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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Going Tribal’ offers exotic sights

Kevin McDonough United Feature Syndicate

In a television landscape that grows more predictable and derivative every day, the six-part travel series “Going Tribal” (10 p.m., Discovery) qualifies as something completely different.

A BBC production, “Tribal” is hosted by Bruce Parry, a former Royal Marine who appears game for just about any adventure.

In the first installment he travels to southwestern Ethiopia to visit with the Suri tribe and live according to their customs. This involves sleeping in a crowded grass hut, where he doesn’t even have enough room to roll over or brush the hundreds of bugs off his leg.

He also graciously drinks a quart of warm bull’s blood, fresh from the docile bovine’s jugular vein.

Parry is most obsessed with the Suri’s traditional game of donga, which involves two men beating each other with long sticks. Donga matches break out frequently after the harvest has been gathered, when the men are well-fed and have the time to go at it.

Parry does a good job of ingratiating himself with the Suri. The tribal king takes such a liking to him that he forbids Parry from participating in the donga matches, worried that his guest will break a finger or worse.

Apparently the parental admonition “You’ll put your eye out!” transcends language and tradition.

For centuries, the women of the Suri tribe have followed the custom of mutilating their lower jaws to allow the insertion of a large clay plate into their extended lower lips. Nobody knows exactly when this began, but some theorize that the Suri did it to discourage slave traders from stealing their women.

As modern customs enter the villages, some of the younger women have begun to rebel against the habit.

Other modern intrusions are more drastic. The civil war in neighboring Sudan has flooded the region with both refugees and automatic weapons, and the Suri’s tribal neighbors have taken to armed assaults on their grazing lands.

In the next five installments of “Going Tribal,” Parry will live among cannibals in New Guinea and nomadic horsemen in Mongolia; take hallucinogens with witch doctors in Gabon; and spend time with an animist shaman in Venezuela.

Viewers who like television to take them to strange and new places should not miss “Going Tribal,” every Wednesday night through Sept. 13.

The over-the-top drama “Boston Legal” (10 p.m., ABC), starring James Spader and William Shatner, returns to prime time.

Other highlights

On two episodes of “Gilmore Girls” (WB), vows renewed (8 p.m.), and forgiveness sought (9 p.m.).

A winner emerges on “I Want to Be a Hilton” (9 p.m., NBC).

A candidate’s medical history may doom his campaign on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).

A predator has serious problems of his own on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).

Cult choice

Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey star in the superior 1944 haunted-house mystery “The Uninvited” (5 p.m., TCM).

Series notes

A bikini contests turns deadly on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … Gender roles reversed on “Meet Mister Mom” (8 p.m., NBC) … Parallel wives on “Trading Spouses” (8 p.m., Fox)… Dreams of retirement on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Loose lips on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN).

On two episodes of “Rodney” (ABC), matchmaking (8:30 p.m.), and practical jokes (9:30 p.m.) … The New Years “Eve” (8:30 p.m., UPN).

Dance lessons on “According to Jim” (9 p.m., ABC) … The search on “R U the Girl” (9 p.m., UPN) … Auditions continue on “Rock Star: INXS” (10 p.m., CBS).

Late night

Bill Maher and Rachel McAdams appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts James Woods and Nickel Creek on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Johnny Knoxville, Bill Engvall and Roger Alan Wade appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).

Mark Wahlberg, Bob Saget and Erin McKeown are booked on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Harland Williams, Evan Rachel Wood and Babyface on “The Late, Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS).