Trio Enhance Interest Of ‘To Live Again’

Sat., March 7, 1998

Faye Zuckerman New York Times Syndicate

Again this week CBS weighs in with a TV movie about two women who help each other find new leases on life. Remember “Friends for Life” from mid-January starring Gena Rowlands?

“To Live Again” (Sunday at 9) has the trimmings of a by-the-numbers soap opera. Thanks to its stars - Bonnie Bedelia, Annabeth Gish and Frances Sternhagen - it manages to remain intriguing.

Bedelia plays a retired social worker mourning the death of her teenage daughter. Gish portrays a woman whose mother (Sternhagen) has kept her locked up in their house for 16 years.

In this fact-based movie, Bedelia’s Iris Sayer, brought out of retirement to work with Karen (Gish), frees the girl from her mother’s prison and gains legal custody.

Admittedly, there are the usual custody-battle scenes between the mother and the state. Sternhagen rises to the occasion, playing her part to the T, being completely in the dark over why the state would take away her daughter. She can’t understand why anyone would want to lock her up for abusing her daughter.

The best scenes are supplied by Bedelia and Gish as Iris struggles to teach Karen how to function in society. The “Miracle Worker” it is not.

“Live Again,” however, is an adequate tale about overcoming adversity and reclaiming one’s life.

Highlights

“All-Star Party for Aaron Spelling,” ABC tonight at 8: Aaron Spelling, the innovator of prime-time soaps (thank you very much from all of us who can barely tolerate them), receives a salute in this hourlong show. It features a parade of stars such as Heather Locklear and the cast of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which includes Spelling’s daughter, Tori.

“Nothing Sacred,” ABC tonight at 9: The show about an inner-city parish moves to Saturdays with an emotional hour about Father Martin’s efforts to close the soup kitchen and lay off three workers.

Jennifer Beals joins the cast as Justine, St. Thomas’ new director of education. Her first day at work turns out to be less than auspicious after she’s accosted by a troubled parishioner.

“News Saturday Night,” ABC tonight at 10: The news series reports on art burglars, some of whom hold the stolen works for ransom.

“The Simpsons,” FOX Sunday at 8: In a knee-slapping half-hour, Lisa experiences a brain drain. Will she become a true Simpson?

“Silencing Mary” (1998), NBC Sunday at 9: Melissa Joan Hart (“Sabrina, The Teenaged Witch”) heads for college as a journalism major and ends up getting even with a football heartthrob who raped her roommate (Lisa Dean Ryan). The only texture in this bland poor-me, frats-are-bad college tale is Peter MacNichol as an odd dean with mixed-up priorities.

“X-Files,” FOX Sunday 9: The two-part, fast-paced episode concludes with an abductee named Cassandra missing. Mulder has a theory, which doesn’t seem too plausible initially, until the unexpected occurs.

Parents’ Pick

“Thar She Blows: The Making of ‘Moby Dick’,” USA Sunday at 7:30: Here you are treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of the latest TV adaptation of “Moby Dick.” Included in the show, narrated by Gregory Peck, are interviews with its stars, Patrick Stewart and Henry Thomas.

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