Public and critics agree on Reba's worth
From a TV critic's perspective, there's reason to give thanks. Not only was there a bumper crop of promising new shows this season, but the public has embraced many of them. Nearly all of the critics' favorites are still around ("Citizen Baines" being the lone exception), while trash like "Bob Patterson," "Wolf Lake" and the WB's vile "Men, Women and Dogs" has been swiftly hauled to the curb. Take "Reba," the greatly underrated sitcom about a messed-up family starring Reba McEntire. "Reba" has singlehandedly revived the WB's Friday night schedule (it airs at 8 p.m. on Channel 62), and McEntire has singlehandedly been the reason why. What's especially gratifying is that her character - a put-upon Texas mom - is unfamiliar territory for the people who run the WB network. WB stars are usually either wholesome adults ("Gilmore Girls," "7th Heaven') or people barely out of their teens ("Dawson's Creek," "Felicity"). But McEntire's age allows her to affect a world-weariness that is perfect for the domestic crises that confront her each episode. I worried that the jokes about her husband's infidelity would wear thin quickly, but a recent episode showed McEntire still milking the situation for Texas-sized laughs. She also handled several scenes with a smitten handyman - who takes her out on a "date" to look at faucets - with grace and aplomb. She's terrific. Then there's "24," perhaps the most overhyped show since "Providence" three years ago. Unfortunately, "24" has suffered in a tough Tuesday-night time period opposite other worthy programs, including "NYPD Blue" and fellow rookie "Smallville." The good news is that in addition to its 8 p.m. Tuesday time slot on Fox (Channel 4), for the last two weeks the network has aired "24" at 8 on Fridays. (Sadly, Fox has an Adam Sandler movie scheduled at that time this week, but you also can catch it Sundays and Mondays on cable's FX.) The second hour of "24" was as cleverly plotted and suspenseful as the first was. If you agree, spread the word. The casual viewer can safely discard the first 90 minutes of "Sting in Tuscany," a three-hour special on the making of Sting's newest CD, "All This Time," airing at 7 p.m. Saturday on A&E. Much of this is video of the rehearsals at Sting's Italian villa in the days leading up to the live concert. The concert was recorded and made into "All This Time," being released in stores Tuesday. All the songs featured here were previously released as recordings dating to the artist's days with the Police ("Roxanne," for example). But with new arrangements and an eclectic group of musicians surrounding him, Sting endeavors to reinterpret these songs and make us hear them afresh. On the day of the concert - Sept. 11 - we see the band react to news of terrorist attacks on the United States. Later, around a dining table, they discuss whether to cancel. The consensus is a resounding no. At the concert, Sting keeps his opening remarks mercifully brief. Then the music starts. Now playing: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox (Channel 4). "It's a Wonderful Life" makes its annual appearance at 7 p.m. Saturday (Channel 41) on NBC. "Bridget Jones's Diary" debuts on pay-per-view beginning Friday. Behind the scenes, AMC's "Backstory," an upscale version of "The E! True Hollywood Story," relives the making of "Miracle on 34th Street" (the 1947 classic with Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn, not the cable-TV remake airing next month on ABC Family). It's at 8:45 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, in between two airings of the movie. Topeka's public station KTWU airs "Exploring the Muse" at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The new documentary has three Kansans talk about the mysterious creative force - the muse - that inspires them. The program features artist J. Alex Potter, musician Miner Seymour and Kansas Cosmosphere president Max Ary. Thursday's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (10:35 p.m., Channel 41) will be taped before an audience of servicemen and women. NBC announced last week that Leno plans to entertain U.S. troops abroad next month and air highlights of his visits on the "Tonight Show." You can reach Aaron Barnhart at (816) 234-4790 or online at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Reba McEntire @ART:Photo (color)
