Posted on: Thursday, September 9, 2004
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Medical Investigation" debut, 9 p.m., NBC. In a pleasant Maryland town, Dr. Stephen Connor (Neal McDonough) is just another troubled guy, trying to make nice with his ex-wife and their son. Then the phone rings and a helicopter descends, and it's time for him to save the world again. Connor heads a mobile team that fights epidemics. This opener blends elements beautifully. There are the medical mysteries.
The opener — based on a true story — is compelling. And there is the personal portrait. McDonough proved in "Boomtown" that he's a master at playing intense, troubled guys. He does it again here. Kelli Williams ("The Practice") is his colleague, with Christopher Gorham ("Jake 2.0") as the newcomer. This hour has two flaws: It overuses the clich? of hospital bureaucrats who don't want any help, and it has an absurd portrait of the relationship between a reporter and a press liaison. Those are small quirks, however, in a terrific hour. At 9 p.m. tomorrow, "Medical Investigation" settles into its regular time slot. Of Note
"Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable," 5 p.m., HBO. Rory Kennedy first triumphed with the subtle texture of her 1999 rural documentary, "American Hollow." This time, Kennedy — who was born after the death of her father, Robert Kennedy — moves closer to her family's passion for pushing a cause. Using her brother (Robert Kennedy Jr.) as a prime source, she makes a compelling argument that the Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York state is a prime target for terrorism that could endanger millions of people. "Chernobyl Heart," 5:45 p.m., HBO. After scaring us with the possibility of a nuclear disaster in the United States, HBO offers a documentary viewing the effect of the 1986 Russian breakdown at Chernobyl. Football, 6:30 p.m., ABC. The Indiana Colts face the New England Patriots. "Joey" debut, 7 p.m., NBC. Here's a happy non-surprise: This "Friends" spinoff is sunny, likable and quite funny. At the core is Joey Tribbiani, played perfectly by Matt LeBlanc. Sweet and vague, he's a great character, but not someone to hold a series on his own. Fortunately, interesting people surround him. There's his sister (played by Drea de Matteo of "The Sopranos"), a sexy stylist who savors the California image. And her son (newcomer Paulo Costanzo), 20 and brainy. And a sunny neighbor (Andrea Anders). They keep "Joey" thoroughly enjoyable. "The Apprentice," 7:30 p.m., NBC. The second edition begins, this time with 18 competitors who know what to expect. Tonight, we meet them, and Donald Trump gives them his first challenge. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. A man who won a fortune by cheating at roulette is found dead.
