THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 16, 1994 TAG: 9407140082
SECTION: TELEVISION WEEK PAGE: 01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
O H, NO. NOT another TV newsmagazine. Oh, yes.
This one is different. Honest.
NBC's ``TV Nation,'' which begins a seven-week run Tuesday at 8 p.m., isn't another Barbara-Jane-Diane-Connie-Mike and Morley hour about lives in crisis. You won't hear a word about O.J. Simpson in Tuesday's premiere.
There isn't a forensics specialist in sight.
``TV Nation'' doesn't go for the jugular. It goes for the funny bone. It's a TV newsmag with laughs.
What's funny about the other newsmagazines? Nothing but Sam Donaldson's hairpiece.
``TV Nation'' is created by the wildly irreverent Michael Moore, who embarrassed the chrome off General Motors with ``Roger & Me,'' a documentary about the closing of an assembly plant in his hometown, Flint, Mich. Give NBC credit for having the guts to present Moore with an hour of prime time TV to do with as he chooses.
``I've had a free rein,'' Moore said in a telephone interview.
A free rein to do what, exactly?
To travel to Russia to find the missile he believes is pointed at his neighborhood in Flint. He talks the Russians into dismantling the missile. Moore ends up eating Twinkies with the man who once programmed all the nuclear-tipped missiles pointed at targets in the United States.
Moore shows viewers cabbies in Manhattan who would rather pick up a convicted murder who is white than a distinguished actor (Yaphet Kotto) who is black. In the spirit of the North American Free Trade Agreement, he tries to move his show to Mexico where 500,000 people have jobs once held by Americans.
If you appreciate the wit and wisdom of David Letterman, you'll appreciate ``TV Nation.'' Same style of humor. Dave's former girlfriend, and the woman who helped to put together the most successful bits and pieces of his late-night show, will contribute to ``TV Nation.''
You'll see her, Merrill Markoe, visiting a terrific-looking, ultra-modern prison built for tens of millions of dollars in Appleton, Minn., by private money.
Trouble is, no states can afford to send their prisoners there.
``There's been nothing like this show seen in prime time until now,'' said Moore. ``We're combining nonfiction television with humor while giving the show a politcal edge, a point of view.''
It's already been a long, hot summer of reruns, so a show as novel and clever as Moore's is welcome here in the July of the Great Heatwave.
Hey, what else is there new on the nets this time of the year?
``Models Inc.'' on Fox? It needs a major overhaul if it's to catch on with the ``Melrose Place'' set. ``Muddling Through'' on CBS? Stephanie Hodge is a talented comic - great timing - trapped in a mediocre sitcom.
Let's go flipping around the upcoming schedule where you will find a wide range of musical entertainment - from Placido Domingo to Travis Tritt:
You've been waiting months for it to arrive, Hampton Roads, and here it is: Part 2 of the ``Action Pack'' series from MCA-Universal Television that was shot in and around Norfolk. See the Norfolk waterfront at night!
``Action Pack: Vanishing Son II'' airs on WGNT Tuesday night at 8, with Part 3 to follow on July 26. In Part 2, Dean Stockwell gets involved with the Chinese brothers (Russell Wong and Chi Muoi Lo) who are having a tough time adjusting to life in the good ol' U.S. I like the sensitive one - the one who plays the violin when he isn't using karate to bust heads.
The producers tell me there will be lots more local scenery and lots more appearances by local actors and extras in Part 3.
Stockwell is an actor way over the top here with a fakey Southern accent as he plays the role as of Klansman Mickey Joe. He wants to run the Vietnamese fisherman out of the crabbing business on the Gulf Coast - Gulf Coast in the script, Hampton in real life.
Film biographies don't get any better than ``All About Bette,'' which premieres on TNT Sunday at 8 with Jodie Foster acting as host and guide. (On the A&E ``Biography'' series, Davis will be featured July 25 at 8 p.m.)
Producer Ellen M. Krass hit just the right note in celebrating Davis' 60-year career in films. ``All About Bette'' is done with a light touch but not at the price of sacrificing the dark moments in Davis' life.
Wonderful documentary. It repeats Sunday at 11:30 and will be on again July 21 at 11:30 p.m., July 23 at 8 p.m. and July 26 at 10 p.m.
TV Short Takes - Got World Cup fever? Take two aspirins and watch ``Hollywood Backstage at the World Cup'' tonight at 9 on TNT. The same people who brought you the pay-TV preview of last winter's Super Bowl in Atlanta put together this sports and entertainment gala. Hear comic Sinbad discuss the fine points of soccer. . . . And for a classier form of entertainment, try ``Three Tenors in Concert,'' which airs tonight at 11 on WHRO and again on PBS Sunday night at 8. Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti sing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta. The Saturday telecast is live from Dodger Stadium, a few miles from where the World Cup finals will be held in Pasadena, Calif.
Agatha Christie alert! To help relieve the summer-TV-reruns blahs, A&E will air three new ``Agatha Christie Mysteries'' featuring the Belgian Columbo, Hercule Poirot. ``The Veiled Lady'' episode comes on Sunday at 10 p.m. Also from A&E in the crime-solving department this month is the repeat of the corking good ``Cracker'' series with Robbie Coltrane. The repeats start Tuesday night at 9. . . . Love the blues? If so, you'll be grateful to the folks at Bravo for arranging the weeklong ``Summer Blues Festival'' starting Sunday at 8 p.m. with the biography of Hughie Ledbetter, better known to bluesies as Leadbelly. Ray Charles will be featured Tuesday night at 8. . . . And on another musical note, The Nashville Network on Wednesday at 8 p.m. shows TNN viewers ``Full Access: On Tour with Travis Tritt.''
. . . Showtime brings back the 1950s with a new series, ``Rebel Highway,'' which is a run of 10 original films. ``Roadracers,'' scheduled for Friday at 10 p.m., starts off that run. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
The wildly irreverent Michael Moore is the creator of NBC's ``TV
Nation,'' which begins a seven-week run Tuesday at 8 p.m.
by CNB