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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 8, 2003

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Battlestar Galactica," 7 p.m., Sci Fi, rerunning at 9:09 p.m. and 11:17 p.m.; concludes Tuesday. Maybe TV has evolved after all. A bad series from 1978 has been transformed into a terrific miniseries that doubles as a series pilot. The concept is the same: Cylons have destroyed 12 planets and the surviving humans are on the run in a ragtag fleet. This version adds layers of humanity. The commander (the stiff Lorne Greene in the original) is now the simmering Edward James Olmos. The big difference, however, is the addition of women. Mary McDonnell plays the reluctant new president in a precarious military-political balance with Olmos. Katee Sackhoff plays Starbuck, the cocky fighter ace. Tricia Helfer, a towering beauty, gives the Cylons new dimension. These women deepen the story. The new "Battlestar" is both strong sci-fi and solid human drama.

Of Note

"Biography: Top 10 Hitched & Ditched," 6, 10 p.m., A&E. For the next four days, "Biography" will sum up the people stories of 2003. The hours vary wildly in quality from Tuesday's pretty good "Top 10 to Watch" to Wednesday's horrid "Top 10 Most Notorious." This one is adequate, ranging from the romance of stars (Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher) to the falling-out of countries (America and France). Much of it is empty-headed but some of it is saved by clever commentary.

"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" (2000), 7 p.m., Fox. After the immense success of his first "Nutty" film, Eddie Murphy tackled this sequel. He plays five characters, including Professor Sherman Klump, who can marry a beauty (Janet Jackson) if he ousts his crass alter ego, Buddy Love.

"Average Joe" finale, 8 p.m., NBC. It's time for Melana Scantlin to make her final choice. Adam, 28, partner in a New York trading company is a likable lug and he's an average guy, albeit a rich one. Jason, 27, a California student and waiter, is one of the handsome chaps who arrived late in the show.