TELEVISION LISTINGS
hopping Frogs.
I In Order (Scottish) l2.05—I.05am. The story of the Manchester band who evolved out of Joy Division into chirpy dance-popsters with a fine line in synthetic floor-fillers. Comments from Tony Wilson. John Barnes and Neil TennanL
MONDAY 30
I One Day In The 60s (BBC2)
l l.45am—midnight. Those crazy people on button two have devoted an entire day to comedies. dramas, sport and documentaries from the cherished decade when TV made inroads into everybody’s daily lives. Mostly it‘s archive material, but 60s Babylon is a specially-made documentary celebrating the sleaze and excesses of the decade. with contributions from Christine Keeler. Malcolm Muggeridge, Hugh Hefner and Mary Whitehouse. See preview.
I Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (BBC 1) 6.30—8pm. The third film is currently in cinemas, and perhaps the TV showing of Steve Barron’s cheap and cheerful first movie, following the attempts of the pizza-munching reptilians to foil the Shredder, could spark a mini ‘cowabunga' revival. Or maybe not.
I Right To Reply Special: Dennis Potter In Edinburgh (Channel 4) 7—8pm. Dennis Potter debates the issues he raised in his McTaggart Lecture at the TV Festival. on the subject of ‘Occupying Powers’ and the declining standards of the mass media.
I Lonesome Dove (BBCl ) 9—10.30pm. Robert Duvall, Toomy Lee Jones and Anjelica Huston lead the cast in a critically-acclaimed Western series based on the Larry McMurtry novel. Duvall and Jones are former Texas Rangers running a small ranch on the Rio Grande. Jones is a dreamer with a vision of opening up the uncharted territory of Montana. Continued through the week.
I The RIver Detectives (Channel 4) 9—lOpm. Cameras follow Gill Clayton and Erica Creer. two of the ‘detectives’ responsible for tracking down those responsible for polluting Britain's rivers. The programme follows them as they investigate a company alleged to have discharged solvents into a brook.
I I’ll Fly Am (Channel 4) lO—lO.55pm. The 505 American drama continues. Lilly (Regina Taylor) meets prejudice when she registers to vote.
TUESDAY 31
I Rear Window: A ngltt At The Turkish opera (Channel 4) 9-9.4Spm. A report on the meeting of Eastern and Western music in Turkey, seen from the perspective of a performance by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.
I Coded Hostile (Channel 4)
10-1 1.35pm. A drama-documentary looking at events surrounding the shooting down of a Korean jumbo jet in September 1983. The end of the Cold War has released new evidence about the incident which is used in this
reconstruction.
I The Funny Farm (Scottish)
I 1.30pm—midnight. Fred MacAuIay introduces a new series of the comedy and music show with Andrew Byrne, Lee Hurst. Lee Evans and Kith and Kin.
WEDNESDAY 1
I Inspector Morse (Channel 4) 8.30—lO.35pm. The turgid self-parodying Oxford plod begins a repeat run. opening with Morsey and his brighter sidekick Lewis investigating the murder of a top cop that reminds our hero of the murder of a young girl eighteen years previously.
I On The Line (BBC2) 8.30—9pm. A report on the troubled state of international chess after the breakaway led by World Championship contenders Gary Kasparov and Nigel Short.
I Love And Reason (BBC2) 9.25—10.25pm. Phyllis Logan stars as a Labour MP. Lou Larson. in a new three- part drama serial by Ron Rose. I993 finds her as one of John Smith’s bright young Shadow cabinet team, but the press are busy digging up her less-than-pristine past. See preview.
I mr don and mr george (Channel 4) 10.35—1 1.05pm. Moray Hunter and Jack Docherty of Absolutely notoriety decide on a holiday, as long as it‘s not in Switzerland.
I Edinburgh Nights (BBC2)
Il.l5—l 1.55pm. Director Mike Leigh is featured, talking about his film Naked, which closes the Edinburgh Film Festival.
