‘Wasteland’ Turns Out To Be Apt Title
“Dawson’s Creek” creator Kevin Williamson brings you ABC’s latest foray into the psyches of young folks.
“Wasteland” (ABC at 9) - a better title would be “Manhattan, 90210” - is like “Beverly Hills, 90210.” It’s about a bunch of empty-headed post-adolescents who look marvelous and whine and moan about their relationships and getting older.
The show opens with the introduction of Dawnie (Marisa Coughlan), a recent college graduate. She tells a guy in a bar that she’s a virgin. Thanks for sharing.
But that tidbit of information is not all she plans to share. She wants to write her graduate-school thesis on the life and times of her friends.
Those buddies are a musician-bartender (Eddie Mills), a soap opera actor (Dan Montgomery) and a district attorney’s worker (Rebecca Gayheart), and they are as superficial as the characters on “Melrose Place.”
Little occurs during “Wasteland” to distinguish itself from the onslaught of new and similarly themed shows. After enduring a few of the speeches, your eyes will start to become very heavy.
The title seems tell the whole story.
Highlights
“Friends,” NBC at 8: With Monica and Chandler planning to move in together, Ross plans to start rooming with Rachel. Chandler and Monica consider calling it off when they can’t agree on how to decorate.
“Baseball,” FOX at 5: The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers meet in Game 2 of their series.
“Frasier,” NBC at 9: The rejoinders fly when our favorite radio psychologist becomes the butt of morning-drive jokes from the station’s newly hired shock jocks. Frasier strikes back and then regrets his actions.
“Mystery!,” KSPS at 8: Visually unusual and gripping, “Second Sight” concludes with Detective Tully (Claire Skinner) acting as her boss’s eyes. But Detective Tanner (Clive Owen) starts to depend on his other senses, and it’s what he hears that solves the baffling murder case of a college student.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 9: One show you can never second-guess is this medical drama. It’s full of surprises and the unexpected plot twist.
Tonight, the only heart surgeon who can operate on a newborn has Tourette’s syndrome. Also, a stranger shows up claiming he has Einstein’s brain in a jar.
“ER,” NBC at 10: Anthony Edwards is memorable in this hour as his alter ego, tense Dr. Greene, can’t cope with the pressure. He and Dr. Weaver tangle over treatment for a critically ill teenager. Carter battles with paramedics.
Cable Calls
“Baby Boom” (1987), TNT at 8: A high-powered New York City executive (Diane Keaton) inherits a child. She soon finds out in this comedy that juggling a career and a child are nearly impossible.
When she finally gets her priorities in order, she comes up with a workable alternative.
“The Country Girl” (1954), AMC at 5:05: It’s hard to avoid this milestone in the movie career of Grace Kelly. She picked up an Oscar for her role as the suffering wife of an alcoholic actor (Bing Crosby) who attempts a comeback.
Talk Time “Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actress Liv Tyler.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and actor Peter Fonda.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Ally Walker (“Profiler”).
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor D.B. Sweeney and actress Elisabeth Shue.
“Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn,” CBS at 12:35: Actor-comedian Jay Thomas and Jeri Ryan (“Star Trek: Voyager”).