Suds bubble up on ‘Hope & Faith’
The hourlong season finale of “Hope & Faith,” on ABC at 9, reunites Kelly Ripa with Susan Lucci, Rebecca Budig and many of her “All My Children” co-stars. It’s a soap opera parody, complete with a musical number, secret identities, a serial killer revealed, “female fisticuffs” and much more.
The guest cast includes Susan Flannery (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Eric Braeden (“The Young and the Restless”) and from “All My Children”: Lucci, Budig, Cameron Mathison, Eva LaRue, John Callahan, Finola Hughes, Jacob Young and Bobbie Eakes. Plus Ian Buchanan from “Port Charles.”
The plot finds exiled star Faith nominated for a Daytime Emmy, along with some of her former co-stars from “The Sacred and the Sinful,” and she flies with the family to New York for the ceremony. There she learns that the powers that be want her to return to the soap, bumping her replacement, played by Budig.
Meanwhile, Hope and the rest of the family rub elbows with the stars.
Highlights
“George Lopez,” ABC at 8: Two episodes. In the first, Benny takes a golf club to the hood of her boss’s car. Then, in a repeat at 8:30, George tries to put his foot down about Carmen’s expensive quincenera (15th birthday party).
“Joan of Arcadia,” CBS at 8: Is God encouraging Joan to take things to a new level with, um, Adam?
“Little Nicky” (2000), Fox at 8: Adam Sandler stars as the son of the devil, who just can’t quite get the hang of being evil.
“Frasier,” NBC at 8: Repeat of last night’s series finale, with guest stars Wendie Malick, Laura Linney, Jason Biggs, Anthony LaPaglia, Robbie Coltrane, Richard E. Grant and Jennifer Beals.
“Reba,” WB at 8: Season finale. Barbra Jean asks Reba to help break the news to Brock that she wants another baby, but it backfires when she catches Reba and Brock in a romantic embrace. What the heck!
Followed by three repeats.
“JAG,” CBS at 9: A heroin seizure comes up a kilo short.
“Dateline,” NBC at 9: Two hours.
“20/20,” ABC at 10: Meet the next generation of Europe’s royal families. In other words, rich hunks and babes!
“Cold Case,” CBS at 10: Repeat of the case of a professor accused of killing a student.
Family Fare
“Stitch! The Movie” (2003), Disney Channel at 8: Straight-to-cable sequel with the little alien getting help from Lilo as he tries to rescue some friends.
Cable Cast
NBA playoffs, TNT at 4: Doubleheader.
“The Amityville Horror” (1979), AMC at 8: They’re reportedly about to remake this campy haunted house flick, so best to remind yourself of the charms of the original, which stars James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger. Good dumb fun for a Friday night.
“Reign of Fire” (2002), Starz at 9: New take on the post-apocalyptic genre, with fire-breathing dragons running amok in London, opposed by Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey.