TELEVISION LISTINGS
l
k. “9“” i e'.
I Driving Miss Daisy (Channel 4) 9—10.55pm. A. sentimental slice of racial revisionisrn which naturally picked tip Oscars galore. Jessica Tandy stars as a wealthy Southern matron, with Morgan Freeman as her put-upon black chauffeur. as the ‘action' stretches over 25 years from 1948.
I The South Bank Show: Jean-Claude Carriere (Scottish) ll.35pm—l2.35am. Melvyn Bragg talks to the scriptwriter best known for his collaborations with Luis Bunuegl.
I Scottish Books Special (Scottish) l2.35—l.05am. Jenny Brown introduces coverage of the 1994 Saltire Awards for Scottish writers.
I The Bigger Picture (BBC2) 7.30—8pm. Billy Connolly concludes his leisurely
perusal of the history of Scottish art with a _
look at the work of living Scottish artists John Bellany. Peter Howson. Ken Currie and Steven Campbell. . I Under The Hammer (Scottish) 9— IOpm. : Richard Wilson stars in the auctioneering comedy/drama. with the auction house getting excited at the discovery of an unpublished Charles Dickens manuscript. I Homicide: Lite On The Street (Channel 4) l()-l lpm. The final episode ofthe brilliant Baltimore cop series finds Pembleton and Bayliss getting into the murky world of S & M while investigating the murder of Angela Frandina.
TUESDAY 15
I Ilow Do They Do That? (BBCI) 8—8.45pni. Avuncular host Desmond Lynam presents the pop science show highlighting human problem-solving achievements.
I The Brit Awards 1994 (Scottish) 8.30~10pm. Recorded highlights from the annual music industry shindig. with the tearful acceptance speeches intermingled with performances from pop heavyweights like Van Morrison and Meat
I Without Walls: Bad Ideas or The 20th Century: Bodyism/Cood Ideas or The 20th Century: Plastic Surgery (Channel 4) 9—lOpm. A new series of the arts strand opens with Erica Jong bernoaning the notion of the body beautiful. followed by an explicit short drama starring provocative novelist Will Self as an artist in search of a new look by means of plastic surgery.
I Calling The Shots (BBC 1) 9.30—10.50pm. Lynn Redgrave stars in a new two-part thriller. playing TV reporter
62 The List I l-24 February 1994
; include Just A Boy's Game and Down 1 Among The Big Boys.
‘ WEDNESDAY 16
I Dig (Scottish) 8-lOpm. The first and
‘ best of the body-swap movies. this stars
Tom Hanks as a shy adolescent transposed . into the body of a 35-year-old man by a
' fairground fortune-telling machine.
- 8.30—9pm. A new series looking at the
' up some mealie porridge. See Food
2 I Middlemarch (BBC2) 9.30-l0.30pm.
g adaptation of the classic George Eliot novel. The Lydgates are in desperate
a I The Underworld: Thieves (BBCt) i 9.30—l0.20pm. Bob Hoskins narrates a
§ ‘Mad‘ Frankie Fraser. who boasts, ‘l‘ve : been certified insane twice in prison and ; once in the Army'.
'7 THURSDAY 17
g I Nelson’s Column (BBCl) 8.30—9pm.
John Gordon-Sinclair stars in a new
sitcom series. playing local newspaper
- journalist Gavin Nelson. who has a
fixation with fellow reporter Clare Priddy
Maggie Donnelly. who is under increasing pressure at work. When she attempts to put together a tough story on rape. she stars to receive threatening phone calls. See preview.
I lite Is Sweet (Channel 4) 10—] 1.55pm. Mike Leigh’s biggest commercial success stars Alison Steadman as the suburban housewife relying on constant innuendo to keep a hold on her husband Jim Broadbent. dysfunctional daughter Jane Horrocks and her other offspring, surly plumber Claire Skinner. Aimlessly entertaining in Leigh’s bleakly embarrassing fashion.
I EXS: Big Boy's Tale (BBCl) 10.20-10.50pm. A repeat showing of the profile of uncompromising Glasgow TV writer Peter McDougall whose credits
Kg“ 4" "a 4‘ v; v ' 5193:“ “4"a
I Taste or Arrica (Channel 4)
cuisine of Africa. presented by Dorinda Hafner who begins in Zimbabwe cooking
section.
I 99-1 (Scottish) 9—10pm. Leslie Grantham stars as undercover ex-cop Mick Raynor in the depressingly downbeat crime series.
I The Bay Today (BBC2) 9—9.30pm. More half-baked news spoofery. Steve Coogan does his bit as hapless sports presenter Alan Partridge. and the rest of the team includes Armando lanucci, Chris Morris. Doon Mackichen and Patrick Marber.
The final episode of Andrew Davies’s
financial straits. while the dying Raffles exposes some of Bulstrode's dark secrets.
new high-profile series looking at the criminal underworld in Britain. The first programme features extensive interviews with former armed robbers. including
I Walk On The Wild Side (Channel 4) 11.05—11.35pm. The youth crime series features three Muslim boys from Birmingham and the seams they employ to achieve the cars and the clothes they demand.
(Sophie Thompson). The series producer
I The All-New Alexei Seyle Show (BBC2) 9—9.30pm. Cholesterol-heavy fun with Lex and pais. in the last of the current series. featuring exclusive previews of some new Lynda La Plante dramas.
I Commando (Scottish) 9.30—lOpm. A new series looking at the world's toughest military training course as enthusiastic recruits set out in search of a green beret. I Absolutely Fabulous (BBC 1) 9.30-10pm. Sardonic comedy for the Soho set with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
I The Man From Auntie (BBC 1) lO—lO.30pm. Ben Elton offers more sardonic and satirical observations on life as we live it.
