What was on TV? Fri, May 13, 2005
TV movies are so weird sometimes.
20 years ago, Cookie Monster told us all that "a cookie is a sometimes food." Let's see what was on TV.
8:00 Back in the Day on BET
TV movies often have insane casts. But this one truly takes the cake. Our hero is Ja Rule, his parents are Giancarlo Esposito and Pam Grier. Vin Rhames is the bad influence, Joe Morton is the wise preacher. Tatyana Ali is his love interest. Frank Langella and Tia Carrere are also there.
Alas, the script and direction are both equally uninspired. Just the most basic "peril of the streets" narrative imaginable. Most of these talented people are operating at 50-75%. I suspect they were just excited to spend some time in Puerto Rico, where this was shot. Fair. But aughts relic Ja Rule is really giving it his all, he does more than hold his own with all these legends, he gives a genuinely good performance! I can't believe I'm saying this, but this movie doesn't deserve Ja Rule!
What Else Was on TV
- Enterprise, everyone's least favorite Star Trek show, ended its run, leaving American television without a Trek series for the first time since The Next Generation debuted in 1987.
- CBS produced Elvis by the Presleys, a docu-special tie-in with its Elvis miniseries. Look, if you're going to do an authorized biography, at least be honest about its compromised nature. I wish many streaming docuseries would learn from the Presleys example.
- Special Sweeps Guest Stars: Jennifer Westfeldt on Numb3rs, Luke Perry on What I Like About You
Late Night
You know who loves TV movies? Quentin Tarantino. He totally geeks out about them in his Late Night interview. I truly think that in a past life Tarantino directed a bunch of truly bizarre TV movies. I want to visit that universe.
TiVo Status
2 episodes of Mystery! 2 hours.
Music, 20 years ago
A slinky and slammin' R&B song with a dash of rock from Ja Rule's frequent collaborator Ashanti.
