Blue Glow

Salon's TV picks for Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999

Published September 16, 1999 4:00PM (EDT)

Fall Premiere

The promising Hollywood satire Action (9 p.m., Fox) debuts with back-to-back episodes. Jay Mohr nails the role of Peter Dragon, an arrogant, successful producer of blockbuster action movies facing his first flop. Illeana Douglas is Mohr's equal as Wendy Ward, a former child actress turned Hollywood hooker, who sees a glimmer of a conscience in Peter and sets out to nurture him to greatness. The fast, funny -- and bleep-laden -- script was written by executive producer/creator Chris Thompson ("The Larry Sanders Show," "Bosom Buddies").

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Series

World's Wildest Police Videos (8 p.m., Fox) begins a new season with footage of a crack lab blowing up. On last season's one-hour finale of Friends (8 p.m., NBC), the gang ends up in Vegas and a wedding or two is performed. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (8 p.m., ABC) launches a new season of unscripted fun. 48 Hours (10 p.m., CBS) updates a report on hate groups; includes interviews with parents of children who were involved in the North Valley Jewish Community Center shooting. On a rerun of last season's finale of ER (10 p.m., NBC), Weaver finds an abandoned child, Corday and Greene nudge closer and Hathaway gets a nice surprise. Nightline in Prime Time (10 p.m., ABC) tells you everything you need to know about physics.

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Specials

An American Love Story (check local times, PBS) airs its final two episodes, in which Bill and Karen attend a high school reunion and reflect on the longevity of their relationship.

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Sports

College football:

Colorado State at BYU (8 p.m., ESPN)

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Talk

Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Regis Philbin, Jane Goodall

Martin Short (syndicated) Tom Hanks

David Letterman (CBS) Jenna Elfman, Adam Arkin

Jay Leno (NBC) Brooke Shields, Sen. John McCain

Charlie Rose (PBS) Dave Matthews

Politically Incorrect (ABC) Dave Barry, John O'Hurley

Conan O'Brien (NBC) John Stamos


By Joyce Millman

Joyce Millman is a writer living in the Bay Area.

MORE FROM Joyce Millman


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Television