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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, January 14, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Battlestar Galactica" series debut, 7 p.m., Sci Fi; second episode at 9. Credit this series with aiming high. There are no easy answers, no moments of talking down to us. Last year's miniseries gave us the nasty Cylons. They're robots that became way too self-sufficient. They took over most of the world; 47,000 humans escaped in a ragtag collection of ships.

These Cylons can create doppelgangers — human copies. One is a rather spectacular form, played by Tricia Helfer. She seduced a scientist and drifts into his consciousness. Another Cylon is apparently undercover, pretending to be Boomer, the fighter pilot.

Things get complex. In tonight's first episode, the Cylons have waves of attacks every 33 minutes. Forced to constantly fight and run, the humans are near collapse. Soon, a jolting decision faces the president, the commander, his son Apollo and Apollo's free-spirited colleague, Starbuck. In the second, Boomer makes an unnerving discovery. Both episodes are complex and tough to follow, but they're worth the trouble.



Of Note

"Joan of Arcadia," 7 p.m., CBS. The high school director has a wildly ambitious play about zombies. Joan auditions.

"The Bernie Mac Show," 7 and 7:30 p.m., Fox. This clever comedy has been on the shelf too long. Now it's back with two new episodes. In the first, Bryanna needs her own room; in the second, Bernie's younger sister is getting married.

"8 Simple Rules," 7 p.m., ABC. The "Married ... With Children" duo is reunited when Ed O'Neill arrives as the former college boyfriend of Cate (Katey Sagal).

"Hope & Faith," 8 p.m., ABC. Here is more stunt casting. It includes the second appearances by Kelly Ripa's real-life husband (Mark Consuelos, as a former baseball player) and her talk-show partner (Regis Philbin), as a car dealer.

"Jonny Zero" debut, 8 p.m., Fox. A tough convict (played by Franky G) emerges from jail and into city life. He wants to follow the rules and stay out of prison. Others want him back as a muscle guy for clubs and more. This first hour is partly hurt by a filming style and a story style that tends toward jumpy spurts. Still, Franky G paints a strong and tormented hero; gradually, his show could catch on.