blue glow
SALON'S TV PICKS FOR
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 1999
BY JOYCE MILLMAN

S P E C I A L S

The Mississippi: River of Song (check local times, PBS) is a four-part documentary, hosted by Ani DiFranco, surveying the many musical styles that were born along the river's route. Some PBS affiliates are just beginning the series tonight, others haven't begun it yet and some stations are up to the third episode already (the roots of rockabilly, Memphis soul and Delta blues). A little consistency from PBS would be nice. Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Damon Wayans are among those on hand to salute a comedy genius on The Mark Twain Prize Honoring Richard Pryor (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central). If you miss seeing the now tragically stilled Pryor in action, rent "Richard Pryor -- Live in Concert," his searing 1979 performance film, and have it cued up and ready to go after the Comedy Central special.

S E R I E S

Biography (8 p.m. EST/9 PST, A&E) has a new episode on Roy Cohn, subtitled "Joe McCarthy's Right-Hand Man." Dawson's Creek (8 p.m., WB) wraps up the two-parter in which one of three couples did the deed. Sarah is attacked at the restaurant and Bailey is powerless to help her on Party of Five (9 p.m., Fox). Austin tries relaxing at a yoga retreat with Yeats after learning that a health problem may keep her from the space mission on Chicago Hope (10 p.m., CBS). Hey, if NASA grounds her, does that mean wannabe astronaut Mark Greene from "ER" will get the nod? The boys find a prehistoric man on a new episode of South Park (10 p.m., Comedy Central).

T A L K

Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Ricki Lake, David Alan Grier
David Letterman (CBS) Cameron Diaz, Mariah Carey (rerun)
Jay Leno (NBC) Sean Connery, Joan Allen
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Matt Drudge, Bob Dornan
Conan O'Brien (NBC) Tony Curtis, Patti Smith
SALON | Jan. 20, 1999

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Blue Glow for Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999