Week In Sloth

The Week In Sloth

\ Jun 14, 2007

4 min read

Thursday 14

Assassination Tango (KASY-50 7 p.m.) This 2002 drama—written by, directed by and starring Robert Duvall—isn’t the most memorable character study in the world; but it is a quirky, largely undiscovered curiosity piece. Duvall stars as an aging hitman sent to assassinate a general in Argentina. When his assignment is delayed, he burns off his time by falling in love with the rhythmic world of the tango.

Friday 15

“The Price is Right” (KRQE-13 11 a.m./7 p.m.) I have some very strong sense memories associated with “TPIR.” The only time I ever watched it as a kid was when I stayed home sick from school. (There was no cable back in the day, and I certainly wasn’t going to watch soap operas.) Because of this, I always associate the Showcase Showdown with the smell of Vick’s VapoRub and Kleenex tissues. Anyway, today is the very last episode featuring longtime host Bob Barker, who’s retiring today after 600 years on the air. … Come to think of it, I may need one of those Kleenex this afternoon. Just for old time’s sake, of course.

Saturday 16

Monterey 40 (VH1 7 p.m.) Hard to believe, but there was a time when America hadn’t heard of The Who or Jimi Hendrix. Tonight, VH1 pays tribute to the California concert that introduced those justifiably famous guitar ticklers 40 years ago. Currrent-day interviewees include Paul McCartney, David Crosby, Michelle Phillips, Grace Slick and—brace for i—Ravi Shankar.

“Confessions of a Matchmaker” (A&E 8 p.m.) This new docu-series follows Buffalo, N.Y.-based dating guru Patti as she tries to find perfect matches for obese, chicken wing-scarfing Bills fans. (Having never been to the area, I’m only guessing in my gross generalization of Buffalo residents. I could be way off, of course. … For all I know, they could eat a lot of sausage instead.)

Sunday 17

“The 4400” (USA 7 p.m.) This once-hot series about randomly super-powered humans who are probably here to save the world enters its fourth season tonight. A sloooow output (less than 10 episodes a year) and major interference from NBC’s quite similar “Heroes,” make this seem like a case of too little too late. Still, it’s a well-made series, and may just float your jones until the next season of “Heroes” starts up.

Monday 18

“Age of Love” (KOB-4 7 p.m.) What if you took a successful reality/dating show like “The Bachelor” and made the women just slightly older (between the ages of 21 and 48)? You’d get a crummy, idea-starved ripoff of “The Bachelor.” Enjoy.

“Heartland” (TNT 8 p.m.) Doctors. Operating on hearts. Just like CBS’ failed medico series “3 lbs.” Only with hearts instead of brains. TV is always better when you don’t have brains.

Tuesday 19

“AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino” (USA 7 p.m.) Ooh , I wonder who will win this year’s prestigious Life Achievement award?

Wednesday 20

“AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Movies—10 th Anniversary Edition” (CBS 7 p.m.) Those American Film Institute people are busy little beavers this week. Here, they update their 100 Greatest Movies list, tacking on the dozens of timeless classics that have been released in the last 10 years. After all, who needs antique crap like Gone With the Wind when you’ve got Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights?