Hallmark’s ‘Back’ predictable drama
In its march to ratings domination, CBS made a decision to change its Sunday-night movie formula from comfortable to edgy. Tales of widows finding fulfillment and yuppies returning to small-town values made way for much campier fare like “Spring Break Shark Attack” and “Locusts!” starring “Xena” herself, Lucy Lawless, as the sexiest undersecretary of agriculture ever depicted on television.
Fans of the old format should not despair, for it has found a safe, comfortable niche on the Hallmark Channel. Perhaps too comfortable and too safe, if “Back to You and Me” (9 p.m. tonight, Hallmark) is any indication.
“Back” stars Lisa Hartman Black as Dr. Sydney Ludwick, a beautiful and dedicated doctor who has never found the right man. And though he’s a fellow doctor, her casual boyfriend doesn’t share her dedication to patients.
Staggering in its predictability, “Back” is filled with jaw-dropping dialogue. “Why, doctor,” a nurse tells a fretful Sydney, “you’ve done everything you and modern medical science could do for your patient!”
Friends encourage the good doctor to take a break and return to her bucolic hometown of Bloomfield for her high school reunion. She balks because of a falling-out with her spirited mother (Rue McClanahan) but relents under a barrage of “you-go-girl” pressure from a friendly nurse.
Not to give too much away here, but in quick succession Sydney discovers that the town has lost its local doctor and that her old boyfriend is available and the father of a troubled boy with an undiagnosed illness. Or could it be he just needs a mother?
We also learn that Sydney and her mother have unresolved “issues.” Are there any other kind?
With a plot about as clever as its title, “Pizza My Heart” (7 p.m. Sunday, Family) offers an update of “Romeo and Juliet” set in Verona, N.J., with two star-crossed lovers from families involved in a generations-long feud over rival pizzerias and pizza sauce recipes. The lovers, Gina (Shiri Appleby, “Roswell”) and Joe (Eyal Podell), are cute enough as such characters go, but the film is too riddled with hackneyed and ancient Italian-American stereotypes to be anything but painful.
The writers of “Pizza” were obviously inspired by the 1987 comedy “Moonstruck” (5 p.m. Sunday, Turner Classic Movies). Viewers should stick to the original recipe.
I’m no economist, but the hot housing market just can’t continue. Why? Because “Flip This House” (6 p.m. Sunday, A&E) is the second show in as many weeks to turn real estate speculation into a reality-TV show.
A young girl defies a thousand-year tradition and vows to lead her tribe in the 2002 New Zealand drama “Whale Rider” (8 p.m. Sunday, KSPS). The film’s star, Keisha Castle-Hughes, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress at age 13, the youngest person ever nominated in that category.
Tonight’s highlights
On back-to-back episodes of “The West Wing” (NBC), peacekeeping fatalities (8 p.m.), and a free speech statement runs amok (9 p.m.).
Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts star in the 1999 romantic comedy “Notting Hill” (8 p.m., ABC).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): a wronged woman named Mrs. Wright.
A skeptical scientist and a mystical nun join forces against evil in the six-part miniseries “Revelations” (10 p.m., NBC).
Following in Johnny Cash’s footsteps, Marty Stuart travels to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on “In the Moment: Marty Stuart” (10 p.m., CMT).
Sunday’s highlights
Repeat reports scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): outsourcing torture; foreigners adopting American babies; an interview with Dustin Hoffman.
Scheduled on “Dateline” (7 p.m., NBC): a family torn in three directions.
Alexis Bledel stars in the 2002 fantasy “Tuck Everlasting” (8 p.m., WB).
A real-life Mother Hubbard on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8 p.m., ABC).
Sean Hayes and Jeremy Northam star in the 2002 TV biography “Martin and Lewis” (9 p.m., CBS).
Mike’s guest sends mixed messages on “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m., ABC).
Kelly Ripa guest-stars on “Missing” (10 p.m., Lifetime), joining her husband, Mark Consuelos, a series regular.
Cult choice
Lee Marvin leads a strong cast in director Sam Fuller’s 1980 World War II drama 5 (8 p.m. tonight, Spike).