THURSDAY 2
I The N” Scots (Scottish) 7—7.30pm. A series looking at the lives of ethnic minorities in Scotland. Tonight’s show features Scotland’s Lithuanian community and their culture and religion.
I Dinur Footprints: Death or The Dinosaur (Channel 4) 8-9pm. Bearded palaeontologists and trendy young American boffins investigate the disappearance of our Jurassic etc chums, and ask what went wrong?
I Crime Limited (BBCI) 8.30—9pm. Broadcasting stool-pigeon Nick Ross presents another batch of crime reconstructions,
I The Travel Show (BBC2) 8.30—9pm. Penny J unor presean the consumers’ holiday programme with reports from Anna Raebum taking a barge holiday in and around London, and Paddy Haycocks in Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart.
I Witness: Consider The End (Channel 4) 9—lOpm. Ludovic Kennedy presean his case for voluntary euthanasia. Watch with your granny and see her squirm as you mutter, ‘Good point Ludo, well argued.’ I Atlantic Records: IIIp To The Tip (Channel 4) l0.35pm—12.25am. The story of the record label that released some of the finest soul and rock records of the 60s and 70s. Interviewees include founder Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. and stars such as Ben E. King, Mick Jagger and Aretha Franklin.
I Edinburgh lights (BBC2)
ll.l5-l l.55pm. Rounding off the Festival coverage, Kirsty Wark looks back over the highlights of the last three weeks.
I The Legend or The IIon Drinker (BBC2) i0.50pm—12.50am. Rutger Hauer stars in Ennanno Olmi's film about a tramp, Andreas Kartak. who is lent money by a stranger on the condition that he repays the money to the statue of St Theresa in the local church when he is able. He never seems to find the right moment to repay the debt. although the money changes his life.
FRIDAY 3 '
I IS (Scottish) 7—7.30pm. Bryan Burnett and Janice Forsyth roam Edinburgh uncovering highlights from the Festival and Fringe.
I Strange But True? (Scottish) 9.30-lOpm. Michael Aspel presents stories of the supernatural, including the town with the largest incidence of UFO sightings in Britain. Must put something in the local scrumpy . . .
I 48 Hours (BBC l) 930—] I.OSpm. Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy star in Walter Hill's action comedy. Nolte plays police officer Jack Cates. teaming up with jailbird gang member Murphy to capture an escaped convict.
I IIurses (Channel 4) lO—lO.30pm. Julie is ecstatic after spending the night wrth car-park attendant Carl — at first.
I Paul Merton - The Series (Channel 4) 10.30—1 1.05pm. He’s back, and he’s seriously niggled. Paul Merton returns with another offbeat sketch show. featuring a very strange butcher‘s shop. See feature.
I Iron Maiden (BBC2) lI.20pm—l2.50am. A treat for cloth-eared metal maniacs, with the broadcast of a live show recorded only six days previously.
SATURDAY 4
I Shoot The Video (Channel 4) 6.30—7pm. Chris Serle introduces a new series showing how to get the best from your camcorder. He opens with tips on panning, tilting. zooms and cutaways.
I Rhythms UT The World: Two Generations or The Blues (BBC2) 7.45—8.55pm. Two different perspectives on the impact of the blues are presented by John Walters. Walters looks at the influence of Bill Broonzy. the first bluesman to tour in Britain. and young London blues harp player Errol Linton. I The Best ot Cutting Edge: P Company (Channel 4) 8—9pm. A behind-the-scenes report from the gruelling training course for the Parachute Regiment.
I Just For Laughs (Channel 4) 9-lO.30pm. From the Theatre St Denis in Montreal. highlights of the Comedy Festival featuring Paul Merton, Jeremy Hardy. Dave Chappelle and Lea De Laria. I Lethal Weapon II (Scottish)
9.15-1 1.20pm. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover take on South African (boo. hiss) diplomats who are running a lucrative drugs syndicate. Our heroes naturally throw away the rule-book in their attempts to bring the perps tojustice. Look out for Joe Pesci and Patsy Kensit in supporting roles.
