‘Women In Prison’ Should Be Locked Up
I received a letter the other day from someone asking straight-faced, I think why cable subscribers have to pay full price in the summer. Shouldn’t we, she wrote, pay less for reruns?
Tonight you should get a rebate, if not a letter of apology, from ABC.
That’s because the network rolls out “Against Their Will: Women in Prison,” a 1994 made-for-TV exploitation film about incarcerated women-in-peril at 9.
Judith Light plays an ex-con who leads a one-person battle against the system to expose corruption in a women’s detention center. She’s jailed in a prison where guards “treat inmates like their private harem.”
This is a worn-out B-movie genre that begs for parody. But this movie is dead serious. It would be better off just plain dead.
One would at least have hoped that one women-in-prison stereotype could have been avoided. Unfortunately, that’s not the case as minority inmates are again depicted as the most violent and most easily corrupted.
Light and Stacy Keach, who plays her dedicated lawyer, should do hard time for this effort. It gives fresh meaning to the term “dog days” of summer.
Highlights
“Mad About You,” NBC at 8: Paul and Jamie (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) decide that even though their marriage is on solid ground, they’ll keep an appointment with a couples therapist (Mo Gaffney). But once in her grasp, they discover new problems. Repeat.
“World of Discovery: Blue Whale: Giants of the Deep,” ABC at 8: The eye-catching hour has good news: After reaching the brink of extinction, blue whale populations have multiplied. They’re now common sights along the Pacific shore.
The spellbinding hour follows underwater photographer Al Giddings’ quest to capture the first close-up underwater photos of the blues. Also featured are whale researchers who study migratory patterns and those amazing whale “voices.”
“Mad TV,” FOX at 8: The parody titles are sometimes funnier than the skits themselves, but how can you resist a half-hour that includes “L.A. Valet” and “Suddenly Millennium.”
The show even pokes fun at its own network in “When Babies Attack,” featuring Fran Drescher (cast member Mary Scheer) hosting a special showcasing footage of babies attacking their nannies.
“Fired Up,” NBC at 8:30: The repeat of the series premiere is a reminder that it doesn’t matter how farfetched a show’s premise may be.
A victim of downsizing, high-powered promotions executive Gwen (Sharon Lawrence) has to move in with her long-suffering assistant Terry (Leah Remini). It doesn’t seem likely to me.
“Cybill,” CBS at 9: Presidential brother and alleged singer Roger Clinton guest-stars in an episode in which Maryann (Christine Baranski) fears she’s pregnant. Game-show host Tom Kennedy also makes an appearance. Repeat.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 10: Maria Shriver talks with filmmaker Laura Angelica Simon, whose documentary, “Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary,” airs this week on PBS’ “P.O.V.” documentary series.
Cable Calls
“Roswell: Cover-ups and Close Encounters,” SCI at 6 and 10: Jonathan Frakes hosts this two-hourlong rehash of the alleged UFO cover-up.
“100 Greatest Episodes Marathon,” NIK at 10: Nick at Nite’s TV Land, in conjunction with TV Guide, begins a march through time that begins with the classic “Mary Tyler Moore Show” episode in which the WJM-TV family bids farewell to Chuckles the Clown.
The episodes air until 1 a.m. The marathon continues Tuesday night at 10.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:50: Actor-comedian Sinbad, homemaking guru Martha Stewart and musical group Chicago. Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Actor Will Smith, actress Dyan Cannon and sword swallower Brad Byers.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:35 a.m.: Suzanne Somers, Dana Carvey, commentator Tony Brown and author Marianne Williamson.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:50 a.m.: Actor Jean-Claude van Damme, actress Margaret Colin and musical guest Jonny Lang. Repeat.