Posted on: Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes, Gannett News Service
and Derek Paiva, Advertiser Staff Writer
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"The West Wing," 7 p.m. and (season-opener) 8 p.m., NBC. Last season ended with a jolt when a bomb struck an American motorcade in the Gaza Strip. Donna (Janel Moloney) was hospitalized; Josh (Bradley Whitford) rushed to see her. If you missed that hour, catch the rerun at 8 p.m. Then settle in for the opener at 9. That will include Donna's medical crisis and the instinct for the United States to retaliate. It will spark an emphasis, early this season, on an Israel-Palestine peace plan. "That's based on plans that were almost approved in the last years of the Clinton administration," says producer John Wells. The season's other big emphasis is the race to replace the lame-duck president. In "West Wing" time, the primaries are just beginning. Democratic candidates include the vice president (Gary Cole) and a former Houston mayor (Jimmy Smits). The Republicans have a California senator (Alan Alda) who's a moderate. Wells expects no reruns this years. There will be nine straight new episodes, a Christmas break and then 13 more.
OF LOCAL NOTE
"Honolulu Magazine's 50 Greatest Hawai'i Albums," 7 p.m., KGMB. Honolulu Magazine's June issue featured a list of the 50 greatest locally-produced albums "of all time," as chosen by a panel of local musicologists, musicians, radio personalities and music executives. For non-subscribers, here's a televised look at who made the cut. We'll even forgive the panel for relegating Gabby Pahinui's monumental 1972 disc "Gabby" — our choice for the top spot — to no. 3. It repeats at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30. OF NOTE
"Lost," 7 p.m., ABC. We learn more about the background of Jack (Matthew Fox) the doctor who has become a leader of the survivors. As he wanders through the jungle, he flashes back to his boyhood. "The Bachelor," 8 p.m., ABC. After taking a week off for the debate, this show is back with eight women remaining. "Center of the Universe," 8:30 p.m., CBS. Rarely has this much star power been packed into a show that's so dull. John Goodman and Jean Smart play a happily married couple, surrounded by his odd parents (Ed Asner, Olympia Dukakis) and siblings (Melinda McGraw, Diedrich Bader). Most of the supporting characters are silly cliches. Asner didn't get his row of Emmys by doing lame sexual-potency jokes like these. "CSI: NY," 9 p.m., CBS. An award-winning hip-hop DJ has been killed. "Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. Two cops are killed after someone puts information on the Internet. "Broadway: The American Musical," 9 p.m., PBS; concludes Thursday. As the Depression darkened, Broadway folks went in opposite directions. Cole Porter was in denial, with glitter and joy. Others addressed the darkness typified by the Broadway song, "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" Tonight's first hour ends with Irving Berlin and preparations for World War II. The second starts with the 1943 "Oklahoma," changing storytelling. It continues through the triumph of "My Fair Lady" and the impact of TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show." "King of Queens" season-opener, 1:30 a.m., CBS. After twice being scheduled and then delayed, this above-average comedy starts its season (with yet another delay due to the "50 Greatest Hawai'i Albums" special at 7 p.m.) Doug plans to treat Carrie. He's hoping she'll let him go on a guy weekend to Las Vegas.
