucible” (1996), MAX at 8: Arthur Miller wrote the screenplay for the first American film adaptation of his 1953 play. Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Joan Allen and Paul Scofield star.

Strong performances, especially from Scofield as the Salem witch-trial judge, give the familiar story new power.

Miller wrote his play to compare the witch hunts of the 1600s with the anti-Communist crusades of the 1940s and ‘50s. Today, it may also remind one of the media frenzy that blows events and personalities out of proportion.

“Strangers on a Train” (1951), AMC at 6 and 11:15 a.m.: One of Alfred Hitchcock’s best pictures stars Robert Walker as a psychopath involved with a tennis star (Farley Granger) in an “exchange murder.” It’s a nail-biter to the end of the line.

“My Stepmother Is an Alien” (1988), TBS at 7:25: This is one of those movies that sounds good on paper but turns out to be lousy on film.

Kim Basinger plays an extraterrestrial who marries a widowed scientist (Dan Akyroyd). The attempt at campy sci-fi - she finds sex mind-boggling and has a variety of nasty anti-social habits - just doesn’t work.

Jon Lovitz also stars.

Talk Time

“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Rob Lowe, actress Olivia Williams and Dylan McDermott (“The Practice”).

“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actors Kevin Kline and Kevin Sorbo and comedian Kevin Brennan. Repeat.

“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Marilyn Manson, Florence Henderson, G. Gordon Liddy and activist Lakita Garth. Repeat.

“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Nicholas Turturro (“NYPD Blue”) and musical guest Marcy Playground.

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