Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Meet the Marks," 7:30 p.m., Fox. Some 54 years after "Candid Camera" premiered, the idea is getting elaborate new forms. In this one an entire house in suburban Los Angeles has been rigged up with hidden cameras. People arrive, unsuspecting. They don't know that everyone else is an improvisational actor. What evolves is a situation comedy with one person thinking it's real.
"Breaking News" premiere 2, 5 and 8 p.m., Bravo. In a moment of synergy-gone-whacko, the AOL-Time Warner monolith decided Jamie Kellner (founder of the WB network) should also supervise the Turner networks. He promptly threw away many solid shows made for TNT. Fortunately, Bravo rescued this one. "Breaking News" tries too hard piling up melodramatic twists but it's still a strong drama. The focal point is a struggling cable news channel run by Clancy Brown. Tim Matheson is the star anchor, and Lisa Ann Walter is the producer, with Rowena King, Jeffrey Sams, and Myndy Crist as reporters. Tonight, the crises include an avalanche, a missing vice president and bank hostages. Ken Olin directed, produced and appears briefly in the opener.
Of Note
"30 Seconds to Fame," 7 p.m., Fox. Consider this "Talent Scouts" for a short-attention-span world. Each act in this reality-based contest gets, literally, 30 seconds to wow us.
"The West Wing," 8 p.m., NBC. This rerun starts on the eve of the New Hampshire primary. That means Josh is obsessed with 42 votes in a tiny village that counts its totals instantly. Meanwhile, the president tries real chess with his staff and chess-like moves with the Chinese government.
"American Family," 8 p.m., PBS. A new round of episodes begins in full crisis. Esteban (Esai Morales) is missing. If he doesn't surface soon, he'll be violating parole.
"Door to Door," 9 p.m., TNT. If you missed the premiere of this wonderful movie on Sunday here's a second chance to catch it. William H. Macy co-wrote the script and stars as the real-life Bill Porter, who became a door-to-door salesman despite cerebral palsy.
"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. This rerun put the spotlight on newcomer Elizabeth Rohm who plays new assistant district attorney Southerlyn. She puts her life and career in jeopardy during a hostage crisis.
