Posted on: Friday, September 13, 2002

Tube Notes

Mike Hughes,
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Pleasantville" (1998), 8 and 10:30 p.m., TNT. Before "Spider-Man" and "Legally Blonde," Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon starred in this deceptively brilliant film. They play teens in a modern, dysfunctional family. Suddenly, they're swept inside the peaceful world of a 1950s situation comedy. Life, in black-and-white, is dull. Soon, people from opposite worlds are changing each other. Joan Allen is particularly good as the sitcom mom. The real star, however, is Gary Ross, who has written and directed a gem.

Of Note

"Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" (1999), 7 p.m., Fox. Rob Schneider plays a cleaner who breaks a valuable aquarium. Desperate to replace it, he becomes a prostitute. The result is a silly-but-harmless movie, brightened by Arija Bareikis of Fox's short-lived "American Embassy" series.

"I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary," 8 p.m., CBS. This reruns the special recalling the brilliant work of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Their children, Desi Jr. and Lucie, offer music, memories and a visit to their parents' roots.