‘Double Dare’ looks at stunt women
“Double Dare” on “Independent Lens” (10 p.m., KSPS) looks at two women from two different generations working as female stunt doubles.
Now a grandmother, Jeannie Epper once took falls and kicked butt for “Wonder Woman” star Lynda Carter. Now she worries about retirement and the dwindling number of roles for women over 30.
Zoe Bell was Lucy Lawless’ stand-in on the syndicated series “Xena: Warrior Princess,” and appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films. She’s busy and brash and not entirely aware of the female pioneers in her unusual field.
“Dare” uses the prism of female stunt doubles to present a feminist history of filmmaking, and show how Hollywood has grown more male-dominated over the decades.
Silent films, released before women won the right to vote, regularly featured strong women who overcame physical hardships, family crises and economic plights. And these films not only starred women, including Mary Pickford, they employed stuntwomen and female writers and directors.
How much has changed? According to this film, women directed fewer than 4 percent of Hollywood movies last year.
Interviews include actresses Lucy Lawless and Lynda Carter and directors Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino.
Someday a filmmaker or writer will explain the bizarre contemporary phenomenon of ever bigger and increasingly expensive weddings. Along the way, perhaps he or she will tackle the subject of our addiction to big, featureless houses, stretch limos at high school proms, and the “need” for Hummers and other gas-guzzling toys.
Until that time there is “Whose Wedding is It Anyway?” (10 p.m., Style), a 10-part series that exploits and celebrates the nervous gullibility of would-be brides and their check-writing parents. No show is complete without tears or a meltdown or two.
Every week features a new wedding planner. Not all of the publicity is favorable.
Remember Jeff Gannon? You may recall him as James Dale Guckert. He’s the former proprietor of an Internet male escort service (“Male Call”) who passed himself off as a “conservative” White House correspondent and received access to the Oval Office, something frequently denied to veteran journalists.
Was he a lucky amateur caught up in the blog revolution, or a White House propaganda tool? Gannon/Guckert appears on “Lie Detector” (8 p.m., Pax) to set his record straight. “Swift Boat Veterans” accuser Steve Gardner also submits to a polygraph test.
Other highlights
Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro star in director Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 drug war epic “Traffic” (8 p.m., NBC).
On back-to-back episodes of “Gilmore Girls” (WB), Rory feels like a failure (8 p.m.), and Lorelai turns to her parents in a crisis (9 p.m.).
A patient legally refuses care on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).
The crabs are biting for some on “Deadliest Catch” (9 p.m., Discovery).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): A man wanted for murder pretends to be a reporter for The New York Times.
Dunbar’s weapon falls into the wrong hands on “Blind Justice” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
A brash photographer (James Woods) and his disc jockey buddy (James Belushi) cover a war in Central America in director Oliver Stone’s 1986 drama “Salvador” (4:55 and 9:45p.m., Independent Film Channel).
Series notes
On back-to-back episodes of “Navy NCIS” (CBS), a hero’s secrets (8 p.m.), and telemarketers can be murder (9 p.m.) … Parallel wives on “Trading Spouses” (8 p.m., Fox) … Behavior modification on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Serena Williams guest-stars on “All of Us” (8 p.m., UPN).
Carmen wants to be prepared on “George Lopez” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … A serious handicap on “Eve” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Britney’s feelings for Kevin grow profound on “Chaotic” (9 p.m., UPN) … The cemetery plot thickens on “According to Jim” (9 p.m., ABC).
Divide and conquer on “The Bad Girl’s Guide” (9:30 p.m., UPN).