What else is on
March 23, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN
Chicago Sun-Times
TONIGHT
"Miss USA" (8 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Tara Conner gets to pass the tiara to another potential scandal magnet. You remember Conner. She's the one who went to rehab after allegedly snorting coke, drinking with a minor and making out with Miss Teen USA. Her reign was a crowning achievement.
"Six Degrees" (8:01 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): ABC brings back the first-year character drama from the hiatus dead, featuring its star cast of Hope Davis, Campbell Scott and Erika Christensen.
"20/20" (9 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): The Andersonville cafe A Taste of Heaven is featured in a report about people being fed up with things. That's the one where the owner got fed up with unruly kids. He posted a sign reading, "Children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices." For some reason, certain parents have a problem with this.
"Acceptable TV" (9 p.m., VH1): Jack Black looks over viewer-produced film shorts and asks viewers to vote for the best. It's like a YouTube smashup with "America's Funniest Home Videos."
SATURDAY
"Full Metal Corset: Secret Soldiers of the Civil War" (6 p.m., History Channel): Some women fought, too. But they had to conceal their bosoms. "Full Metal" zeroes in on a pair of not-forgotten fighters, Sarah Emma Edmonds and Loreta Janeta Valazquez.
SUNDAY
"Grease: You're the One That I Want" (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Winners win to represent Danny and Sandy on Broadway. Chicago isn't represented by any of the finalists: Ashley S., Laura, Austin and Max.
"Bring It On: All or Nothing" (7 p.m., ABC Family): A straight-to-DVD movie from last year in which "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere gets out her pompons to save the world, or at least cheerleading. Cheer-off!
"Rome" (8 p.m., HBO): Pity "Rome" has been canceled. It began two years ago as a complex encyclopedia of Caesar's rule. It ends as a finely written blood-and-sex fest set in hard times, peopled with arrogant leaders and Roman citizens eaten daily by rape and hunger and uncivilized civility. The actors well-shouldered the weight of their historical characters by making them terribly human, whether they were killing innocents, engaging in delightful romps or facing final moments of death. (If only there'd been more screen time for Ray Stevenson's strong performance as fictional character Titus Pullo.) Sunday's ¼¼¼¼ finale begins with war between Octavian and Mark Antony, while Antony and Cleopatra approach eternal fame. Someone says, "Let's not go in darkness." Thers also, "You have a rotten soul." Takes one to know one. If, after you watch it, you want to find out what happens next with the historical characters, Wikipedia.com has extensive biographies.
"Battlestar Galactica" (9 p.m., Sci-Fi): My brother's favorite show - also a critic's darling - blasts through its season finale, populated by Gaeta, Baltar, Roslin and the Kobol Opera House. Whatever all that means. I tried watching this season. It looks so great. Not my cup of tea, though. And I'm always frustrated the whole show doesn't revolve around terrific Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin. Love her.
-Doug Elfman
BY DOUG ELFMAN
Chicago Sun-Times
TONIGHT
"Miss USA" (8 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Tara Conner gets to pass the tiara to another potential scandal magnet. You remember Conner. She's the one who went to rehab after allegedly snorting coke, drinking with a minor and making out with Miss Teen USA. Her reign was a crowning achievement.
"Six Degrees" (8:01 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): ABC brings back the first-year character drama from the hiatus dead, featuring its star cast of Hope Davis, Campbell Scott and Erika Christensen.
"20/20" (9 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): The Andersonville cafe A Taste of Heaven is featured in a report about people being fed up with things. That's the one where the owner got fed up with unruly kids. He posted a sign reading, "Children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices." For some reason, certain parents have a problem with this.
"Acceptable TV" (9 p.m., VH1): Jack Black looks over viewer-produced film shorts and asks viewers to vote for the best. It's like a YouTube smashup with "America's Funniest Home Videos."
SATURDAY
"Full Metal Corset: Secret Soldiers of the Civil War" (6 p.m., History Channel): Some women fought, too. But they had to conceal their bosoms. "Full Metal" zeroes in on a pair of not-forgotten fighters, Sarah Emma Edmonds and Loreta Janeta Valazquez.
SUNDAY
"Grease: You're the One That I Want" (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Winners win to represent Danny and Sandy on Broadway. Chicago isn't represented by any of the finalists: Ashley S., Laura, Austin and Max.
"Bring It On: All or Nothing" (7 p.m., ABC Family): A straight-to-DVD movie from last year in which "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere gets out her pompons to save the world, or at least cheerleading. Cheer-off!
"Rome" (8 p.m., HBO): Pity "Rome" has been canceled. It began two years ago as a complex encyclopedia of Caesar's rule. It ends as a finely written blood-and-sex fest set in hard times, peopled with arrogant leaders and Roman citizens eaten daily by rape and hunger and uncivilized civility. The actors well-shouldered the weight of their historical characters by making them terribly human, whether they were killing innocents, engaging in delightful romps or facing final moments of death. (If only there'd been more screen time for Ray Stevenson's strong performance as fictional character Titus Pullo.) Sunday's ¼¼¼¼ finale begins with war between Octavian and Mark Antony, while Antony and Cleopatra approach eternal fame. Someone says, "Let's not go in darkness." Thers also, "You have a rotten soul." Takes one to know one. If, after you watch it, you want to find out what happens next with the historical characters, Wikipedia.com has extensive biographies.
"Battlestar Galactica" (9 p.m., Sci-Fi): My brother's favorite show - also a critic's darling - blasts through its season finale, populated by Gaeta, Baltar, Roslin and the Kobol Opera House. Whatever all that means. I tried watching this season. It looks so great. Not my cup of tea, though. And I'm always frustrated the whole show doesn't revolve around terrific Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin. Love her.
-Doug Elfman
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