Posted on: Tuesday, June 8, 2004
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"The Jury" debut, 7 and 8 p.m., Fox. Here is a rarity — a dead-serious drama series in the summer. Each episode spends most of the time in the jury room with people arguing about a case. We get brief flashbacks to the testimony they've heard. Later, after the verdict, we see what really happened. These are complex stories with no happy endings, no matter who wins. In one, kids fired a gun during a New Year's celebration and killed a neighbor. In another, a man is on trial after his girlfriend is found dead in their hotel suite. There is complex writing and subtle acting — just what we expect from producers Tom Fontana ("Homicide," "Oz") and Richard Levinson ("Rain Man"). Levinson also plays the judge and directs some episodes in a show that's an antidote to the usual summer silliness. "Last Comic Standing," 7 p.m., NBC. Tonight, we see two comedy scouts hold cross-country auditions. They choose 40 standup comedians to compete in New York. The process seems unfair, because they knew some of the comics in advance. Still, we hear snippets of good material; things get better in Wednesday's second round, which is filled with funny lines. Of Note
Basketball, 3 p.m., ABC, with pre-game show at 2:30 p.m. Here is the second game of the best-of-seven series for the NBA championship, with the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Detroit Pistons. "5 Days to Midnight," rerun of opener at 4 p.m., then new episodes at 6, 7 & 8 p.m., Sci Fi Channel. If you missed Monday's opener, you can catch up now. Tim Hutton plays a physics professor who finds a briefcase filled with details of his own death ? five days from now. The concept may sound odd, but "5 Days" has smart writing and terrific acting. "Blow Out" debut, 6, 10 p.m., Bravo. This reality series will feel a lot like "The Restaurant," which is from the same producers. Again, we meet a handsome and charismatic business owner who wants to open a second spot in a high-end location. The hiring and the drastic renovations must be done in a hurry. This one centers on Jonathan Antin, who runs a hair salon in the Melrose area of Los Angeles. He's starting a salon in Beverly Hills, where he grew up. It's a fairly interesting tale, filled with attractive, high-energy people. "Summerland," 8 p.m., WB. In last week's debut we met Ava (Lori Loughlin), a single and stylish Californian who suddenly had kids to take care of after her sister's death. Tonight, she's attracted to a guy (C. Thomas Howell), but worries because he's the father of someone her niece is attracted to. "The Sopranos," 8 p.m., HBO. If you missed the season finale Sunday, here's a second chance to catch this repeat.
