‘Ink’ Dives Into Issue Of Teenage Drug Use
If you’re not watching “Ink” (CBS at 8:30) you’re missing the best new comedy of the season.
I sang the praises of the Ted Danson-Mary Steenburgen series when it debuted three weeks ago. But the stars hit stride in tonight’s clever show in which Mike (Danson) discovers daughter Abby’s (Alana Austin) stash of marijuana.
Mike and ex-wife Kate (Steenburgen) confront Abby, who explains it away: It’s just her friend’s.
Yeah, right.
“We are Mom and Dad Idiot and we live on Lake Stupid,” declares Mike when he realizes he’s been conned.
The half-hour combines solid laughs - Danson is a lot of fun to watch when his character calls for a mix of disbelief and panic - with a thoughtful moral. You see, Mike and Kate both smoked pot when they were younger.
There are moments when glib attitudes about marijuana use threaten to make a mockery of the issue. Ask any parent if the prospect of catching a kid with drugs is funny. Without becoming preachy, however, the script makes its point about teenagers and their temptation to experiment.
Austin is a shining young talent who makes every line count. Abby gives Mike and Kate a focus that is a necessary diversion from their unresolved romantic feelings - a theme that could become a drag if overused.
The season isn’t going all that well for CBS. The ratings improvements over last year reflect, more than anything, what a disaster the 1995-96 season was.
“Ink” is good news.
Highlights
“Football,” ABC at 6: The Detroit Lions (4-5) visit the San Diego Chargers (5-4).
“Melrose Place,” FOX at 8: In a two-hour-long episode, Amanda (Heather Locklear) becomes increasingly jealous of Taylor (Lisa Rinna); Matt (Doug Savant) gets out of rehab only to find he’s also out of medical school; and Kimberly (Marcia Cross) has shocking news for Michael (Thomas Calabro).
“Pandora’s Clock” (1996), NBC at 9: In the two-part movie’s conclusion, quarantined Quantum Airlines passengers remain in limbo as a terrorist stalks the plane in a stolen jet. Many airline-disaster cliches are avoided, but the plot eventually runs out of gas. Nonetheless, this action-spy thriller is above-average TV-movie fare.
“Cybill,” CBS at 9:30: Cast in a television series that resembles FOX’s “The X-Files,” Cybill’s (Cybill Shepherd) imagination gets the best of her. But she’s not imagining what’s going on with her handsome co-star (Jon Tenney). Dinah Manoff (“Empty Nest”) guest stars in a two-part episode that concludes next week.
“Dangerous Minds,” ABC at 10: Louanne (Annie Potts) takes her class on a field trip to Alcatraz, hoping that a visit to The Rock will give students pause. The excursion leads to trouble when a student (Greg Serano) is arrested for shoplifting. But the teacher finds out he’s taking a rap for a buddy. Her solution is a little too simple to accept, but I still like Potts’ spunky portrayal.
Cable Calls
“Biography,” A&E at 5 and 9: The illustrious career of newsman David Brinkley is chronicled. Brinkley outlasted his peers, and this profile shows why he signs off as one of America’s most respected journalists.
“Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison” (1957), AMC at 6 and 9:45: Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum star in this winning World War II tale of a Marine and a nun stranded on a Japanese-occupied Pacific Island. John Huston directed.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Talk-show host Ricki Lake, actor Bob Saget and cast members of the Broadway musical “Rent.”
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Jeff Bridges, Diane Sawyer (“PrimeTime Live”) and singer Bryan White.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Model Fabio, Ming-Na Wen (“The Single Guy”) and comedian Margaret Smith. Repeat.