‘Brittany’ Sure To Tug At Heartstrings

Sat., March 14, 1998

Faye Zuckerman New York Times Syndicate

You’ll be charmed by understated “A Father for Brittany” (CBS Sunday at 9), the true story of a widower in Wisconsin who battles an adoption agency’s policy of not allowing single parents to adopt.

Andrew McCarthy and Teri Polo play Keith and Kim Lussier, a childless couple seeking to adopt. When Kim dies of cancer, their 3-month-old foster child is taken away from Keith. He is shocked and outraged.

His subsequent battle to win her back is displayed without speechmaking and histrionics. He does what any father would do, and most of us can relate to his dilemma.

You’ll applaud McCarthy for portraying Keith as a regular guy, who initially has little interest in adopting and prefers to hang out with his male friends but is soon taken with the little girl.

You do need hankies handy, especially for Polo’s deathbed scene.

Highlights

“Basketball,” CBS today and Sunday at 9 a.m. and tonight at 5: College hoops fans are treated to 16 hours of NCAA action over the weekend.

“That’s Incredible!,” ABC tonight at 8: Remember this vintage early ‘80s TV hit, which featured the outrageous and the daring? It’s back with hosts Gena Lee Nolin (“Baywatch”), Ken Taylor from E! and FOX sports reporter Craig Simpson delivering such thrills as a haunted house in London, and the odd bond between a woman and an orangutan.

“Nothing Sacred,” ABC tonight at 9: Guest appearances by John Mahoney (“Frasier”) and Jeff Kober as battling father and son give this show intelligence and insight. Mahoney and Kober appear as Father Ray’s (Kevin Anderson) father and brother, respectively.

They bring family turmoil to St. Thomas on the coldest night of the year, when the parish is converted into a homeless shelter.

Local journalism is essential.

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