‘Miami Ink’ looks at life in tattoo shop
Our current pop-cultural conversation seems incomplete without a brief nod to two television obsessions: tattoos and gambling.
“Miami Ink” (10 p.m., TLC) is at least the second basic-cable series to offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look at life in a tattoo parlor. “Ink” takes place in South Beach, Miami.
Will there be scenes in a hot tub? You’ll have to watch to find out.
ESPN will devote 32 episodes to the 2005 World Series of Poker (5 p.m., ESPN). Viewers can watch two hours of card playing every Tuesday evening from now until November. Wow – the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
I find it odd that ESPN devotes so much time to poker, since it’s a sports network, and sports figures are supposed to shun gambling. Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were once excommunicated from major league baseball when they associated themselves with casinos.
Now the premiere sports channel is essentially equating sports with gambling. In my mind, playing cards is something you do instead of watching television.
Watching people play cards on TV is just a step closer to brain death.
What’s the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist? Between a patriot and an arms smuggler?
“The Brooklyn Connection” on “P.O.V.” (10 p.m., KSPS) takes an intimate look at the war in the Balkans from the point of view of Florin Krasniqi, a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army who happens to live in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, when not preparing to fight Serbs in his native land.
An engaging and charismatic figure, Krasniqi is seen at a barbecue with his wife and baby, at a political fund-raiser for American political candidates who might be favorable to Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians, and on a shopping trip for uniforms, supplies and weapons for his guerilla force.
The film demonstrates how American gun laws make it possible for anyone with enough money to outfit a small army. He travels to a Pennsylvania gun shop to purchase a 50-caliber weapon capable of shooting down a helicopter and killing a man from a distance of two miles.
The shop owner sells it to him after a few questions and gives him a souvenir baseball cap for his patronage. Even more amazing, Krasniqi checks the weapon with his luggage on his flight back to the Balkans!
While gripping, “Connection” provides little historical context. It would have been helpful to see Krasniqi’s efforts in the light of American history.
Krasniqi may be a new immigrant, but he’s following in a long, troubled tradition that includes ethnic American support for the IRA, the radical West Bank settlement movement and efforts to topple Fidel Castro.
Other highlights
Love conquers all – even love handles – on “Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back” (8 p.m., NBC).
Ivy League matchmaking on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB).
A major leaguer’s secret may kill him on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).
“Wide Angle” (9 p.m., KSPS) looks at the future of Lebanon after the withdrawal of Syrian forces.
A serial rapist targets immigrants on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).
Camane, the fetching vestal virgin, saves the life of Octavius, the future emperor, on “Empire” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
Has it really been two years since the summer of “Benifer”? Relive the moments with the 2003 stinker “Gigli” (8 p.m., Encore).
Series notes
Death at a dance club on “Navy NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … Parallel wives on “Trading Spouses” (8 p.m., Fox) … Romance on demand on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Freaky Friday on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN).
Ricky needs help on “George Lopez” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Thanksgiving on “All of Us” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Julie Chen hosts “Big Brother 6” (9 p.m., CBS) … The world’s worst mother dispenses advice on “I Want to Be a Hilton” (9 p.m., NBC) … A night at the opera on “According to Jim” (9 p.m., ABC) … An ambulance ride on “Girlfriends” (9 p.m., UPN) … Huey Lewis cameos on “One Tree Hill” (9 p.m., WB) … A visit from Mom on “Rodney” (9:30 p.m., ABC) … Mr. Right’s secret on “Half & Half” (9:30 p.m., UPN) … Auditions on “Rock Star: INXS” (10 p.m., CBS).