Trendy ”PrimeTime” looks at ”cougars”
Scheduled on “Primetime” (10 p.m., ABC): mature women, known as “cougars,” who date younger men.
Fran Drescher, whose new sitcom follows that theme, is interviewed.
If this sounds familiar, it is. A few years back, a similar “trend” was “discovered” around the time of the release of the movie “Tadpole.”
Many trendy articles used the word “tadpole” as a verb describing older women dating younger men.
But these urgent reports gave way to the short-lived “metrosexual” craze, which was in turn drowned out by a million articles and “news” reports about the iPod.
I admit I own one. But I’m sick of hearing about them.
The documentary “Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness” (1 a.m., KSPS) examines the era of the Holocaust from a completely unexpected perspective.
As a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara saved countless lives by defying his own government and granting exit visas to Jews fleeing Nazi oppression. A warm-hearted film, “Kindness” celebrates Sugihara’s empathetic nature, curiosity and facility with languages, attributes that would make him a natural diplomat and a good spy.
Although the film concentrates on his particular efforts to save lives, “Kindness” also provides plenty of insights into Japanese culture and politics in the 1930s, when its military began to dominate the government and launched wars in China and Manchuria, beginning in 1931.
Sugihara was allied with businessmen who felt that the military’s policies were immoral and wasteful and that Japan would be better served by a culture and society that stressed success in trade and manufacturing.
As Hitler came to power and began a policy of persecution against German Jews, some in this business clique saw a unique opportunity. “Kindness” explores the efforts of Japanese diplomats to invite Europe’s imperiled Jews to settle in Japanese-occupied areas of Manchuria.
They felt that the policy would save lives, create international good feelings toward Japan, and import a well-educated and entrepreneurial population into an unsettled region. The plan, considered ghastly and exploitive, was initially rejected by many Jewish organizations.
But in the light Hitler’s policy of mass extermination, it remains one of history’s more curious “what if” scenarios.
Turner Classic Movies celebrates the films of Luis Bunuel, the Spanish-born surrealist director who settled in Mexico in 1947. Tonight’s films include “Los Olividados” (5 p.m.), a 1950 drama set among Mexico City’s youth gangs, and the 1961 surrealist comedy “Viridiana” (8:30 p.m.), about the corruption of a would-be nun by her decadent uncle. Considered blasphemous by some and Bunuel’s masterpiece by others, it was banned by the Spanish government during the dictatorship of Gen. Franco.
Other highlights
Note: Several of tonight’s shows were previously announced but postponed due to last Thursday’s extended coverage of President Bush’s press conference.
The gang decamps for Miami on a two-hour episode of “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox). Linda Lavin and Jaime King guest-star in the first hour.
Reese Witherspoon stars in the 2002 comedy “Sweet Home Alabama” (9 p.m., ABC).
Two solid hours of “Blue Collar TV” (8 p.m.).
Fans of the absurd can catch three consecutive episodes of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (5 p.m., BBC America), the inspiration for the current Broadway hit “Spamalot.”
Alan Arkin guest-stars as Grace’s dad on “Will & Grace” (8:30 p.m., NBC).
Catharine’s fling could prove fatal on “CSI” (9 p.m., CBS).
A brother in need on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).
Morris (Scott Grimes) is appointed new chief resident on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).
Series notes
Competition and elimination on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS) … Joey develops a Carmen Electra complex on “Joey” (8 p.m., NBC) … Wrestling on “WWE SmackDown!” (8 p.m., UPN) … Game playing on “The Apprentice” (9 p.m., NBC).