Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Today's Must-See
Specials linked to the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Things begin at 7:30 a.m. on the History Channel with "Live From Pearl Harbor" featuring live coverage of this morning's harbor memorial services. The same channel has "Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor" at 2 p.m., "Save Our History: USS Arizona" at 3 p.m. and "Tora Tora, Tora: The Real Story of Pearl Harbor" at 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., NBC repeats its relatively sluggish "Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack" and the Discovery Channel has "Pearl Harbor: Death of the Arizona" at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The real surprise, however, is "Hell in the Pacific" at 9 p.m. on The Learning Channel. This British film is an unflinching look at savagery and brutality before and during World War II. It's fierce, upsetting and important.
Of Note
"Dark Angel," 7 p.m., FOX. Max and Alex race to save a mermaid. This is, incidentally, fiction.
"The Matrix" (1999), 8 p.m., TNT. In movie theaters, this film — complete with Keanu Reeves, action and groundbreaking special effects — was a huge hit. Now it reaches basic cable.
"'Twas the Night," 8 p.m., Disney Channel; repeats at 9:50 p.m. For the first half-hour, this movie is quite awful with unlikable lead characters. Then, surprisingly, it catches on. Two laymen get devices Santa Claus uses to shrink things and to stop time. There are moments of humor and warmth.
"24," 8 p.m., FOX. Here's another chance to catch up with this great series. One cop helps Jack; another stops his wife who is searching for their missing daughter.
"Once and Again," 9 p.m., ABC. The focus is on the teens during the school production of "As You Like It." That's interspersed with problems faced by Grace and Jessie (who are in the show) and Eli.
"Sketch Pad," midnight, HBO; 10 p.m. HBO (Oceanic Digital, 611). This special takes the best moments from the best sketch-comedy troupes with hilarious results. There are quick bits from The Groundlings, Second City, Acme Comedy Theatre and other great American comedy troupes. Still, the top moments come from other countries: The Umbilical Brothers in Australia offer some splendid visual humor. Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald recreate a bit from the Canadian group Kids in the Hall.
