Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE (or tape): "Schindler's List" (1993), 8 p.m., PBS. A towering masterpiece is rerun on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Much of "Schindler's List" is a compelling collection of Holocaust moments. We see the cold confrontation between a Nazi officer (Ralph Fiennes) and a Jewish housekeeper (Embeth Davidtz); a little girl in a rose-hued coat heading to her doom; and an architect who dares to tell the Nazis they're making a mistake. These scenes burn into the viewer's mind. Against that backdrop, however, there's an upbeat story. Oskar Schindler was a businessman and a Nazi party member who showed no previous signs of idealism. But overcome by the horrors of the Holocaust, he set up a plan that saved more than 1,000 lives. This story was too complex for most people to tackle. Fortunately, filmmaker Steven Spielberg was in charge. The film is long, and mostly in black-and-white, but holds attention throughout.
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: "ER," 9 p.m., NBC. After two weeks of tired reruns, this show leaps back to the present. Tonight, Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) marries Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston). That is, unless he has too many troubles. There are plenty, starting when he leaves his wallet at the hospital.
"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. Here's some more wedding talk; Rachel and Phoebe must rush to organize Monica's shower. Meanwhile, Denise Richards guest stars as a relative drawing quick attention from the guys.
"Survivor: The Australian Outback," 7 p.m., CBS. Now the show is down to its final five people; which puts it two weeks away from its million-dollar payoff.
"Set It Off" (1996), 7 p.m., Fox. Four women — played by Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica Fox and Kimberly Elise — become a bank-robbery ring. This is a trimmed version, cutting a half-hour from the original; that may be just as well.
"Nuremberg" (2000), 8 p.m. to midnight, TNT. Here's another superb rerun for Holocaust Remembrance Day. Alec Baldwin stars as the Supreme Court justice who led the prosecution of Nazi war criminals. The story is intelligently written, superbly acted and filmed.
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. A car accident draws suspicion.
"Will and Grace," 8 p.m., NBC. There are troubles with Grace's piano and with the novel Jack is writing.
"Just Shoot Me," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Finch's mother and boss are dating each other.
