‘48 Hours’ Episode Lacks Substance
With Nielsen’s November ratings “sweeps” under way, we shouldn’t be surprised to see the hype factor kicking in.
“48 Hours” (CBS at 10) reports on the death of Jane Neumann, found dead by her husband Jim in the basement of their home in Hudson, Wis. Investigators ruled she had blown her head off with a shotgun.
Jim first told police the house had been broken into by an intruder. He later changed his story, saying he rigged evidence to suggest a break-in and hid the shotgun so that his wife would not be remembered as someone who took her own life.
Jane’s family, convinced Jim killed her, filed a civil suit.
It’s easy to become hooked into the storytelling. But if you think about it, this is the kind of story that “Unsolved Mysteries” made famous. And the way “48 Hours” presents it, you almost expect Robert Stack to pop on the screen at any moment.
What’s most exploitive about the hour is that it is not a window on a broader issue of police work or the justice system. It’s sensationalism, pure and simple.
Most annoying is the way the story is laid out. If “48 Hours” told you everything it knew at the outset, you’d tune out.
The strategy is to keep you guessing - like watching an episode of “Murder, She Wrote.” With all due respect to Jane Neumann and her family, this hour is all suspense and no substance.
Highlights
“Friends,” NBC at 8: This sounds more like something that would happen to Jerry Seinfeld than Ross (David Schwimmer). When he starts dating a beautiful paleontologist (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Rebecca Romijn) he thinks he’s in heaven - until he sees her filthy apartment.
“Nothing Sacred,” ABC at 8: Father Ray (Kevin Anderson) learns how difficult it can be to be his brother’s keeper when he reluctantly allows his ex-con brother (Jeff Kober) to stay in the rectory, unaware he has just committed a robbery.
“Living Single,” FOX at 8: Regine (Kim Fields Freeman) caters a charity fund-raiser at a loss in hopes of getting noticed by the millionaire organizer (Don Franklin). Khadijah (Queen Latifah) shows up uninvited and catches the eye of New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
“Union Square,” NBC at 8:30: Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”) guest stars as the widow of a bookie who comes around to collect a debt from Jack (Jim Pirri) and offers to settle up if he’ll sleep with her.
“20/20,” ABC at 10: The hour includes a report on men who have been sexually harassed in the workplace by other men.
Cable Calls
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” MAX at 8: You’ll be inspired by this half-hour profile of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a former editor of France’s Elle magazine, who was left completely paralyzed after a 1995 stroke. Yet he managed to write his memoirs by flicking his left eyelid in response to letters of the alphabet recited by an assistant.
“Terror on Track 9” (1992), FAM at 9: Richard Crenna is Detective Frank Janek, this time looking for whoever pulled out of Grand Central Station, leaving behind a corpse. Joan Van Ark, Swoosie Kurtz and Cliff Gorman co-star.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Courteney Cox (“Friends”), chef Emeril Lagasse and singer Tom Jones.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Singer Harry Connick Jr. and actress Pamela Lee.
“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: From Washington, D.C., Richard Belzer, Oliver North and White House Communications Director Ann Lewis.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m. : Former presidential advisor George Stephanopoulos and French Stewart (“3rd Rock from the Sun”).