Mike Hughes: March Madness takes over | The Salinas Californian
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: Basketball, all day.
The NCAA field has been trimmed to 32 now, so CBS doesn't have to share as much with cable networks. It has half of today's eight games and three of Sunday's eight.
Today, CBS' first game is at 9 a.m., with others at about 11:30 a.m., 2 and 4:30 p.m. Other doubleheaders start at 3 p.m. on TNT and 4 p.m. on TBS.
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: "Harry's Law," 8 p.m., NBC.
This likable-enough show from producer David E. Kelley finally moved into a regular time slot last Sunday, getting decent ratings. Add in these Saturday reruns and you have an OK weekend habit.
Tonight, Harry (Kathy Bates) defends a guy who bought a kidney. Tommy defends twins whose shared husband died; Roseanna (Jean Smart) isn't sure which twin to prosecute. The stories may get silly, but the people are talented: Smart has three Emmys, Kelley has 10, Bates has an Oscar.
TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: "Chasing Leprechauns," 8 and 10 p.m., Hallmark; and/or "Leprechaun's Revenge," 9 p.m., Syfy.
On St. Patrick's Day, we have to make up our minds: Leprechauns are fun or fierce.
Hallmark prefers fun. Its film has an Irish village requiring an odd environmental impact statement: Before an area is developed, it must be certified as leprechaun-free. An American businessman (Adrian Pasdar) must work with a local bartender (Irish actress Amy Huberman).
And Syfy prefers ferocity. When a teen (Courtney Halverson) picks a red shamrock, she unleashes a killer leprechaun who could destroy the St. Patrick's Day parade. The story is so-so, but Halverson, Billy Zane and William Devane give strong performances playing three generations of O'Haras.
Other choices include:
"Ghost Whisperer," 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., WE. This may be designed for people wildly disinterested in basketball. It's 15 hours of Jennifer Love Hewitt seeing dead people.
"Shark Tank," 8 p.m., ABC. In a switch, ABC is inserting this episode. Ideas ranges from a cake mix for dogs to a towel design that allows someone to change in and out of a swimsuit in public.
"20/20," 9-11 p.m., ABC. Here's another round of "My Extreme Affliction."
"Being Human," 9-10:30 p.m., BBC America. The focus is on baby Eve, who's crucial to the future of mankind. Annie the ghost protects her; so (at first) does another ghost, a charming guy.
"Off Their Rockers," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Here's a rerun of the special, hosted by Betty White, that had seniors pulling hidden-camera tricks. This will turn into a series on April 4.
Sunday
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: "Frozen Planet" debut, 8 and 9 p.m., Discovery.
The Arctic and Antarctica are outsized worlds. A bear can weigh almost a ton; an iceberg can be the size of Manhattan. In these splendid documentaries, animals seek love (briefly) and food (obsessively). There's humor, as one penguin builds its nest by stealing stones from another, who seems blissfully unaware. There's ferocity, as giant walruses battle, with tiny penguins seeming nonchalant nearby. And there's stunning precision, as whales' synchronized swimming knocks penguins off their ice-floe safety.
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: "Desperate Housewives," 9 p.m., ABC.
Last week ended with a jolt, when Mike Delfino was killed by a drive-by gunman. Tonight brings the funeral and flashbacks from his widow Susan and friends.
All of them have another problem: They had thought they'd covered up the death of Gabrielle's abusive father-in-law, who was killed by Carlos to protect her. Now the probe is re-opened.
TODAY'S ALTERNATIVE: Basketball, 9 a.m., CBS.
By the end of the night, the NCAA tournament will have its sweet 16.
CBS has a tripleheader, then gives the fourth game (at 4:30 p.m.) to Tru TV. There are also doubleheaders at 3 p.m. on TNT and 4 p.m. on TBS.
TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: "Life is Short," 10:30 p.m., HBO.
This series ripples with the darkly wicked wit of writer-producers Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It's a mock-documentary that pretends that actor Warwick Davis is vain and foolish.
In some hilarious scenes, he meets the charlatan who is his spiritual adviser, then manages to insult a Catholic and a Scientologist. Also, he bungles some promising romances.
Other choices include:
"Oprah's Next Chapter," 7-11 p.m., Oprah Winfrey Network. The first two hours rerun Winfrey's Steven Tyler interview. Then there is a new two-parter with Lady Gaga.
"Once Upon a Time," 8 p.m., ABC. In both worlds, there's trouble for Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin). In the fairy-tale world, she's under a spell; Prince Charming tries to stop her from killing the Evil Queen. In the modern world, she's charged with killing the wife of Charming's equivalent.
