May flowers bring hours and hours of TV
On Monday, the fall season's breakout hit “Heroes” returns for its last run of all-new episodes at 8 p.m. CT on NBC (KSHB-TV). This can only mean one thing: It's sweeps time again.
Nothing like a Nielsen ratings period to bring MIA shows out of their undisclosed locations. Beginning Thursday and continuing through the last two hours of “American Idol” on May 23, local TV stations will be investigating, networks will be stunting and you, dear reader, will be relying on this paper to guide you through the morass of must-see TV. Let's begin.
All times Central.
“Shark” (9 p.m. Thursday, CBS, KCTV-5). Back from a relatively brief three-week hiatus -- “Heroes” was off the air twice as long -- The fall season's other success story features guest star Sherry Stringfield (formerly of “ER,” which airs opposite “Shark”) as a defense attorney who squares off against James Woods over a dad charged with kidnapping his son. The case bears more than a little resemblance to the much-publicized Missouri case of a child who lived with his abductor for years.
“The Mormons” (8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, KTWU). Two public TV heavyweights, “American Experience” and “Frontline,” team up to examine the origins and current state of one of Christianity's fastest-growing faiths. Topeka's KTWU is airing it as scheduled, but those on the Missouri side who might be interested in such a program (gee, you think?) will have to wait until Channel 19's pledge drive is over. “The Mormons” will air at 3 p.m. May 13 and 3 p.m. May 20 on KCPT.
“Brando” (May 1-2, TCM). No waiting necessary for this two-night documentary about the greatest actor of his generation. Anyone with Turner Classic Movies can watch it and two of his biggest films, “On the Waterfront” and “Streetcar Named Desire.”
“A Stranger's Heart” (May 5, Hallmark Channel). In this drama that tugs at the heart strings -- literally -- Samantha Mathis plays a young professional who receives a transplanted heart.
“51 Birch Street” (May 8, Cinemax). Many film critics' 10-best lists from 2006 included this documentary that, much like “Capturing the Friedmans,” tells the story of a Long Island family and its dark secrets. Filmmaker Doug Block put together this intimate portrait after his mother died and his father went off to live with a woman who was his secretary … 40 years earlier.
“Ugly Betty” (May 10, KMBC-9). Rita Moreno plays Betty's (America Ferrera) long-lost Mexican auntie in this extra-special sweeps episode.
“Ellen” (May 11, KCTV-5). The incredible disappearing Oscars host re-emerges with a super-sized pre-Mother's Day broadcast in which her entire audience will consist of expecting first-time moms.
“The King Of Queens” (May 14, KCTV-5) signs off for good in an episode that's likely to feature Kevin James' character satisfying his appetite, yakking at work and getting into fights with his wife (Leah Remini) and/or crazy father-in-law (Jerry Stiller).
“Battlestar Galactica” (Sci Fi). If you've wondered what the deal is with this series, or missed episodes two, six, and nine from the last season, they'll all air during a three-day-long marathon May 16-18.
Book TV (C-SPAN2, weekends) will park the Book TV bus at the Plaza May 19 and broadcast from the Kansas City Literary Festival.
And once again, “24” (May 21, Fox 4) and “Lost” (May 23, KMBC) will each end their seasons with two-hour nail-biters. Between that and the “Idol” blowout that same week (also on Fox 4), you'd either better have a lot of space on your recorder or some personal days you can take.
