‘Reefer Madness’ follows formula
Just what were they smoking when they made a musical out of “Reefer Madness” (8 p.m. tonight, Showtime)?
In truth, the idea isn’t so farfetched. Some of the most notable musicals of the past three decades, including “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “The Producers,” follow a similar pattern.
Take an ancient film artifact, add catchy tunes, over-the-top lyrics and razzle-dazzle choreography and – voila – you’ve got a show!
Based on the hysterical anti-drug polemic from 1936 that became a midnight movie staple during the drug-soaked early ‘70s, “Reefer Madness” lends itself to the excesses of stage extravaganzas. And “Reefer” doesn’t just borrow the “story” from the original film; it sends up the themes of sexual fear, political repression and not-so-subtle racism that coalesced in the crusade to stamp out the demon weed.
“Reefer” revolves around a boy and a girl. The cute-as-a-button couple, Jimmy (Christian Campbell, “All My Children”) and Mary (Kristen Bell, “Veronica Mars”), are first seen singing a dreamy, dopey duet about Romeo and Juliet. But after one puff of marijuana, Jimmy’s days at the 4-H club are over and he’s enslaved in a hophead’s hell that includes perversion, loss of faith, vehicular homicide and even cannibalism.
When Franklin Roosevelt died 63 years ago on April 12, 1945, many Americans felt as if they had lost a father or close friend. The two-part series “FDR: A Presidency Revealed” (9 p.m. Sunday, History, concludes Monday) looks at the personal secrets that FDR kept from his public even as he was using radio and newsreels to present a more familiar and intimate view of the presidency.
“Revealed” looks at how the White House and a complicit press hid Roosevelt’s paralysis from the public. The film also covers the president’s secret affections for other women and his estrangement from his wife, Eleanor, as well as his ability to mask his deteriorating health during his final years in office.
“Arrested Development” (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox) wraps up its second, and possibly final, season. In a collegial touch, writer/producer Mark Cherry appears as himself, the subject of anti-“Desperate Housewives” pickets organized by Ann (Mae Whitman), George Michael’s Bible-thumping girlfriend. “Scrubs” star Zach Braff appears as the sleazy producer of the video series “Girls with Low Self-Esteem.”
Casting has always been key to the zany genius of this cult show. “Arrested” reunites Whitman with fellow “State of Grace” star Alia Shawkat (who plays Maeby).
“Arrested” ‘s best casting coup has to be Jessica Walter as Lucille, the dipso matriarch. She was seen last week using Buster’s prosthetic hook to crack ice for her next drink.
A former nurse needs care on “Grey’s Anatomy” (10 p.m., Sunday, ABC). A bona-fide hit, “Grey’s” will run permanently in this time slot. “Boston Legal” will not return to the schedule until next fall.
Tonight’s highlights
Threats from Indian neighbors on “Little House on the Prairie” (8 p.m., ABC).
Erich Von Stroheim stars in director Jean Renoir’s 1937 World War I drama “Grand Illusion” (5 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).
Antonio Banderas stars in the 2002 adventure sequel “Spy Kids 2” (9 p.m., ABC).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): the parents of a 12-year-old accused of murder think they know the real killer.
Tom Brady hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Beck.
Sunday’s highlights
Vern Yip (“Trading Spaces”) hosts “Home Intervention” (7 p.m., NBC).
Looks like another love TKO on “The Contender” (8 p.m., NBC).
Stiffed by their contractor, a Queens, N.Y., family gets their dream house on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8 p.m., ABC).
“Nature” (7 p.m., KDPS) will spend the next three Sunday nights in “Deep Jungle,” an exploration of never-before-photographed corners of the world’s rainforests.
Geraldine McEwan stars as “Miss Marple” on “Mystery!” (9 p.m., KSPS).
Michael Douglas stars in the 2001 thriller “Don’t Say a Word” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
Valentine’s Day on “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m., ABC).
Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Rob Thomas and John Legend perform the “Save the Music Concert” (9 p.m., VH1).
Bill Pullman stars in the repeat opener of the creepy miniseries “Revelations” (10 p.m., NBC).