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

‘One Day’ returns for a reunion

Kevin McDonough United Feature Syndicate

Those who do not remember “One Day at a Time” are doomed to repeat it.

Cast members Valerie Bertinelli, Mackenzie Phillips, Bonnie Franklin and Pat Harrington reconvene to provide commentary between clips on the “One Day at a Time Reunion Special” (9 p.m., CBS). A

The comedy ran from December 1975 to September 1984, almost as long as “Happy Days,” which also just celebrated its 30th anniversary.

It’s funny the shows we choose to commemorate or forget.

Where are the 30 candles for “Barney Miller”? It debuted on Jan. 23, 1975. I suppose it would be inappropriate to throw a party for “Baretta” (first telecast Jan. 17, 1975) when star Robert Blake is on trial for arranging the murder of his wife.

The 30th anniversary of the premiere of “Little House on the Prairie” (Sept. 11, 1974) has come and gone, but next month ABC will re-launch “Little House” as a short series.

I’m afraid I can’t join the chorus of praise for “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN), the freshman drama about a high school student (Kristen Bell) who moonlights as a private eye in her father’s (Enrico Colantoni) detective agency. Call me old-fashioned, but I’m always put off when teenagers look, act and dress like world-weary 35-year-olds.

Tonight, Veronica’s precocity is pushed to new extremes when she shares a dance at her high school’s ” ‘80s Night” prom with a much older police officer.

Tonight’s episode does feature one interesting story line. After Veronica helps a Russian mail-order bride track down her missing husband, she discovers that the foreign femme fatale had a very different reconciliation in mind.

Alyson Hannigan makes a brief guest appearance as the sister of Logan (Jason Dohring), the rich “bad boy” at the center of so much intrigue. The brief presence of the “Vampire Slayer” co-star only cemented my impression of “Veronica Mars” as warmed-over “Buffy” on wry.

“Frontline” (9 p.m., KSPS) goes behind the headlines to spend time with the 8th Cavalry’s Dog Company in south Baghdad in the 90-minute documentary “A Company of Soldiers.” The filming began three days before the battle for Fallujah last November.

During the course of the film, the company responds to an urban bombing campaign, suffers several ambushes, loses a soldier and exchanges gunfire with insurgents, killing 24 enemy combatants.

Other highlights

The top 12 women perform on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox).

Backstage drama at the local theater on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB).

“Nova” (7 p.m., KSPS) recalls the first flight across the English Channel.

A major league crisis on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).

A serious accident for a very young driver on “Judging Amy” (10 p.m., CBS).

A colleague believed dead returns to testify against a hired assassin on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).

An arranged marriage ends badly on “NYPD Blue” (10 p.m., ABC).

“Real Sports” (10 p.m., HBO) profiles golfer Vijay Singh.

“Thunder in Guyana” on “Independent Lens” (10:30 p.m., KSPS) profiles Janet Rosenberg Jagan, a Chicago-born woman elected president of Guyana.

Cult choice

A troubled Hollywood pair (Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh) throw a bash in an effort to save their union in the 2001 drama “The Anniversary Party” (8 p.m., Independent Film Channel). This was written and directed by the two leads and features a boatload of cameos by big stars and indie-film favorites.

Seriesnotes

Grisly video evidence on “Navy NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … A gambling scheme goes badly on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (8 p.m., NBC) … Castaways on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Caught in the crossfire on “All of Us” (8 p.m., UPN).

A very wicked stepmother on “Eve” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … The quest for romance on “George Lopez” (8:40 p.m., ABC).

Third-wheel status on “Scrubs” (9 p.m., NBC) … A secret for posterity on “One Tree Hill” (9 p.m., WB) … A gown crisis on “According to Jim” (9:19 p.m., ABC).