‘Ellison Story’ presents full picture
Based on a true story of tragedy and perseverance, “The Brooke Ellison Story” (8 p.m., A&E) was completed long before the recent and unexpected death of its director, Christopher Reeve.
Brooke (played by Vanessa Marano as a young girl and Lacy Chabert as a young adult) was only 7 when she was left paralyzed by a traffic accident. Her parents, Jean (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) and Ed (John Slattery), never entertained any negative thoughts or actions during her hospitalization and convalescence.
Their determination and Brooke’s spunk defied expectations, and Brooke returned to school, attended Harvard and is now pursuing her Ph.D. in political psychology.
Like many movies about such true-life “miracles,” this one contains several misty moments of altruism, such as when Ed’s co-workers each donate one day’s vacation so he can spend more time with Brooke at the hospital. A gaggle of neighbors arrives uninvited to help Ed build a wheelchair ramp.
But not every moment is so exalted and, at it’s best, “Brooke” avoids the cliches that could doom it to “After School Special” status.
Jean breaks down often under the stress of caring for one daughter while ignoring her other children. An embittered mother of another victim warns Jean that her husband will probably abandon her eventually, because men don’t hold up well under pressure.
And, deprived of attention and affection, Brooke’s older sister Kysten (Laurie Hedgepath) develops an eating disorder.
But the story belongs to Brooke, and to Reeve.
In press material prepared some months ago he said, “This movie is not just about a bright girl who went to Harvard. It’s about somebody who faced overwhelming challenges just getting through the day. Just in existing.
“And then on top of that, having lost her body, she went into the life and the potential of her mind. And made the absolute most of it.”
Janet Jackson receives accolades at the 2004 Radio Music Awards (9 p.m., NBC), a taped event with scheduled performances by Usher and Elton John. Nominees include Beyonce, Usher, Matchbox Twenty, OutKast, 3 Doors Down, Santana and Tim McGraw.
Want to get in that Halloween mood? There is no shortage of scary and even silly films with a frightening twist tonight, including: “The Amityville Horror” (8 p.m., AMC); the original 1931 version of “Dracula” (5 p.m., Turner Classic Movies); “From Hell” (8 p.m., FX); “The Haunted” (5 p.m., Fox Movie Channel); “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (6:30 p.m., IFC); and the 1932 version of “The Mummy” (6:30 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).
And let’s not forget “Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico” (7:30 p.m., Cartoon Network).
Other highlights
Desperate contestants seek transformation on the second-season premiere of “The Swan” (8 p.m., Fox).
A police detective (John Hannah, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”) loses his grip after his wife vanishes in the original TV film “Amnesia” (8 p.m., BBC America).
The Bengals host the Broncos on “Monday Night Football” (6 p.m., ABC).
An era of seemingly endless prosperity ends with a bang in the 2003 documentary “The Crash of 1929” on “American Experience” (9 p.m., KSPS).
A return to the scene of a crime proves deadly on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).
Series notes
Bill becomes a kitchen commando on “Still Standing” (8 p.m., CBS) … Joe Rogan hosts “Fear Factor” (8 p.m., NBC) … Mark Cuban hosts “The Benefactor” (10 p.m., ABC) … Father and daughter switch bodies on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN) … Martha Plimpton guest stars on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB).
Career advice on “Listen Up” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Mona’s painful choice on “Half & Half” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Shocking news about Frank on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (9 p.m., CBS) … Maya’s rash decision on “Girlfriends” (9 p.m., UPN) … College applications prove revealing on “Everwood” (9 p.m., WB) … Alan’s self-esteem craters on “Two and a Half Men” (9:30 p.m., CBS) … A clash of tastes on “Second Time Around” (9:30 p.m., UPN).