I Video Diaries: Malor, The Miners And Me (BBC2) lO.50pm—l2.20am. The diary of miner’s wife Brenda who decides to fight for her husband‘s job and the survival of her local community. a decision that puts a great strain on her family.
SUNDAY 5
I Stella (Channel 4) 9-l lpm. A remake of the 30s classic Stella Dallas updating the story to make Stella (Bette Midler) a single parent who gives up her daughter to the father and his upwardly mobile wife. Crass class war stuff with lashings of Midler's speciality, cheap sentiment.
I Pretty Wotnan (Scottish)
9.15—1 1.25pm. Garry Marshall’s laughable tale of a hooker Vivian (Julia Roberts) who is a cut above her fellow tarts in that she has a core of vulnerability (yuk). Richard Gere is a multi-millionaire who hires her as an escort for the weekend. Waddaya know but they both discover plenty of stuff about themselves along the way. Preposterous stuff only partly redeemed by some neat comic touches.
I Hollywood IIK (BBC2) 9.50—lo.40pm. A new series looking at the influence of the Brits in Tinseltown. from writers and producers through to Em and Ken.
I .InIIen Clay‘s Edinburgh (Scottish)
J 1.25pm—12.25am. The innuendo prince presents a look back at the hits of the Festival in a one-hour special.
MONDAY 6
I I’ll Fly Away (Channel 4) IO—lO.55pm. The 50s American drama continues.
I Murder By Decree (Scottish) lO.40pm—|2.25am. An imaginative twist on the whodunnit genre in Bob Clark's l978 period thriller, taking as its basis Stephen Knight’s book The Final Solution. Christopher Plummer and James Mason are Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, investigating the Jack The Ripper murders. Their theory involves Parliament. the monarchy and Masonic conspiracy, and their conclusions are reasonably convincing.
TUESDAY 7
I Pacitic Station (Channel 4) 8.30—9pm. Robert Guillaume of Benson fame stars in the so-so police sitcom about a veteran by-the-book cop and his way-out New Age partner.
I Soldier Soldier (Scottish) 9— 1 0pm. More military mishaps in the oddly- disjointed drama series.
WEDNESDAY 8
I Chosthusters (Scottish) 8—lOpm. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd. Sigoumey Weaver and Harold Ramis star in the first and best of the spook-catching comedies, packed with sharp gags and impressive effects.
I Inspector Morse (Channel 4) 8.30—10.35pm. More repeated shenanigans with the Thames Valley copper and his expensive location shoots. I On The Line (BBC2) 8.30—9pm. More topical sporting issues investigated in the excellent documentary series.
I Love And Reason (BBC2) 9.25—10.25pm. Phyllis Logan stars as the Labour MP. Lou Larson. in the second part of the drama serial.
'31:: 7',
I nor don and mr george (Channel 4) 10.35—1 l.05pm. Moray Hunter and Jack Docherty play the lower-case heroes in another selection of slightly disturbed comedy.
THURSDAY 9
I The NOW Scots (Scottish) 7—7.30pm. The series on ethnic minorities in Scotland looks at the Pakistani community.
I Brighton Belles (Scottish) 8.30—9pm. A comedy series using American sitcom The Golden Girls as its basis, but relocating the action to Britain's equivalent of Miami, Brighton. it doesn’t sound promising.
I Birth Oi A IIatIon (Channel 4) ll.05pm—2.40am. D. W. Griffiths’ I915 classic was the first cinema epic. remarkable for its huge battle scenes and technical innovations. The problem is that it is based on Rev Thomas Dixon's racist novel The Clansman and explicitly glorifies the Ku Klux Klan. lfyou can ignore the political content (which is difficult) it‘s a film of immense interest to
film buffs.
94 The List 27 August-9 September I993