‘That’s Life’ A Sorry Excuse For Comedy
It’s comedies like “That’s Life,” premiering on ABC at 9:30, that give people ammunition to attack television for being based in a “lowest common denominator” mentality.
Gerry Red Wilson stars as a grocery-store meat department manager named Mike whose world seems to consist of beer, football, buddies and more beer.
In the pilot episode, he’s celebrating the vacancy of the upstairs half of the duplex he and his wife Patty (Kellie Overbey) own. He’s going to turn it into “Guy Town,” a private haven for him and his pals, complete with a refrigerator and a television set.
Along comes Patty’s snooty big-city sister (Nadia Dajani) and her 10-year-old son (Michael Charles Roman), abandoned by her wealthy husband, who also has blown all their worldly assets on a bad investment deal.
And so the nonstop put-downs begin as Mike watches “Guy Town” become his sister-in-law’s “temporary” home.
ABC calls it a “reality-based” family comedy. It’s really an excuse for one-dimensional characters to trade insults and let fly with tasteless innuendoes.
Highlights
“The Quick and the Dead” (1995), FOX at 8: Quite slow and deadly dull. Sharon Stone is an Old West gunslinger, and Gene Hackman is the evil town boss she’s come to bring down. Leonardo DiCaprio is featured as a second beautiful face to photograph.
This is a true waste of celluloid.
“The Young & the Restless,” CBS at 8: The top-rated daytime drama goes prime time, with the main story involving a surprise party for Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) that turns ugly when his former and current wives tangle.
“Mad About You,” NBC at 8: Here’s a second chance to see the touching and humorous “real time” half-hour shot outside Mabel’s bedroom door as Paul and Jamie (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) try to tough out the task of letting her cry herself to sleep. It’s followed at 8:30 by a second repeat guest-starring Nathan Lane as Jamie’s former professor and first-time lover.
“Blockbuster Entertainment Awards,” UPN at 8: Awards based on fan ballots are handed out for films and music of the past year. Top stars scheduled to appear include Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Uma Thurman, Chris O’Donnell, Anthony Edwards and Fran Drescher.
“Miss USA Pageant,” CBS at 9: J. Eddie Peck (“The Young & the Restless”) hosts the competition from Shreveport, La.
“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: Tim (Tim Allen) suspects that Al (Richard Karn) and newly divorced Heidi (Debbe Dunning) are having an affair. Golfer Payne Stewart guest-stars.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 10: Gross. A report says your orthodontist may be recycling braces for use on more than one patient.
Cable Calls
“Roger Miller Remembered,” TNN at 6 and 10: One of country and pop music’s true originals, Roger Miller, is celebrated. Among those performing his hits are Waylon Jennings, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood and John Goodman, who sings songs from Miller’s Tony Award-winning musical, “Big River.”
The entire cast joins in on “King of the Road.”
“Dalziel and Pascoe: Exit Lines,” A&E at 6 and 10: Dalziel (Warren Clarke) is suspended after being in a car accident in which an old man is killed. Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) investigates the murder of another old man on the same night.
The events, somehow, are connected.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Kevin Bacon, actress Gloria Stuart and music group The Mavericks.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actors Martin Short and Larenz Tate, and performance group KODO. Repeat.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Guest host Stefanie Powers, Paul Rodriguez and columnist Betsy Hart.
“The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,” CBS at 12:35 a.m.: CBS News corespondent Bob Schieffer.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Tom Arnold (“The Tom Show”), actress Elizabeth Berkley and musical guest Chantal Kreviazuk.