Abc Should Bid Adieu To ‘Buddies’
I’ve been left scratching my head after three episodes of “Buddies,” ABC at 9:30.
On one hand, ABC is to be congratulated for putting on a comedy with a black and a white star. Most prime-time comedies are either all-white - NBC airs four in a row on Thursday nights - or all-black (“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Family Matters,” “Living Single” to name a few).
It’s about time someone tried giving black and white stars equal billing.
But I’m having trouble laughing about discrimination and prejudice.
In tonight’s episode John Butler (Christopher Gartin) and his best friend Dave Carlisle (Dave Chappelle), who is black, are shopping in a sporting-goods store. They get into a scrape when a security guard treats Dave as a potential shoplifter simply because of his race.
It’s played for laughs - a sketch, it would seem to me, that only white writers could cook up.
More troublesome are Dave’s dad (Richard Roundtree), who calls John “Casper” and John’s mother-in-law (Judith Ivey), a trashy Southerner who’s forever making tasteless racial remarks.
This stuff is left over from another era - the Norman Lear comedies of the ‘70s. The attempt by “Buddies” to be hip and topical only leaves a bad taste. The sooner it’s gone, the better.
Highlights
“Ellen,” ABC at 8: In an effort to liven up Buy the Book, Ellen (Ellen DeGeneres) hires a husband-and-wife lounge act (Charlie Brill, Mitzi McCall). They draw a crowd when word spreads that you have to see them to believe how bad they are.
“JAG,” NBC at 8: Rabb (David James Elliott) is dispatched to Cuba to destroy a downed U.S. fighter before the Cubans can sell its on-board computer software to the Iranians. But as the tense story unfolds, Rabb finds out that he hasn’t been given all the facts.
“LaVyrle Spencer’s ‘Home Song”’ (1996), CBS at 9: Lee Horsely stars as high-school Principal Tom Gardner, a family man with a unique moral dilemma. A former lover (Deborah Raffin) moves to town with her 18-year-old son (Stan Kirsch). The boy, it turns out, is his son.
Gardner and his old flame decide to keep their affair a secret, but that becomes impossible when his illegitimate son falls in love with his daughter (Ari Meyers). Polly Draper co-stars as the principal’s wife. Unavailable for review.
Cable Calls
“Basketball,” ESPN at 4: Quarterfinal action begins in college basketball’s “other” post-season showdown - The National Invitational Tournament.
“Evil Has a Face” (1996), USA at 9: Sean Young plays a police sketch artist whose portrait of a child molester evokes a terrifying reaction: It’s the face of her deceased stepfather who molested her years ago.
Armed with recovered memories, she begins an investigation of her own traumatic childhood. Unavailable for review.
“Dream On,” HBO at 10: The first of a two-part series finale begins with Martin (Brian Benben) preparing for his role as best man in Eddie’s (Dorien Wilson) wedding. But the nuptials cause Martin to think it’s time he asked Judith (Wendie Malick) to be his wife.
This has been one of my favorite series over the past seven seasons. That’s why I’m so disappointed to see it end with a whimper rather than a bang.
The last few episodes and this two-parter are sadly below the show’s standard. They’ve been downright painful to watch.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”), actor Chazz Palminteri and comedian Anthony Clark.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Barbara Walters, actress Halle Berry and singer-musician Ray Charles.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Actor-comedian George Carlin, Jon Cryer (“Partners”) and comic Robert Schimmel.