blue glow
SALON'S TV PICKS FOR
WEEKEND, DEC. 4-6, 1998
BY JOYCE MILLMAN

S E R I E S

NBC is doubling up on Homicide: Life on the Street, 9 p.m. Fri., NBC) episodes for the next couple of weeks to fill the 9 o'clock hole left by the flop drama "Trinity." The first episode is a rerun from last season's Georgia Rae Mahoney story line (it also features Steve Burns, aka that nice Steve from the kiddie show "Blue's Clues") as a homicidal teen. The second episode (10 p.m.) is new; it's the first of a two-parter in which our old friend Mike Kellerman (former series regular Reed Diamond) returns. Mikey the disgraced cop is now a private detective and he's working a baby-killing case that brings him in conflict with his old squad mates. Now, if they could only bring back Andre Braugher (not to mention Ned Beatty, Melissa Leo and Michelle Forbes) the show would be as good as new. Buddy Faro (9 p.m. Fri., CBS) continues to hang in there, despite low ratings; Hanson makes an appearance this week. Special guest star fever also takes hold of Nash Bridges (10 p.m. Fri., CBS), which features slugger Jose Canseco as a Central American ballplayer pursued by an overzealous INS agent. The agent is played by NBA star Karl Malone, who has a lot of time on his hands these days. Vince Vaughn hosts Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC), with music from Lauryn Hill. Neil Finn is in concert on this week's Sessions at West 54th (check local times, Sat., PBS). A new profile of Colonel Sanders kicks off "fast food week" on Biography (8 p.m. EST/9 PST, Sun., A&E). Mulder and Scully have to figure out how to get Mulder back into his body (don't ask) on the conclusion of a two-part X-Files (9 p.m. Sun., Fox). Behind the Music (9 p.m. Sun., VH1) and Storytellers (10 p.m. Sun., VH1) both feature R.E.M. On The Practice (10 p.m. Sun., ABC), the trial of the baby sitter accused of killing her charge begins. Kathy Baker guests.

S P E C I A L S

Shawn Colvin hosts Holidays in Concert (8:35 p.m. Sat., Disney Channel), a yuletide special from Disney World. Performers include 'N Sync and Tatyana Ali. More Disney holiday stuff: the animated short Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (7 p.m. Sun., ABC) and the first TV showing of the video-only sequel Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (7:30 p.m. Sun., ABC) air back-to-back. Rosie O'Donnell's Kids Are Punny (7:30 p.m. Sun., HBO) is part animated Baby Rosie adventure and part live-action "kids say the darndest thing" special. But enough kid stuff: Jonathan Schaech has the title role in the new cable movie Houdini (8 p.m. Sun., TNT), a bio of the legendary escape artist. Stacy Edwards and Paul Sorvino co-star. Sandra Bernhard and Isaac Hayes host Hi-Fi Party (10 p.m. Sun., Comedy Central), an adults-only variety show with guests Meat Loaf, the Bert Fershners and Royal Crown Revue.

S P O R T S

Football:
Bills at Bengals; Colts at Falcons; Patriots at Steelers; Chargers at Redskins; Seahawks at Jets (1 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Cowboys at Saints; Lions at Jaguars; 49ers at Panthers (1 p.m. Sun, Fox)
Ravens at Oilers; Chiefs at Broncos; Dolphins at Raiders (4 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Giants at Cardinals (4 p.m. Sun., Fox)
Bears at Vikings (8:15 p.m. Sun., ESPN)

T A L K

Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Sandra Bullock, Sheryl Crow (rerun)
David Letterman (CBS) Pierce Brosnan (rerun)
Jay Leno (NBC) Hanson, Prince Naseem Hamed
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Lisa Ann Walter, Alex Alexakis (Everclear)
Conan O'Brien (NBC) Rob Schneider, Maria Bello (rerun)
SALON | Dec. 4, 1998

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Blue Glow for Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998