Little late in posting today. Sorry. Computer problems. And rain. It was raining a lot. But the fist three things here will be repeated all weekend, so work with it, people.
As Ricky Gervais navigates that tricky road from comedy TV hero to Hollywood movie star, he puts in the requisite comedy showcase.
"Ricky Gervais: Out of England - the Stand-Up Special" (HBO, 9 p.m.) has about everything we love about the English comic -- his quick wit, deft accuracy at creating scenes and characters and his willingness to go just over the line to let you know where that line is.
He's a lot like his characters were in "The Office" and "Extras" -- full of themselves and dense to know it. The opening bit about playing up the downplaying of his charity work is first rate. He's best when he creates little scenes within his monologues using the kind of characters you'd expect in his BBC comedies.
But some of the material is quite old, most tellingly when he goes on about odd information in AIDS-avoidance pamphlets. The special's main problem may be going on too long: The first hour is way better than the final 30 minutes. Yet I wouldn't have wanted to miss that section about the wrongheadedness of sending horses let alone all of the king's horses to reassemble Humpty Dumpty.
Also On Tonight
Chandra Wilson already has an Emmy for her work on "Grey's Anatomy." But she's gunning for another with her portrayal of a homeless woman in the TV movie "Accidental Friendship" (Hallmark, 9 p.m.). Angry, fiercely independent and determined, she distrusts the female cop trying to befriend her. Despite its occasional excesses, it underscores, on the eve of National Hunger and Homelessness Week, that homelessness can happen to anyone. Ben Vereen and Kathleen Munroe also star.
One of the most lurid chapters in Greenwich history is relived even before the murder trial is held. John Stamos stars as in the TV movie "The Two Mr. Kissels" (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), portraying the man who defrauded creditors for millions before he was found dead in his mansion in 2006; he was preceded in death by his brother, whose wife was convicted of killing him in Hong Kong. Robin Tunney has a splendid time playing the waitress turned millionaire's wife.
Yes, it's too early: Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TBS, 7:30 p.m.). And I usually associate "The Wizard of Oz" (TBS, 8 p.m.) with Easter. But in truth it's always great to see. I fear our children don't have the proper knowledge of it that we did, which is a pity.
Paul Rudd hosts the first new "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) since the election, with Beyonce the musical guest. So don't expect Tina Fey back as Sarah Palin - ever. The quick departure of Amy Poehler has left Kristin Wiig as just about the only woman cast member, though (Casey WIlson is just a "featured player"). So two new women make their debut tonight -- Michaela Watkins from the same Groundlings troupe that produced so many "SNL" stars -- and Amy Elliott, who is from what may be the first family of comedy (Chris is her dad, Bob is her grampa). Welcome to them.
It's also the first "MadTV" (Fox, 11 p.m.) since it was announced that the show was ending after this season. They'll try not to show their disappointment.
The newest episode of "Eating Connecticut" (CPTV, 6:30 p.m.) concentrates on restaurants in South Norwalk. I'll have to catch a rerun.
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