Posted on: Monday, March 4, 2002
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
• "Once and Again," 9 p.m., ABC. One of TV's finest dramas gets a new night. It might not be back next season, so catch it now. The show usually centers on Rick and Lily (Billy Campbell and Sela Ward), who are married, with a blended family of four teenagers. Lately, it has added a richly layered portrait of Rick's ex-wife Karen (Susanna Thompson). Bright and caring, she worries too much about her troubled son Eli and sensitive daughter Jessie. Deeply depressed, Karen accidentally stepped in front of a car. As the story starts tonight, she's recovering. The reactions from Eli and Jessie vary sharply. OF NOTE • "My Wife and Kids," 7 p.m., ABC. In a transplanted episode, Michael (Damon Wayans) coaches his daughter's soccer team. • "Broadway's Best," 6 p.m., Bravo. Here's a terrific surprise with Broadway songs performed by steep talents. Some of the people — Linda Eder from the cast of "Contact" — are linked to Broadway but many aren't. They include Darius Rucker, Shawn Colvin, Mandy Moore, Kevin Bacon, Cyndi Lauper and the wonderful Trisha Yearwood. • "Biography," 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m., Midnight, A&E. In almost 1,000 episodes this show has done a splendid job of profiling lives. Now it celebrates its own 15th anniversary. The special has an overview, plus lots of quick clips.
" The Wayne Brady Show," 7:30 p.m., ABC. After a successful August tryout, this high-energy show returns. The humor (some of it improvised) is fairly good. The music is dynamic. Mya stars in the best sketch and in a wonderful medley (with Brady) of old Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell songs. • "Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. Ray has a tape of a girlfriend breaking up with him, 20 years ago. Now his wife wants to know why he's kept it. • "Crossing Jordan," 9 p.m., NBC. The main story here is way too similar to last week's Internet episode on "Law & Order". It's brightened mainly by Jerry O'Connell as a wholesome cop. Much better is a beautifully played secondary story in which the emotionally drained Bug (Ravi Kapoor) meets a psychiatrist, superbly played by Wallace Shawn.
