Posted on: Tuesday, December 18, 2001
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Doc" 7 p.m., and "Mysterious Ways," 8 p.m., both Pax TV. One week before the holiday, these series load up on Christmas elements. "Doc" shovels in a little of everything, including a Christmas Eve birth, an elusive toy and a gift exchange. There are even some powerful moments that humanize the oft-villainous Dr. Crane. In other hands, such episodes might seem forced and phony. As written and produced by David and Gary Johnson, this brings decency and humanity. Afterward, "Mysterious Ways" repeats last year's Christmas episode featuring a complex tale of gang violence and a weeping image in a church window. Like many "Mysterious" episodes, it's a twisty and emotional ride. Of note
"That '70s Show," 7 p.m., FOX. Eric leads the Christmas pageant.
"Contact: Talking With the Dead," 7 p.m., ABC. Sight unseen, this could be the year's worst idea. It's sort of a celebrity edition of "Crossing Over" with medium George Anderson trying to link Vanna White and Mackenzie Phillips with departed loved ones.
"24," 8 p.m., FOX. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) finally links with his wife and gives her the bad news: Their daughter's disappearance seems part of a much larger plot.
"NYPD Blue," 8 p.m., ABC. Jacqueline Obradors joins the cast as a vice cop who teams with McDowall (Charlotte Ross). Meanwhile, the precinct works on the murder of an illegal immigrant.
"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. The Crane brothers try to conquer the blue-collar world by taking a car-repair class.
"The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad" (1988), 7 p.m., TNN. The "Airplane" guys returned to top form with this quick and funny film. Leslie Nielsen re-created the pompous-and-bumbling cop he played in TV's short-lived "Police Squad."
