BIOPIC
VH1 (Fri., Aug. 6, 9 p.m. ET)
The 6'4" star of UPN's sitcom One on One playing the 511" King of Pop? Wouldn't Flex Alexander be better cast as Michael Jordan than Michael Jackson?
If you can get past the lack of a physical resemblance—okay, a leap is required—Alexander fares pretty well in this muddled TV movie. He sustains the breathy voice and childlike manner, and he seems committed to a characterization of Jackson as an essentially sweet-natured and incredibly naive Peter Pan. VH1 says Alexander did all his own dancing, though his face is often obscured during the performance and rehearsal scenes.
"We all worship at the feet of your talent," his manager (Peter Onorati) assures Jackson, but the superstar's work is not the true focus here. In treating the scandalous part of the story, the script wavers between reticence and titillation. When a boy is about to give investigators the details of his sleepovers at Jackson's Neverland ranch, the film cuts away out of discretion—or indecision. At the end fans gather to support Jackson as he vows to fight sexual molestation charges, and we're led to conclude that his stand is somehow inspiring. But with a trial pending, no one can accuse this movie of making a clear-cut case one way or the other.
Man in the Mirror is not only fuzzy but sometimes unintentionally funny. You'll snicker at the caricature of Jack son's loyal friend Liz Taylor (Lynne Cormack) and those dreamy visions of Diana Ross (Samantha Banton) reminding him to follow his heart. Despite Alexander's efforts, the film can't help verging on parody.
HBO (Thurs., Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET)
DOCUMENTARY
Lindsay Crystal's feature-length filmmaking debut isn't self-indulgent, it's family-indulgent. And that's not such a bad thing.
This documentary is a valentine to Bernhardt Crystal, great-uncle of the director and uncle of her father, comedian-actor Billy. "Berns" turns out to be an engaging and eccentric character—a combat artist, both seared and inspired by his World War II experiences, who went on to own a delightfully eclectic gallery in New York City. Now 89, Berns is clearly much beloved by all the Crystals, and Lindsay succeeds in capturing his wit, warmth and ebullience. As a bonus, the film brings his original drawings to life with a touch of animation.
Some of the reminiscences are repetitive—Billy's brothers Joel and Richard come in for a share of the screen time—and Uncle Berns's fooling around occasionally wears thin. Maybe only a kid could fully appreciate the way he plays the spoons. But here is a man who's eminently worth knowing, and we might not get this opportunity if he and the filmmaker didn't share a famous last name.
Disney Channel (Fri., Aug. 6, 8 p.m. ET)
DRAMA
Teenager Maddie (Hayden Panettiere from Raising Helen) wishes her father, a Navy commander (Bill Pullman), wasn't away from home so much. In September 2001, she goes on the Tiger Cruise—an annual event in which sailors' family members join them aboard ship for a week—in hopes of convincing him to quit the service. But suddenly America comes under terrorist attack, and Maddie realizes that Dad's job on the aircraft carrier outranks domestic concerns.
With all the talk about duty, much of it set to stirring music, this TV movie sometimes comes across like a recruiting pitch. Pullman, however, is consistently effective as an officer who does fine at directing the crew and reassuring the nervous civilians but is less than articulate when it's time to communicate with his daughter.
American Candidate (Showtime, Aug. 1, 9 p.m. ET) Montel Williams hosts a new reality series that will decide which of 10 hopefuls (including Dick Gephardt's daughter Chrissy) would make the best President.
The Player (UPN, Aug. 3, 9 p.m. ET) Love is just a game. Thirteen guys who consider themselves hot stuff try to impress a Miami model and her two female friends in this reality series' debut.
The Simple Life 2 (FOX, Aug. 4, 9 p.m. ET) Head 'em up, move 'em out. The two-part season finale takes Paris and Nicole to Texas, where they herd cattle and work for a sheriff.
Last Comic Standing (NBC, Aug. 5, 9 p.m. ET) Viewers' votes are tallied, and the field is cut to three.
Fishing with Roland Martin (Outdoor Life Network, Aug. 6, 8 p.m. ET) Hail to the chief angler! President George W. Bush goes after bass on his lake in Crawford, Texas.
Jaime Pressly
Actress Jaime Pressly, 27, plays Linda Bork, the first wife of daredevil Evel Knievel, in a new biopic about his life starring George Eads. It premieres July 30 on TNT.
ON EVEL He was one of the last great American gladiators. But persona is one thing; the actual person I don't much care for. The things he did are catching up with him, whether it's the Wild Turkey or the wild things he did.
ON HER NEW CLOTHING LINE I was shooting Torque, and on an action film there's a lot of sitting around while they're setting up for stunts. I started sketching a lingerie line because I love pajamas. Now it's turned into a whole ready-to-wear line that will be in department stores this fall.
ON DATING KID ROCK We thought we'd try it because we're such good friends. We thought it'd be perfect. But it wasn't. I love him, but I'm just not a rock star's girlfriend. My new boyfriend is a businessman, but I don't talk about him. The minute you talk about a relationship, it ends. This is way too good for me to end.
- Contributors:
- Terry Kelleher,
- Todd Gold.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
