Posted at 3:12 p.m., Monday, July 9, 2007
TV tonight: Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
"The Closer," 6 p.m., TNT. Even by this show's high standards here is an extraordinary episode. An 8-year-old girl didn't make it home from school. Brenda and her team must move quickly; they have nothing to work on except random images from surveillance cameras. Eventually, there's an intense showdown between Sgt. David Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) and a suspect. It's enough to endanger the career of Gabriel who has been Brenda's favorite. This hour is everything we expect from "The Closer" smartly written, beautifully acted, intense and involving. Leading into it is a rerun of a lighter episode from the previous week. It starts with a funeral going bad, with a second body found in the coffin.
"Kyle XY," 8 p.m., and "Greek" debut, 9 p.m., ABC Family. This summer cable channels seem obsessed with Mondays. TNT already has two Monday dramas ("The Closer" at 6 p.m. and "Heartland" at 7) and will start a third one in two weeks. HBO has "Big Love"; now ABC Family is adding its second teen-oriented drama. First is the continuing "Kyle XY." Nicole returns to work and one of her patients is Jessi who was created by the same lab project that made Kyle. Then "Greek" debuts: Rusty, a geeky sort, arrives at a college where his sister Casey is social and popular.
Of Note
"Spielberg on Spielberg," 2, 6 p.m., TCM. Steven Spielberg's impact on modern filmmaking has been stunning. He proved that there really can be a high art to adventure, that action films can be made with intelligence and with cinematic mastery. Now here's a documentary about his career. It's directed by Richard Schickel, the TV critic who has previously made excellent films on George Lucas and others.
"Big Love," 6 p.m., HBO. Rhonda, the 14-year-old runaway is back. We sort of feel sorry for her, what with people steering her toward an unwanted marriage with an old guy. Still, she manages to scheme and to complicate every life around her. One more complication: The show's central character, already frazzled in dealing with his three wives, meets a gentle and appealing waitress.
"Two and a Half Men," 8 p.m., CBS. This rerun goes back to early in the season. Charlie reverts to his old bachelor ways until he's needed to snap Alan out of despondency.
"Age of Love," 8 p.m., NBC. The battle continues, between women in their 20s and in their 40s. Tonight, it includes doubles tennis and training for a triathlon. That almost sounds like the twentysomethings could have an advantage.
"Power of Art," 10 p.m., PBS. We meet the troubled life of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.