‘Mystery Woman’ implausible relief
What if Nancy Drew ran a bookstore – and a mystery bookstore, to boot?
This is the premise of “Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend” (9 p.m., Hallmark), the first in a series of whodunit movies on the Hallmark Channel.
Kellie Martin, the spunky young star killed off from the cast of “ER,” brings her perky energy to this film as Samantha Kinsey, the owner of the Mystery Woman bookstore. Clarence Williams III (“Mod Squad”) plays Philby, her mysterious assistant. He may spend his days dusting off old first editions, but he has a background as a CIA agent. He’s also a member of Yale’s shadowy Skull & Bones society.
If you believe that, you’ll have no problem with “Woman” and its rather farfetched plot about the mysterious murder of a mystery writer at Samantha’s mystery bookstore, or her incredible freelance efforts to solve the crime. The bookstore business must pay really well, because Samantha and Philby have all the time in the world to engage in evidence tampering, breaking and entering, and other illegal activities.
I guess Philby must have worked for the agency before it was “reformed” way back in the 1970s.
Nina Siemaszko plays Cassie, Samantha’s best pal and the local district attorney, who thinks nothing of leaking information to Samantha. This irks Conners (Casey Sander), the no-nonsense and easily annoyed police chief who can’t seem to keep up with Samantha’s superior snooping, to no end.
For all of its preposterous excesses, “Woman” is a diverting, bloodless mystery of the old “Father Dowling” school and as such is a welcome departure from television’s recent predilection for forensic morbidity.
Do you remember the name of Steve Martin’s dog in “The Jerk”? If you do, perhaps you should be competing on “The Ultimate Film Fanatic” (10:30 p.m., Independent Film Channel), featuring Henry Rollins, Ione Skye, Tatum O’Neal and Keith David.
Other highlights
Higher education on “Joan of Arcadia” (8 p.m., CBS).
Martin Lawrence stars in the 2001 time-travel comedy “Black Knight” (8 p.m., Fox).
Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren team up in the 1966 spy thriller “Arabesque” (5 p.m.,Turner Classic Movies), directed by Stanley Donen.
Sullivan’s case reaches its climax on “Third Watch” (9 p.m., NBC).
A volleyball star contracts a mystery illness on “Medical Investigation” (10 p.m., NBC).
Scheduled on “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC): makeovers and lifestyle changes for two overweight families.
Cult choice
Two brothers (Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci) rely on a music star’s arrival to save their failing restaurant in the 1996 drama “Big Night” (4:30 p.m., Independent Film Channel). The wonderful cast also features Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, Marc Anthony and Allison Janney.
Series notes
On back-to-back episodes of “8 Simple Rules” (ABC), Cate needs a favor (8 p.m.), flirting with C.J. (8:30 p.m.) … In search of mutants on “Star Trek: Enterprise” (8 p.m., UPN) … Holly’s news overshadows Val’s big day on “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB).
Sean moonlights on “Grounded for Life” (8:30 p.m., WB).
A jet crashes near a public school on “JAG” (9 p.m., CBS) … Shaking the trees on “Hope & Faith” (9 p.m., ABC) … Hissy fits and Missy Elliott on “On the Road to Stardom” (9 p.m., UPN) … Van’s unsporting fib on “Reba” (9 p.m., WB).
French Stewart guest-stars on “Less Than Perfect” (9:30 p.m., ABC) … Health care on “Blue Collar TV” (9:30 p.m., WB) … New DNA evidence brings a fresh look at a teen’s murder on “Cold Case” (10 p.m., CBS).
Late night
Kevin Bacon, Caroline Rhea and Wilco appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS).
Jay Leno hosts Michael Moore, Emmy Rossum and Julia Roberts on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC).
John C. Reilly, Paget Brewster and Kenny Wayne appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).