CBS’ ‘Alex’ may be around for a while
Jenna Elfman returns to prime-time comedy in “Courting Alex” (9:30 p.m., CBS), as Alex Rose, a workaholic lawyer. Her name may be easily confused with Axl Rose, lead singer for “Guns N’ Roses,” but she’s not ready to welcome you to any jungle.
Her day is scheduled to the smallest detail. She hasn’t purchased groceries or cooked a meal since 2002, and her “dates” consist of cell phone interruptions followed by protracted legal wrangling.
She doesn’t have a life, but she’s got a wacky, lusty neighbor, a British painter with designs on her.
In the first episode, her father, a lawyer (Dabney Coleman in the role of a corporate shark he’s played far too many times), sends her to negotiate with a tavern owner whose reluctance to sell the family business is holding up a big real estate deal. She’s both intrigued and repelled by his young, hunky, blue-collar charms.
So, of course, she kisses him. It’s the first impulsive thing she’s done since the turn of the century.
The pilot for “Alex” leaves it unclear whether this relationship is going to be the basis of the show or merely one romantic event in a series. And that’s rather key to the future of the highly derivative “Alex.”
If they are an item, then “Alex” becomes “Dharma & Greg” in reverse, with Elfman in the uptight “Greg” role. If she moves on to other guys, then “Alex” can just throw its hat into the air and join the parade of comedies in the “Mary Tyler Moore” mold.
Given the friendly confines of the CBS Monday-night schedule, this pleasant if innocuous comedy doesn’t have to stand out to survive. And the fact that it isn’t “Out of Practice” will be a source of celebration to many.
“American Experience” (9 p.m., KSPS) profiles The two-hour joint biography emphasizes Abigail’s calming influence on her often-impetuous husband.
Looking back on his early days in the Continental Congress, John calls his behavior “obnoxious.” The profile makes much of the Adams’ friendship and subsequent bitter feuds with Thomas Jefferson and John’s fears that his pivotal role in the Revolution and the nation’s founding would be forgotten by posterity or distorted by his enemies.
Judy Davis stars in “A Little Thing Called Murder” (9 p.m., Lifetime) as Sante Kimes, the head of a creepy mother-son con artist team. Based on a true story, the Sante case also was made into a CBS TV movie in 2001 starring Mary Tyler Moore.
Other highlights
Unexpected legal woes on “Las Vegas” (9 p.m., NBC).
An awkward time for Jack and Audrey on “24” (9 p.m., Fox).
A random killing may be the work of a gang on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).
After rescuing a child, Allison suffers dark visions of his future actions on “Medium” (10 p.m., NBC).
On the new series “Style Me with Rachel Hunter” (7 p.m., WE), the statuesque Australian moderates a contest of 12 would-be stylists who compete to win a contract to dress Hollywood denizens.
Cult choice
Well known for drowning in “The Poseidon Adventure,” actress Shelley Winters played characters who met watery fates in “A Place in the Sun” (7 p.m., TCM) and “The Night of the Hunter” (9:15, TCM). TCM has revised its schedule to present an all-day film tribute to Winters, who died Jan. 14.
Series notes
Games of chance on “The King of Queens” (8 p.m., CBS) … Corporate collaborators on “Surface” (8 p.m., NBC) … The competition continues on “Skating with Celebrities” (8 p.m., Fox) … A fashion follower trades spaces with an earth mother of eight on “Wife Swap” (8 p.m., ABC) … A bias attack on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB) … Repercussions on “How I Met Your Mother” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Charlie’s challenge on “Two and a Half Men” (9 p.m., CBS) … Rose’s choice on “Related” (9 p.m., WB).