| USA Network traffics in quality
miniseries Remember when miniseries used to matter? Discerning viewers should not miss "Traffic: The Miniseries" (9 p.m., USA, continuing Tuesday and Wednesday). While clearly based on the 2000 film (and the British television miniseries that in turn inspired that movie), "Traffic" presents an entirely different cast of characters and updates the drama to reflect the war on terror. But like those two fine dramas, it weaves a complex, overlapping story about the illegal international trade in drugs, weapons and human lives. After Mike McKay (Elias Koteas), a DEA agent in Afghanistan, appears to embark on a freelance mission with a known trafficker, federal agents -- including his best friend, Brent (Martin Donovan) -- descend on his home, scaring his wife, Carole (Mary McCormack), and son out of their already fractured Seattle domesticity. Ben (Balthazar Getty), another Seattle resident, tries to help his father's debt-ridden garment business, only to discover that Dad has been compromised by his dealings with Asian gangster Ronny Cho (Nelson Lee), who has used the company's shipments to cover for drug drops and worse. A third subplot emerges when Ben hops into a cab driven by illegal Chechen immigrant Adam (Cliff Curtis), who was smuggled into the country and who hears tragic news while awaiting the rusting ship carrying his wife and daughter. Like the best gangster pictures, "Traffic" unfolds with an almost operatic sense of paranoia. In addition to its depiction of global conspiracies of the darkest kind, the film offers the recurring message that the smallest acts of corruption can lead to unspeakable evils. More than one character here describes himself as a mere "middleman" who places a few phone calls to "make things happen." And, in each case, they are only dimly aware of the consequences of their actions. Authorities on both side of the law follow a similar strategy: if they can't get to the culprit, they know where to find his family. While it is not difficult to follow, "Traffic" is not a drama to watch with casual interest. The series demands, deserves and rewards close attention. -- Dennis Miller hosts "Dennis Miller" (9 p.m., CNBC), a nightly talk-analysis show covering politics and news. Miller faces the prospect of trying to be funny, witty, pithy and quotable one hour a night, six nights a week. That's a tall order for anybody. Miller, who has professed a rightward tilt in his politics, particularly since Sept. 11, 2001, joins "SNL" veteran Al Franken in the comedian-turned-political-pundit ranks. If Franken's career arc is any indication, a move toward politics may be a great mid-career boost. But Franken's path may also prove cautionary. Now that Franken has become a professional anti-Limbaugh, can he ever return to nonpolitical comedy? -- "The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I" (10 p.m., HBO) takes a documentary look at the very first meeting between the then AFL and NFL teams. What a difference XXXVII games make. In 1967, the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs played before more than 30,000 empty seats. Tickets were priced from $6 to $12 dollars, and television commercials (which now fetch more than $2 million) went for $42,000. TONIGHT'S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS --Bruce Willis stars in the 1998 action film "Armageddon" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14, L,V). -- Peter (Chris Elliott) crashes with Robert and Amy on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG). -- A murderer strikes during a power outage on "Las Vegas" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). -- Murder stalks the pit crew at a NASCAR event on "CSI: Miami" (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14,V). -- The muscular newcomers treat the Joes with disdain on "Average Joe: Hawaii" (10 p.m., NBC). CULT CHOICE Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in the 1966 Cold War drama "Torn Curtain" (8 p.m., Eastern, Turner Classic Movies). A violent departure for the star of "Mary Poppins," this is considered one of director Alfred Hitchcock's lesser films. SERIES NOTES Birthday at the water park on "Yes, Dear" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,L) ... Joe Rogan hosts "Fear Factor" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) ... The minimum wages of sin on "That '70s Show" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14,D,L) ... Dating games on "The Parkers" (8 p.m., UPN, TV-PG,L) ... Costas Mandylor guest stars on "7th Heaven" (8 p.m., WB, TV-G). Locker room woes on "Still Standing" (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,D) ... Apparently, someone misplaced an unseen episode of "The Simple Life" (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14) ... Things best kept secret on "Eve" (8:30 p.m. UPN, TV-14,D,L). The (unfunny) joke continues on "My Big, Fat, Obnoxious Fiance" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14,D,L) ... A Vegas adventure on "Girlfriends" (9 p.m., UPN, TV-PG,L) ... A wrestler with a weight obsession on "Everwood" (9 p.m., WB, TV-PG,D,L) ... Spencer's secret on "Half & Half" (9:30 p.m., UPN, TV-PG,D,L) ... A special phone tip on "Two and a Half Men" (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,D). LATE NIGHT Jennifer Connelly and Christopher Paolini appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" (11:35 p.m., CBS) ... Jay Leno hosts David Spade on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC). Darrell Hammond, Shannen Doherty and Joshua Bell are booked on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (12:35 a.m., NBC) ... Tyra Banks, Tony Siragusa and Phantom Planet are booked on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (12:37 a.m., CBS). |
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Copyright 2004, United
Feature Syndicate, Inc. United Feature Syndicate | ||||||||
Charles Mims
Murphy's Sixth Law: If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.
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