Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Pleasantville" (1998), 5 p.m., TNT. This brilliant film didn't do much business when it came out. Now its stars (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) have hot careers and current movies in theaters and maybe that will help new viewers discover this gem. Maguire and Witherspoon play teens who are upset by the chaos of modern life. They sink into the simpler times shown in 1950s TV shows. Suddenly, they're inside one of those shows and they're even in black-and-white. But what happens when modern sensibilities meet an old-time world? Gary Ross wrote and directed this film beautifully. He also hired a first-rate adult cast, led by William H. Macy, Jeff Daniels and (especially) Joan Allen. Incidentally, Macy, Daniels and Maguire are also starring in Ross' latest film, "Seabiscuit," which opened to stellar reviews July 25.
Of Local Note
"Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competion," 6:30 p.m., KITV. The opening night of this 28th annual competition features children competing in the kahiko style of hula.
Of Note
"My Life as a Teenage Robot" debut, 5:30 p.m., Nickelodeon. Here's a series about a robot that wants to protect Earth but still have a normal life as a teen girl.
"Fatal Attraction" (1987), 6 p.m., Lifetime. Glenn Close gave a brilliant, Oscar-nominated performance as a woman who seduced a married man (Michael Douglas) and then became his worst nightmare.
"The Bernie Mac Show," 7 and 7:30 p.m., Fox. Bernie isn't the only one who has a tough time raising these kids as we see in two reruns. In the first one, his wife's parents try to help. In the second, a housekeeper gets involved.
"The Trial of Old Drum" (2000), 7 p.m., Pax TV. This well-made movie was originally done for Animal Planet. It's the true story of a dog that was put on trial accused of killing sheep. Randy Travis, the country-music star, has a supporting role.
"JAG," 8 p.m., CBS. An honored war veteran may be sneaking Vietnamese girls into the country to work at a sweatshop.
