Wednesday, April 26, 2000
May sweeps away big TV names
Goodbyes coming from Julianna Margulies, Michael J. Fox, 'Party of Five' and '90210'
By JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The party is over for Party of Five. And for Beverly Hills 90210, Boy Meets World, ER nurse Carol Hathaway, Spin City boss Mike Flaherty and Cosby.
May sweeps, which start Thursday, signals the end of the TV season, with final episodes for several long-running series and popular TV characters.
Actually, dozens more of our favorites will air finales in May — though we won't know which ones until the networks announce their new fall lineups and cancellations the week of May 15.
May blossoms, as usual, with too many miniseries and movies, big-name guest stars, and fascinating documentaries as the networks hype their May ratings, used to set advertising rates through November.
But the Tristate's most anticipated TV event — Showtime's Dirty Pictures dramatization about the 1990 Mapplethorpe photo exhibit arrest and trial — won't premiere until May 27, three days after sweeps end.
Set the VCR for some of these, so you have something to watch during summer reruns:
Playing politics: The West Wing winds up a spectacular first season with a four-week plot starting today (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22) about the president, played by Martin Sheen, jeopardizing his re-election in a battle with Congress over campaign finance reform.
Must see TV: Romance is in the air on NBC's top-rated Thursday lineup. After Bruce Willis completes a three-week guest stint on Friends starting Thursday (8 p.m., Channels 5, 22), Tom Selleck returns as Monica's (Courteney Cox Arquette) old flame for the finale (May 18).
On Frasier,Daphne (Jane Leeves) plans her wedding to Donny (Saul Rubinek) over the next four weeks (9 p.m., Channels 5, 22).
And Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) leaves ER (May 11), despite the growing romantic advances by Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic).
X Factor: Of all the shows on the bubble, the biggest is The X-Files. Star David Duchovny and creator Chris Carter have said they don't want to return, though Fox wants to renew the show.
Only four original X-Files remain, starting with a spoof of the series (9 p.m. Sunday, Channels 19, 45) written by Mr. Duchovny about Hollywood shooting a movie based on Agents Mulder (Garry Shandling) and Scully (Tea Leoni).
The Millionaires: Who wants to watch a millionaire? Plenty of us, I'm sure, when celebrities play Regis Philbin's Who Wants to be a Millionaire Monday-Thursday (Channels 9, 2).
Lance Bass of 'N Sync, Rosie O'Donnell, Drew Carey, Dana Carvey, David Duchovny, Kathie Lee Gifford, Emeril Lagasse, Queen Latifah, Ray Romano and Vanessa L. Williams try to earn $1 million for charities.
Way of the Lord: It truly is the year of the Lord. NBC aired Mary, Mother of Jesus in November, ABC broadcast The Miracle Maker clay animation movie on Easter, and CBS has Jeremy Sisto (The '60s) as Jesus in a two-part miniseries May 14 and 17.
Jacqueline Bisset (Joan of Arc), Jeroen Krabbe (The Fugitive) and Debra Messing (Will & Grace) star in the four-hour film shown by CBS to the Vatican last November.
Other May miniseries: NBC's The '70s (9 p.m. Sunday-Monday, Channels 5, 22); ABC's Arabian Nights (9 p.m. Sunday-Monday, Channels 9, 2); and NBC's Jason and the Argonauts (May 7-8).
Classic rock: After The '70s, the nostalgic beat goes on and on with Take Me Home: The John Denver Story (9 p.m. Sunday, Channels 12, 7); CBS' Murder She Wrote: A Story to Die For (May 18); CBS' The Dukes of Hazzard — Hazzard in Hollywood (May 19); CBS' The Linda McCartney Story (May 21); and NBC's Growing Up Brady (May 21).
Geppetto: Comedian Drew Carey stars in Geppetto,Disney's first original musical for TV on Wonderful World of Disney (7 p.m. May 7, Channels 9, 2). Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld) co-stars as the Blue Fairy in this new version of Pinocchio, from his father's point of view.
The real world: An extraordinary lineup of documentaries will make viewing choices even tougher in May. Put some of these on tape to savor in summer:
PBS' Frontline on Thomas Jefferson's DNA (10 p.m. Tuesday, Channel 48); The 20th Century looks back at the 1970 Kent State shootings (May 4, History Channel); Americanos: Latino Life in the United States by Glendale native Susan Todd and Andrew Young (May 5, HBO); PBS' two-hour Nova special on the Vikings (May 9); and PBS' The American Experience profiles of Joe DiMaggio (May 8) and George Eastman (May 22).
Everybody Loves Robert: Everybody Loves Raymond fans, who love the season-ending flashback episodes, shouldn't be disappointed in the May 22 finale — a look back at brother Robert's (Brad Garrett) divorce.
The end: Mark the calendar for these TV goodbyes:
• Cosby (8:30 p.m. Friday, Channels 12, 7): Hilton (Bill Cosby) reveals the secrets of a good marriage on the final episode.
• Party of Five (8-10 p.m. next Wednesday, Channels 19, 45): The Salinger kids consider East Coast opportunities.
• Boy Meets World (8-9 p.m. May 5, Channels 9, 2): Cory and Topanga (Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel) move to New York.
• ER (10 p.m. May 11, Channels 5, 22): Nurse Hathaway (Ms. Margulies) exits in a show called “Such Sweet Sorrow,” a week before the season finale about a Columbine-type school shooting (May 18).
• Beverly Hills 90210 (8-10 p.m. May 17, Channels 19, 45): The 90210 gang gathers for a final time after 10 years.
• NYPD Blue (9-11 p.m. May 23, Channels 9, 2): Dayton native Andrea Thompson hangs up her badge as Detective Kirkendall to anchor news in New Mexico.
• Spin City (9-10 p.m. May 24, Channels 9, 2): Michael J. Fox quits his City Hall job to battle Parkinson's disease.
@tag:John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV/radio critic. His column appears Monday and Wednesday. Write: 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330.
