Jennings’ report looks at war prisoners
Many issues revolve around the war on terror, but none may be as important as the challenge to our own principles. To win the war on terror, will we suspend civil liberties for some, set aside the Geneva conventions, even use torture?
Tonight at 10 on ABC, there’s a “Peter Jennings Reporting” special that will look at some of those questions through the lens of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. More than 600 prisoners in the war on terror are being held at the U.S. base there in conditions some define as unusually harsh. Most have been there since the war in Afghanistan, and most have had no counsel or hearing. The Bush administration says that neither the U.S. Constitution nor the Geneva conventions apply. Can that be true?
Unfortunately, this deep-thinking report is preceded from 8 to 10 by two hours of ABC’s horribly misnomered “Summer of a Billion Laughs,” featuring reruns of “George Lopez,” “Married to the Kellys,” “Hope & Faith” and “Life with Bonnie.”
Highlights
“Dateline,” NBC at 8: Two hours, with the first hour to be announced and the second focused on crime in Las Vegas.
“What I Like About You,” WB at 8: Repeat. Henry moves into Vince’s apartment.
“Method & Red,” Fox at 8:30: A journalist visits the crib to check out Method and Red’s lifestyle. Repeat of Wednesday’s episode.
“Grounded for Life,” WB at 8:30: Mila Kunis of “That ‘70s Show” guests as Brad’s space camp honey. Repeat.
“JAG,” CBS at 9: Mac has to escort a difficult female prisoner to California. Repeat.
“The Jury,” Fox at 9: Murder of a mail-order bride. Repeat.
“Reba,” WB at 9: Back-to-back repeats. In the first, Cheyenne kicks Van out. Then, Barbra Jean feels her biological clock ticking loudly.
“Las Vegas,” NBC at 10: Repeat with Jean-Claude Van Damme guesting in an ill-fated stunt.
Cable Cast
“The Graham Norton Effect,” Comedy Central at 8: Repeat of last night’s debut of the Brit comedian’s weekly series.
“Salem’s Lot,” TNT at 8: Repeat of last weekend’s new miniseries version of the Stephen King tale about vampires in a small Maine town. Rob Lowe stars.
“What Should You Do?” Lifetime at 10: You’re being stalked in a dark parking lot. You look back and, ohmygawd, it’s Leeza Gibbons. Runnnnn!
“Monk,” USA at 10: All we know is that the episode is called “Mr. Monk and the Panic Room.” But given his obsessive-compulsive issues, it’s not hard to see trouble looming.
“Manhunter” (1986), AMC at 10: William Petersen, now of “CSI,” is the FBI agent in this first version of the “Red Dragon” serial killer tale. Brian Cox is Hannibal Lecter. Michael Mann directed.
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Bonnie Hunt.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: To be announced.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Don Novello, aka Father Guido Sarducci.
“Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” CBS at 12:35: James Marsden.
“Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35: Michael Moore, Patton Oswalt and Ozomatli.