Posted on: Monday, March 7, 2005
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"The Contender," debut, 8:30 p.m., NBC. Sweep aside controversies and you have a reminder: Mark Burnett is a superb producer. He's proven that with "Survivor" and "The Apprentice." Now he makes the brutal sport of boxing attractive. This is taut and kinetic one moment and warm the next. We meet 16 middleweights, ranging from a top contender to unknowns. In the 90-minute opener, they train, bond and face a challenge. Then two have an elimination bout. That's when Burnett's team shines. This may be the best boxing footage since "Rocky." Appropriately, "Rocky" creator Sylvester Stallone is host and one of the producers. Sugar Ray Leonard, one of boxing's greats, also is involved. Clouding this is the apparent suicide of Najai Turpin, one of the contenders. That came five months after taping ended, however, and seems unrelated. Turpin gets little screen time in this opener.
"Fear Factor," 7 p.m., NBC. This expanded episode pits four sets of identical twins.
"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Eight of the singers perform tonight and eight more perform tomorrow. "Lies My Mother Told Me," 7 p.m., Lifetime. Joely Richardson's brilliant, Emmy-worthy performance overrides all else. This is the true story of a woman who lived her life by scamming others, ranging from penniless drifter to wealthy wife and back. It's a huge canvas and Richardson — the "Nip/Tuck" star who is the daughter of two Oscar-winners (Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson) is perfect. "Fat Actress," debut, 8 p.m., Showtime. Bold and original, this has Hollywood people willing to tweak themselves. Kirstie Alley portrays herself as an emotional basket case, unable to get roles because of her weight. "Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. Last week, we saw what viewers chose as the fifth-best episode ever. (It was the one with Robert getting down with black culture.) Here's No. 4. "24," 8 p.m., Fox. Last week ended with a chase and shootout in the middle of a crowded office building. The override device was recovered and nuclear meltdowns were barely averted. Now people relax — then realize there are new problems. "Boss Swap," debut, 8 p.m., ABC. A hard-driving man switches jobs with a gentle-talking woman.
Of Note
