Cinemax offers acclaimed ‘Thirteen’
“Thirteen” (2003), on Cinemax at 8:15, won tons of accolades last year for its portrayal of two young girls in crisis.
Evan Rachel Wood is Tracy, a smart good girl feeling the first stirrings of adolescent rebellion. That fuse is lighted for real when she befriends Nikki Reed’s Evie, a popular bad girl, who introduces her to drinking, drugs, shoplifting and older guys.
Wood is terrific, and Holly Hunter got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as Tracy’s caring but somewhat ineffectual mom, who’s anguished over the change in her daughter.
But the real story here is Reed, who co-wrote the movie with director Catherine Hardwicke though she’s barely more than 13 herself.
Highlights
“Big Brother 5,” CBS at 8: More claustrophobic reality soap opera.
“Little Nicky” (2000), Fox at 8: Adam Sandler stars as the son of the devil!
“Will & Grace,” NBC at 8: Back-to-back repeats; it’s a two-parter. Will and Grace start a new business buying old apartments to refurbish and resell. Jack and Stuart (Dave Foley) are among their first customers. Here comes trouble.
“Blue Collar TV,” WB at 8: New episode of the Jeff Foxworthy sketch-comedy show, followed at 8:30, appropriately, by a repeat of “Reba.”
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS at 9: Repeat. Tonight’s victims include a baby left in a hot car.
“Last Comic Standing,” NBC at 9: Tape-delayed results show: The vote from viewers will be announced. Jay Mohr hosts.
“Studio 7,” WB at 9: It’s a game show! But the contestants live together, like on “Big Brother”!
“Scrubs,” NBC at 9:30: Lots of weird “intimacy issues” in this repeat. Not for the kiddos.
“Without a Trace,” CBS at 10: A firefighter vanishes after a dramatic rescue. Repeat.
“ER,” NBC at 10: Repeat. Carter rushes his pregnant girlfriend Makemba (Thandie Newton) to the ER, and Dr. Corday is shocked when the late Dr. Greene’s teen daughter Rachel turns up.
Family Fare
“Stuck in the Suburbs,” Disney Channel at 8: Your boy band- or Ashlee Simpson-obsessed tween might enjoy this recent TV flick, in which Danielle Panabaker and Brenda Song aim to reveal the truth about a pop star (Taran Killam).
Cable Cast
“My Uncle Berns,” HBO at 7:30: Billy Crystal’s daughter Lindsay’s film about her great uncle Bernhardt, a real character whose life spans World War II and Sept. 11, 2001.
“Celebrity Poker Showdown,” Bravo at 9: The great Hank Azaria — the voice of many, many “Simpsons” characters and a fine actor in his own body — leads the celebrity cast tonight.
“X Games,” ESPN at 6: Exciting, extreme sports, on skateboards, bikes and surfboards. From Los Angeles. Coverage continues through the weekend on ESPN and corporate sister station ABC.
“Grosse Pointe Blank” (1997), Starz at 9: John Cusack’s very funny black comedy about a hit man having a career crisis when he returns home for his high school reunion.
Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd and many more, including Azaria, are in the cast. But the most important name in the credits may be veteran B-movie director George Armitage, who’s had his name on everything from “Private Duty Nurses” (1971) to “Miami Blues” (1990).
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Jada Pinkett Smith.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: Kim Basinger and Mark Ruffalo.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Christine Taylor and musical guest Kanye West. Repeat.
“Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” CBS at 12:35: X Games sampler plus Jeff Bridges, Jaime Pressly and musical guest Robbie Williams.
“Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35: Brittany Murphy and Magic Johnson.