Blue Glow

Salon's TV picks for Wednesday, Nov. 24 - Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999

Published November 24, 1999 5:00PM (EST)

Series

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (8 p.m. Wed., ABC) wraps up its amazingly successful run, leaving legions of "Millionaire" groupies in its wake. Try the online version. The questions are pretty hard. American Masters (check local times, Wed., PBS) presents "Norman Rockwell: Painting America," a profile of the artist whose illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post defined the phrase "American dream." It's Thanksgiving on Dawson's Creek (8 p.m. Wed., WB) and Jen's mom comes to town. Not surprisingly, given the relentlessly introspective bent of the show, she's played by Mel Harris of "thirtysomething," one of the godmothers of relentless introspection. The Prez's nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy (guest Edward James Olmos) is nothing but trouble on The West Wing (9 p.m. Wed., NBC). Drew is a stressed-out mess as he prepares for his first date with Kate on The Drew Carey Show (9 p.m. Wed., ABC). The aliens' safety is threatened when Max is injured in a car accident and taken to the hospital for tests on Roswell (9 p.m. Wed., WB). 20/20 (10 p.m. Wed., ABC) has a bone to pick with skinny actresses.

On this year's Thanksgiving episode of Friends (8 p.m. Thurs., NBC), Chandler learns the reason why Monica's parents have always disliked him, and it's all Ross's fault. The usually out of sight, out of mind Frederick tries to bring Frasier and Lilith back together on the Thanksgiving episode of Frasier (9 p.m. Thurs., NBC); Bebe Neuwirth guests. The birth of Hathaway's twins is fraught with complications on ER (10 p.m. Thurs., NBC). Providence (8 p.m. Fri., NBC) has a two-hour Thanksgiving episode -- a day late. On Now and Again (9 p.m. Fri., CBS), Dr. Morris is deemed too soft on Michael, so a tough new female doc is brought in to help whip the superguy into shape.

Hank gets a new buddy, to the envy of Bill and Dale, on King of the Hill (7:30 p.m. Sun., Fox). Drew Carey and Dwight Yoakam provide the guest voices. The new animated series Little Bill (8 p.m. Sun., Nickelodeon) premieres. It's based on Bill Cosby's series of children's books about a 5-year-old version of himself. On The Simpsons (8 p.m. Sun., Fox), Homer wins a Harley and forms a motorcycle gang. John Goodman and Henry Winkler ("Aaaay!") guest. On The X-Files (9 p.m. Sun.,, Fox), Chris Carter ties up some loose ends left dangling when "Millennium" was canceled by bringing in Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) to help Mulder and Scully with a case involving the Millennium Group and apocalyptic prophecy. The story is set on New Year's Eve, and rumors of a midnight kiss abound.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Specials

Celine Dion: All the Way (8 p.m. Wed., CBS) finds the pop diva onstage at Radio City Music Hall with guests Gloria Estefan and 'N Sync. Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and a giant Al Roker balloon -- no, wait, that is Al Roker -- host the 73rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (9 a.m. Thurs., NBC), followed by the first showing this season of It's a Wonderful Life (noon Thurs., NBC). For those who prefer the warm, fuzzy sentimentality of Chris Carter, there's an X-Files Secret Ballot Marathon (beginning noon Thurs., FX), 12 hours of favorite episodes as chosen by viewers, hosted by the Lone Gunmen. The original cable movie The Song of Hiawatha (6 p.m. Thurs., Showtime) dramatizes the Longfellow poem and gives you ample opportunity for Thanksgiving guilt. Irene Bedard and rapper Litefoot star. CBS corners the market on ubiquitous pop stars this holiday week -- first Celine, now Shania Twain: Come on Over (8 p.m. Thurs., CBS), a concert from Texas Stadium, and Ricky Martin: One Night Only (8 p.m. Fri., CBS), which features plenty of bon-bon shaking, as well as guests Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano.

Academy Award-winner The English Patient (8 p.m. Sun., TNT) has its basic-cable premiere. Ralph Fiennes, Kristen Scott Thomas and Juliette Binoche star. The new cable movie Execution of Justice (8 p.m. Sun., Showtime) dramatizes the true story of the 1978 murders of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk by Dan White, a deranged politician. Peter Coyote plays Milk; Tim Daly has the role of White. The film is followed by comments from witnesses to the events, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Julie Andrews and James Garner star as strangers thrown together by circumstance on Thanksgiving in the new TV movie One Special Night (9 p.m. Sun., CBS). Mr. Smith (Will) and Mr. Jones (Tommy Lee) keep extra-terrestrials in line in the network premiere of Men in Black (9 p.m. Sun., NBC).

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sports

Basketball:

Trail Blazers at Timberwolves (8 p.m. Wed., TBS)

Jazz at Lakers (10:30 p.m. Wed., TBS)

Pistons at Pacers (8 p.m. Thurs., TNT)

Rockets at Trail Blazers (8 p.m. Fri., TNT)

Hockey:

Blues at Red Wings (7:30 p.m. Wed., ESPN2)

Devils at Mighty Ducks (10:30 p.m. Wed., ESPN2)

Devils at Coyotes (8:30 p.m. Thurs., ESPN2)

Mighty Ducks at Stars (4 p.m. Fri., ESPN)

Blackhawks at Blues (8 p.m. Sat., ESPN2)

Football:

Bears at Lions (12:30 p.m. Thurs., Fox)

Dolphins at Cowboys (4 p.m. Thurs., CBS)

Bengals at Steelers, Jaguars at Ravens, Patriots at Bills, Chargers at Vikings or Titans at Browns (1 p.m. Sun., CBS)

Cardinals at Giants, Saints at Rams or Eagles at Redskins (1 p.m. Sun., Fox)

Chiefs at Raiders or Jets at Colts (4 p.m. Sun., CBS)

Falcons at Panthers (8 p.m. Sun., ESPN)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Talk

Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Wed.: Marc Anthony, James Garner, Julie Andrews; Thurs.: Brooke Shields, Britney Spears (rerun); Fri.: 'N Sync

David Letterman (CBS) Wed.: Julianna Margulies, Third Eye Blind; Thurs.: George Carlin, Jewel; Fri.: William Baldwin

Jay Leno (NBC) Wed.: Cameron Diaz, Enrique Iglesias; Thurs.: Rodney Dangerfield; Fri.: Noah Wyle, Melissa Etheridge

Conan O'Brien (NBC) Wed.: Angie Harmon, Jay Mohr; Thurs.: Dave Foley, Joe Strummer, Roshumba; Fri.: Sting, Heidi Klum


By Joyce Millman

Joyce Millman is a writer living in the Bay Area.

MORE FROM Joyce Millman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Britney Spears Television The Simpsons