honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, September 4, 2001

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

OF LOCAL INTEREST: "XL: The UH Sports Show," 7:30 p.m. (repeats 1 p.m. Saturday), PBS. The premiere of the weekly half-hour program, hosted by longtime University of Hawai'i-Manoa broadcaster Don Robbs, features game highlights and commentaries from the coaches of most major UH sports. There will be an "Ask the Coach" segment, allowing viewers to present specific questions (e-mail the questions to XL@khet.pbs.org, or fax 973-1090 or mail The UH Sports Show, Hawai'i Public Television, 2350 Dole St., Honolulu, HI 96822).

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: "School: The Story of American Public Education" conclusion, 9-11 p.m., PBS. In the second half of the 20th century, a dichotomy developed. "Suburban schools are really functioning pretty well," says producer Sarah Mondale. "Many of the problem schools are in cities, so that is what we focus on in the last hour. We show some of the more innovative solutions that have been tried." There are a lot of them, from vouchers to charter schools. Meryl Streep, whose brother is a New York City teacher, narrates.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: "Murder in Small Town X," 7 p.m., FOX. Here is the finale of a show that deserves credit for ambition. It borrowed an entire town in Maine, stocked it with improvisational actors, then set up an elaborate murder mystery. Ever since, contestants have been gathering clues and trying to avoid being the one person killed each week. Tonight, the mystery is solved and someone wins $250,000.

"JAG," 7 p.m., CBS. Here is a rerun of the season finale with a cliffhanger. As Mac prepares to marry Mic, she faces her feelings for her longtime colleague, Harm.

"Hidden Values: The Movies of the '50s," 2 p.m., TCM. In the staid and somber 1950s, was Hollywood pointing to changes ahead? This documentary points to everything from "Rebel Without a Cause" to Elizabeth Taylor's rebellious "Giant" character.

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. Jean Smart returns to her delightful role as the former prom queen of Frasier's high school. In this rerun, Frasier is attracted to her friend.

"Mysterious Ways," 8 p.m., Pax TV. This first-rate series begins its second season with a spooky tale. A boy insists someone in his bedroom painting is talking to him.

"Greta Garbo: The Lone Star," 7:30 p.m., AMC. Garbo maintained her aloof, distant image. Was that her true self, or just a studio image? Even now, 60 years after her last film, people disagree; this documentary traces an intriguing enigma who died 11 years ago.