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

”Star Trek” ends far-flung explorations

Kevin McDonough United Feature Syndicate

“Star Trek: Enterprise” (9 p.m., UPN) wraps up its final season as Archer and crew return to Earth to face the decommissioning of the Enterprise and the signing of a treaty forming the alliance that will become the Federation.

But all is not ribbons and galactic diplomacy. The Enterprise engages in one last surprise mission to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the Andorian commander. Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis guest-star.

Although “Enterprise” departs the prime-time universe and the “Star Trek” franchise takes a deserved and overdue break, fans can now buy the DVD set of the series’ first season from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Viewers who haven’t heard enough about Elvis Presley from the recent two-part “Elvis” miniseries will enjoy “Elvis by the Presleys” (8 p.m., CBS), which features rare home movies, performance footage, and interviews with family and friends, most notably Presley’s former wife, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, and daughter Lisa Marie.

For audiences accustomed to a steady diet of sordid “Behind the Music” exposes, this special has all the earmarks of an official history. But even given the protective and upbeat nature of “By the Presleys,” this is one weird home movie. In fact, odd parallels emerge between Elvis and that of a popular contemporary television character.

Here, after all, is a television-obsessed guy who lives in a big ostentatious house. He jeopardizes his marriage by hanging out with his entourage and “taking care of business” at all hours.

He loves his wife and is devoted to his daughter but expects them to be emotionally satisfied with material luxuries. And he thinks nothing of slipping off to and engaging in marathon sessions of marital infidelity.

He remains emotionally crippled by his complex and morbid relationship with his dead mother. And he has a serious weight problem as well as bouts of depression that he manages with fistfuls of pharmaceuticals.

Yes, Elvis Presley was Tony Soprano long before it was fashionable!

Bob Costas hosts “Costas Now” (9 p.m., HBO), a monthly one-hour sports-themed magazine show that will include sports news, interviews, essays and commentary by the host, and glances back at sports history.

“Inside Fame” (9 p.m., CMT) profiles singer Charlie Pride, who became the first black country music superstar. The son of a sharecropper and one of 11 children, Pride listened to country music on the radio in his native Mississippi and, like Ray Charles, never thought there was a color line keeping black singers off the country charts.

Other highlights

Scheduled on a two-hour “Dateline” (8 p.m., NBC): the murder trial of a brunette femme fatale and her lover, accused of murdering Las Vegas founding father and casino mogul Ted Binion. This report includes exclusive interviews with the defendants and jurors.

Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen star in the 2000 fantasy “X-Men” (8 p.m., Fox).

A murder attempt during a bookstore reading brings out the sleuth in the owner (Kellie Martin) and her mysterious assistant (Clarence Williams III) in the 2005 cable whodunit “Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend” (9 p.m., Hallmark).

A bus crash springs two violent felons on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS).

A smug producer is the lead suspect in an actress’s death on “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” (10 p.m., NBC). Why is NBC airing a repeat of a new series during sweeps? What do they think this is, Saturday night?

Cult choice

An iconic heavy metal band endures creative crises and personal feuds during the recording of its album “St. Anger” in the 2004 documentary “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” (8 p.m., VH1).

Series notes

Tom Bergeron hosts the two-hour season finale of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (8 p.m., ABC) … Luke Perry appears on “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB).

On back-to-back episodes of “Reba” (WB, TV-PG,D), ground rules broken (8:30 p.m.), and subcontracting Van (9 p.m.).

Cupid takes a pounding on “Living with Fran” (9:30 p.m., WB).