blue glow
SALON'S TV PICKS FOR
WEEKEND, JAN. 29-31, 1999
BY JOYCE MILLMAN

S U P E R   B O W L

Well, it finally happened -- the Super Bowl has become an all-day TV event. Can't get enough warm-up talk? Then you'll be grateful for Fox's seven-hour pre-game show. The jawing begins with the Super Bowl Kickoff (11 a.m. Sun., Fox), a three-hour commercial for Fox programming. Included: Keith Olbermann on the network's preparations for covering the Big Game, former "90210" star Jason Priestley touring Miami night life, John Madden choosing his "All-Millennium Team" and endless promos for "The X-Files" and "Guinness World Records." Then, it's on to the Super Bowl Pregame Show (2 p.m.), four hours of James Brown, Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw and Chris Collinsworth making like "Seinfeld" and talking about nothing. Finally, when you're almost too stupefied to care, it's Super Bowl XXXIII (6 p.m.), the Broncos vs. the Falcons at Miami, with Cher singing the national anthem, a half-time show with Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the debut of Jerry Seinfeld's new American Express commercial. For counter programming, there's a new Celebrity Deathmatch Deathbowl '99 (halftime, MTV) featuring Dolly Parton vs. Jennifer Lopez (think about it), a rerun showing of Alicia Silverstone's Clueless (7 p.m., NBC) and the first broadcast airing of Muppet Treasure Island (7 p.m., ABC).

S E R I E S

Kablam! (8 p.m. Fri., Nickelodeon) is the most inventive kiddie show on the air. It's a grab-bag of features hosted by a pair of cartoon kids named Henry and June. One of those features, "Action League Now!" is a hilarious live-action superhero spoof starring a motley crew of dolls and action figures. Why am I telling you all this? Because there's a special Super Bowl edition of "Action League Now!" tonight, in which the team springs into action to protect John Elway, Kordell Stewart and Brett Favre action figures from a deranged nemesis. The football stars provide their own voices. Thanks for letting me share ... Tyne Daly guests as the meanest pistol-packin' mama in Kansas City on The Magnificent Seven (9 p.m. Fri., CBS). On Homicide (10 p.m. Fri., NBC), the murder of a Vietnam veteran rekindles Munch's suspicions that Gharty is lying about having served in 'Nam. So Many Kids in the Hall (11:30 p.m. Fri., Comedy Central) serves up nine consecutive episodes of the great skit comedy show starring funny Canadians Dave Foley, Scott Thompson, Mark McKinney, Kevin McDonald and Bruce McCulloch. The new animated series Family Guy (after Super Bowl, Sun., Fox) has a special preview episode, although the show won't be added to Fox's schedule until spring. The show's about a suburban family that's purportedly more dysfunctional than the Simpsons. Speaking of The Simpsons (approximately 10:30 p.m. Sun., Fox), Fox's last self-promoting gasp of Super Sunday takes place in this episode, when Homer and a busload of Springfield fans travel to Miami for the Super Bowl. Fox czar Rupert Murdoch has a cameo. On The Sopranos (10 p.m. Sun., HBO), Tony hires a crooked cop (John Heard) to spy on Dr. Melfi, Uncle Junior makes a play for the dying Jackie Abrile's top post and Tony's son learns that his dad is not really a waste management consultant. The X-Files Complete Conspiracy (8 and 11 p.m., Fri., FX) continues with Parts 2 and 3 of the "Anasazi" trilogy. In Episode 49, "The Blessing Way" (8 p.m.), Mulder is rescued from the burning boxcar full of aliens by Navajo healers and nursed back to health, while Scully discovers the computer chip implanted in the base of her neck. Significant point: The first appearance of the Well-Manicured Man. In Episode 50, "Paper Clip" (11 p.m.), a reunited Mulder and Scully discover the World War II origins of the conspiracy to create a super-race of alien-human hybrids. Significant point: Scully loses another member of her family.

T A L K

Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Will Smith, R.E.M. (rerun)
David Letterman (CBS) Brandy, Jason Schwartzman
Jay Leno (NBC) Dana Carvey (rerun)
Charlie Rose (PBS) Bill Murray
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Steven Wright
Dennis Miller (HBO) Noah Wyle
Conan O'Brien (NBC) Jerry Stiller, Rob Schneider (rerun)
SALON | Jan. 29, 1999

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Blue Glow for Thursday, Jan. 28, 1999