Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Live From Lincoln Center," 8 p.m., and "Amato: A Love Affair with Opera," 10 p.m.; both PBS. The common theme here involves people who have a passion for music. First is Wynton Marsalis, who grew up with the soaring traditions of New Orleans jazz, then took it much further. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, which he started, shares the night with the New York Philharmonic. Both groups will perform excerpts from "The Nutcracker," with a difference. The Philharmonic does the original Tchaikovsky sound while Marsalis will do the jazzier version from Duke Ellington. Both groups will also perform a Marsalis composition, "All Rise." That's followed by a warm portrait of Tony and Sally Amato. For 53 years, they've run the Amato Opera in New York City. This is said to be America's smallest opera company. "But when that curtain opens," Sally promises, "you'll see grand opera." All of this happens in a narrow, four-story building, with lots of scrambling up stairs and ladders to get old costumes and sets. In tight quarters, music and spirits soar.
Of note
"The West Wing," 8 p.m., NBC. Here's a rerun of last year's Christmas episode. Josh has turned so rude that he's sent to therapy.
"The Bernie Mac Show," 8 p.m., FOX. Holiday tempers boil because the kids want to keep a stray dog.
"The Sons of Mistletoe," 8 p.m., CBS. The network seems to love movies about city folks who return to their home towns for the holidays. Roma Downey returns home in this tale and she's ready to sell her late father's store and the foster home he started.
"Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story," 6 p.m., VH1. Hammer — the rapper who built a $20-million home in Oakland then went broke — already has been the subject of the quintessential "Behind the Music." Now here's a movie version he helped produce. Romany Malco stars as Hammer (aka Stanley Burrell).
Of local note
"University of Hawai'i Rainbow Classic Basketball," KFVE-5. In first round action, Iona takes on Holy Cross at 5 p.m., and Portland plays Hawai'i at 7:30 p.m.
