Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"The Matthew Shepard Story," 8 p.m., NBC. For most of its two hours, this is merely an adequate retelling of a dark tragedy. Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston play Judy and Dennis Shepard, whose son was killed in a brutal gay-bashing. As they prepare for the sentencing of one of the killers, we see flashbacks of Matthew (Shane Meier). This has none of the richly layered brilliance of "The Laramie Project," which first aired last weekend on HBO. Still, it's solid and straightforward. Dennis Shepard's statement during the sentencing stands as both great writing and great humanity. Waterston's delivery is perfect. That moment, combined with songs by Randi Driscoll and Elton John, make the final 10 minutes of this film deeply moving.