Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TODAY'S MUST-SEE
Football, 3 p.m., ABC. The wide-open offense of Florida takes on Maryland in the Orange Bowl. In homes and taverns, fans can whoop and cheer. They'll have to pace themselves, though. They'll still be recovering from five bowl games yesterday and six today, with the big one — the national-championship Rose Bowl — coming Thursday.
"Mill Times," 8 p.m., "World of National Geographic: Puma, Lion of the Andes," 9 p.m., and "Centennial Toast to Symphony Hall," 10 p.m.; all PBS. While other networks toss in reruns, PBS serves up some eccentric variety. "Mill Times" looks at how textile mills launched America's transformation from a peaceful agricultural nation to a prosperous (if stressed-out) industrial superpower. "Geographic" has a film by Hugh Miles, who spent two years in a Chilean wilderness. Then "Centennial Toast" wraps up the night beautifully. It celebrates the 100th birthday of Boston's Symphony Hall with music by both the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony. There is some star power here with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singer/actor Mandy Patinkin, host Diana Rigg, and composer-conductor John Williams. There also is some great music when Gil Shaham solos in music from Williams' "Schindler's List" score.
OF NOTE
"The West Wing," 7 and 8 p.m., NBC. The season's first two episodes are rerun back to back here. They form a terrific combination as Bartlet begins his re-election campaign as a distant underdog.
"'I Love Lucy' 50th Anniversary," 8 p.m., CBS. Here is a quick rerun of a special that was both a tribute to and a biography of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Their children had a major hand in creating the project.
"Army of Darkness" (1993), 7 p.m., Sci Fi Channel. After their two "Evil Dead" movies, director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell wrapped up the trilogy with this immensely offbeat film about a modern guy in a medieval world filled with zombies and such. There are moments of dark wit. There's also the American movie debut of gifted actress Embeth Davidtz.
"Titus," 8:30 p.m., FOX. Christopher Titus continues to explore his real-life relationship with his mother, who was, by his account, homicidal, suicidal and brilliant. In this episode, set at her murder trial, she's played by Connie Stevens.
"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. In a rerun, the death penalty is pondered for a teen who killed a restaurant owner.
