Here are a few programs to look out for in the upcoming week ...
THURSDAY 8 P.M. The Glutton Bowl, WXIX-TV 19. In a horribly misguided attempt at counter-programming, Rupert's boys at Fox give us 40 people engaged in various eating contests -- for two hours. Hmmm. Olympics or Freak Show? Guess I could tape one.
FRIDAY 9 P.M. Empire of Crime: A Century of the Mob, A&E.; A look at how organized crime infiltrated many area businesses in New York, including Broadway, sports, and the waterfront. Of course there's no such thing.
FRIDAY 9 P.M. John Lennon, WPTO-TV 14. Lennon's 1972 concert in New York is shown. It's followed by Paul McCartney at the Cavern at 10 p.m.
FRIDAY 10 P.M. Mole People: Life In The World Below, Discovery. Below New York is a tangle of underground space, including natural caves, subway tunnels, abandoned waterworks and train tunnels. Layer after layer of unmapped passages. Within this world people live. Estimates range from a few thousand to over 25,000.
SATURDAY 8 P.M. The Flag-Raisers of Iwo Jima, The History Channel. The story of two photos taken during the brutal WWII battle of Iwo Jima -- one, the famous photo of five U.S. Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the flag atop Mt. Suri-bachi; the other, also shows flag-raisers, but is largely forgotten. Battle veterans tell the story through letters, interviews, and poignant recollections, and what they say may surprise viewers. To the men of Iwo Jima, the Mt. Suribachi photo, which stirs feelings of pride in many Americans, has been tainted by decades of distortion.
SATURDAY MIDNIGHT. Senor Moby's House of Music, MTV. An eclectic mix of videos singled-out by the Techno recording artist. While shooting himself with his digital video camera, Moby picks, plays and provides background on new videos from emerging and established but underexposed artists he believes deserve an audience.
SATURDAY 10 P.M. Primetime Glick, Comedy Central. Martin Short's fairly amusing vehicle heads out for a second season. Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller and David Duchovny are among the well wishers.
SUNDAY 9 P.M. Inside TV Land, African Americans on Television, Nick at Nite. A 3-hour look at African Americans in television. Variety programs make up part one, followed by dramas and sitcoms. The title may throw you, but it is on Nick at Nite.
SUNDAY 9 P.M. Homes of the Underground Railroad, HGTV. Journey through the Underground Railroad with visits to seven homes where residents opened doors to fugitive slaves making their way north.
NEW & NOTES: Friends will return for a ninth and final season in 2002. The six cast members will each be paid $1 million per episode. ... Ratings so far show NBC hammering the competition with Olympic coverage. ... Rosie may discuss her sexuality on her talk show before leaving the program in May. Yippy. ... Felicity will graduate at the end of this season and then be looking for work. She's been cancelled. ... Futurama is on hold. FOX has over a dozen new episodes in the can, but they're not ordering any more for now.
-- P.F. Wilson
