Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"America's Junior Miss," 8 p.m., Pax TV. Beauty pageants, some people argue, were among television's first reality shows. Now "Junior Miss" gives its first hour a reality-show feel. Cameras taped the 50 contestants during the two weeks leading into the pageant; the results will be edited into a portrait of teens under pressure. The second hour announces the 10 finalists and reverts to pageant format. Nicky Brown hosts in Mobile, Ala.
"The Trail to Hope Rose," 6, 8, 10 p.m., Hallmark Channel. In classic cowboy tradition, a quiet outsider (Lou Diamond Phillips) ambles into a gritty town. He's an ex-con and half-Indian — two marks against him; he's also deeply decent. Soon he meets an honest lawman (Lee Majors), a good-natured farmer (Ernest Borgnine) and a good-hearted beauty (Marina Black), as well as lots of nasty people, including her boyfriend. What follows is a quiet, involving story. Phillips brings understated strength to his role.
Of Note
"Hairspray" (1988), 3 p.m., Bravo. It's now a wildly successful Broadway musical. But when John Waters first released this candy-colored silver-screen Valentine to his Baltimore youth, it was something of a failure. It remains an entertaining watch.
"The Patriot" (2000), 7 p.m., CBS. Mel Gibson plays a widowed farmer, a former soldier reluctant to join the American revolution. He does, though, to epic effect. There are fine performances by Gibson and Heath Ledger as his son. However, this is a bad century for director Roland Emmerich to be in. He makes the bullets seem high-tech and the British seem like brutal fools.
"The Legend of Bagger Vance" (2000), 7 p.m., ABC. Robert Redford directed this quiet drama about a golfer (Matt Damon) trying to make a comeback after World War I. Will Smith (as a mysterious caddy) and Charlize Theron co-star.
"The General's Daughter" (1999), 7 p.m., NBC. An Army captain, the daughter of a general, has been killed. As an investigator (John Travolta) digs into the case, the scandal and cover-up attempts grow. The film, adapted from a Nelson DeMille novel, also stars Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell and Timothy Hutton.
"Crime & Punishment," 9 p.m., NBC. This follows the court case of Terry Hall, a Navy petty officer who admits to killing his wife because she was unfaithful while he was at sea. The possible verdicts range from manslaughter to first-degree murder.
"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Since this is Wimbledon time, NBC reruns the episode hosted by Andy Roddick, the young tennis star.
