If you've wondered why Topeka native Elizabeth Farnsworth isn't on the “NewsHour” much anymore, it's because she has spent the last five years helping make a terrific film.
"The Judge and the General" (10 p.m. Tuesday, KCPT) is a stylish documentary that tells the story of the man who prosecuted the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for war crimes violations, was himself a supporter of the 1973 coup d'etat that brought Pinochet to power and seems like the last guy anyone in Chile expected to bring the aging general to justice. Farnsworth and native Chilean Patricio Lanfranco co-produced the "POV" film.
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (7 p.m. CT Tuesday, ABC Family). Well, now the secret is out -- no, not the secret that 15-year-old band geek Amy J (Shailene Woodley) is pregnant. Amy's mom (Molly Ringwald) found that out a couple of weeks ago. The secret I'm referring to is the fact that this is the most popular family-friendly show possibly in the entire history of cable TV. And why should that be any surprise, since because Brenda Hampton, creator of the long-running family favorite “7th Heaven,” created this, too? I've been won over to this show since it debuted in July. Yes, there's a lot of talk about sex, but also about its consequences and the choices people often make because of them.
"The Principal's Office" (8 p.m. CT Thursday, truTV). Well, it was just a matter of time, wasn't it? Now we have a reality show about the principal's office. Actually, three principals are featured here in everyday encounters with students -- including one who is legally empowered by the state of Arkansas to apply the corporal punishment paddle to the buttocks. Judges Judy, Joe and Alex look like spineless jellyfish next to these three. If you're looking for less cartoony high school drama, try "The Secret Life" instead.
OLYMPICS COVERAGE
The most live Olympic coverage is online, at NBCOlympics.com. You can also watch replays of past events, including an interesting video of the men’s 4x100 freestyle relay, featuring an upset of France by Team USA, as seen from the bottom of the pool. That Web site also will guide you to complete schedules for TV viewing. Tip to our Everest/SureWest readers: Use Time Warner Cable (Overland Park) as your cable provider when the Web site asks and spare yourself a load of trouble.
Here, in brief, are your cable options:
USA’s 10 to 12 hours of daily coverage start at 1 a.m. CT. Basketball, water polo, tennis, cycling and other high-profile events will air on USA.
CNBC begins its daily coverage at 4 p.m. CT with late-night highlights at 11 p.m. CT. Once again CNBC will carry lots of boxing and softball. Next Saturday it will also air the men’s soccer gold-medal match.
MSNBC will continue its 12 hours of daily live coverage this week, beginning each day at 5 p.m. Beijing time — that’s 4 a.m. here in KC. Sports will include beach volleyball, weightlifting, cycling, baseball, you name it.
Oxygen will feature two hours of female-friendly sports Monday through Friday beginning at 5 p.m. CT.
Telemundo, available on satellite, has Spanish language coverage.
If you have high-definition cable service, there are three additional options to choose from: Universal HD and the special Olympic Basketball and Olympic Soccer channels, all at no extra cost.
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