I The Rachel Papers (Channel 4) IO—l l.45pm. A suitably brash sex comedy based on Martin Amis‘s tale ofa cocky nineteen-year-old‘s attempts to seduce an American girl in London. The irritating Dexter Fletcher has the lead. with lone Skye as his intended victim.
FRIDAY 18
I The Living Soap (BBC2) 6.25—6.55pm. Competition is fierce among our grimy chums to see who will get the most Valentines.
I The Chief (Scottish) 9—lOpm. Cade faces more trauma when an international drugs conference is undermined by a Mafia show of strength. I hate it when that happens.
I Roseanne (Channel 4) 10—1 lpm. Roseanne suspects DJ is up to something. and Darlene seems to be in league with him for once.
I DDA (Scottish) 10.30pm—12.20am. The 1949 film noir is given a stylish if shallow update. with Dennis Quaid playing a college professor who wakes to find he has been given a slow-acting but deadly toxin. He sets out to find his murderer with the help of student Meg Ryan.
I The Jack Dee Show (Channel 4) 10.30—11.05pm. The return of the lugubrious stand-up comic with more downbeat observations. For the first show he's joined by American singer Cyndi Lauper'.
SATURDAY 19
I Baka - People or The Bainiorest (Channel 4) 8—9pm. The first part of the award-winning documentary about the Baka Pygmies from the rainforests of East Cameroon.
I NYPD Blue (Channel 4) 9—10pm. More sleazy cop action from the downtown cop precinct.
I Heartbreak Bridge (Scottish)
9.15—1 1.35pm. Plenty of gung—ho thrills in the Clint Eastwood-directed tale of a 'Nam veteran (himself) finding the old adrenalin pumping once more when the invasion of Grenada looms. What could have been a routine shoot-'em-up is redeemed by a neat line in self-parody by the star. softening the macho hero‘s
jagged edges to portray a realistic : is Susan Belbin. who was also responsible l ; for One For)! In Tire Grave.
‘ I Minder (Scottish) 8.30—9.30pm. The
i interminable Cockney series finds Arfur
. trying to cheer up his depressed brother-
in-law Brian.
character.
I Under Satan’s Sun (BBC2) 10.55pm-12.30am. Gerard Depardieu stars as a rural priest who becomes convinced that Satan is controlling mankind.
I United States or Television (Channel 4) ll.05-l 1.50pm. Laurie Kightlinger presents more titbits from the melting pot of US TV. including film of the birth of Casey Kasem’s child. and mice playing basketball.
SUNDAY 20
I The Playboys (Channel 4) 9—l I.05pm. Gilles Mackinnon’s plangent drama is set in a remote Irish border village in 1957. Unwed mother Tara (Robin Wright) embarks on a romance with travelling player Aidan Quinn. much to the chagrin of resident police sergeant Albert Finney. The resulting squabbles disturb the tranquillity of the village and bring repressed passions to the surface.
I Sunday Night Clive (BBC l) 9.55-10.40pm. Clive James retums with a new series of chat. lumbering wit and plenty of opportunities to laugh at the foibles of foreigners.
I The South Bank Show (Scottish) ll.35prn-12.40am. A film profile of the American comedian and actor Danny Kaye. whose roles in musicals and children‘s films made him a worldwide star.
MONDAY 21
I The lien And Stimpy Show (BBC2) 6.25—6.50pm. More adventures of the cool cat and crazy chihuahua in the cult American animation series.
I Northern Exposure (Channel 4)
10—1 lpm. As exclusively previewed in our last issue. the quirky Alaskan series makes an eagerly-awaited return. Maggie is turning 30. Marilyn is learning to drive and Chris's past in West Virginia is catching up with him.
I Dave Allen (Scottish) 10.40—l l.lOprn. Observational wit and shaggy dog stories from the old-fashioned lrish comic.
TUESDAY 22
I Without Walls: The Obituary Show - Oliver Iieed (Channel 4) 9—9.30pni. The story goes that Ollie has died while taking part in a reckless dare in a bar. Pundits and friends pay tribute to the great hellraiser. See Preview.
I Paris By Night (Channel 4)
lO—l 1.55pm. David Hare's political satire is an arid affair. almost saved by Charlotte Rampling’s energetic portrayal of an ambitious Euro-MP whose political rise is mirrored by the collapse of her personal life. Hare‘s script gets into tricky waters when political rhetoric is replaced by violent action.
I EXS: I Know Where I’m Going (BBC I) lO.2()—l().5()pm. The story of the Powell and Pressburger film from 1945 set on the Hebridean isle of Colonsay. It is now regarded as a filrn masterpiece. and one of its greatest admirers. Martin Scorsese. explains its enduring appeal.
[5131313111512-
I Walk On The Wild Side (Channel 4)
l 1.05-1 l.35pm. Revelations from the world of youth crime in the final edition of the investigative documentary series. I Flying Blind (Channel 4) 12.10—12.40am. Corey Parker stars in the flakey sitcom about a straight kid who gets involved with a bohemian set.
THURSDAY 24
. I Minder (Scottish) 8.30—9.30pm. More
dodgy dealings and Cockney capers with George Cole. Strewth. look at the Jekyll and Hydes on him me. old china plate. etc.
I Absolutely Fabulous (BBCl) 9.30—10pm. Jennifer Saunders plays scatty PR Edina. with Joanna Lurnley as Patsy and Julia Sawalha as long-suffering daughter Saffron.
I Bagdad Care (Scottish) l0.30—l iprn. US comedy from the diner in the desert.