Television

The Goodbye Girl

Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton star in this dramedy that explores the growing relationship between an aspiring actor and a divorcée who become unwilling tenants in the same New York City apartment. The Goodbye Girl is a remake of the 1977 Neil Simon film that starred Richard Dreyfuss (who won a Best Actor Oscar for his role) and Marsha Mason (who was nominated for Best Actress). This new TNT original production, directed by Richard Benjamin, also has Simon involved, this time as executive producer and writer.

If the romance between the two main characters is the “drama” part of this dramedy, the gay subplot is the “comedy.” Daniels’ character (pictured, left) is cast in an off-off-Broadway production of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The director is Mark Bodine, played to perfection by Alan Cumming (pictured, right). Bodine wants Elliot (Daniels) to play Richard as a flaming queen, but Elliot is appalled at the idea and wants to play him as it was intended—with a hump and a crippled arm. A compromise is reached: Elliot plays Richard as a flaming queen with a hump and a crippled arm.

To imagine yourself being wooed by Daniels might be reason enough to watch The Goodbye Girl, but to see Daniels go limp (with his wrist) is an added attraction. Cumming is the icing on the cake.

The Goodbye Girl premieres as a TNT three-play weekend, Friday–Sunday, January 16–18, at 7 p.m. (If you want to see the 1977 film before viewing its remake, TNT is airing it on Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m.; TCM will air it the same evening at 9 p.m.) —Blase DiStefano

The Business of Fancydancing

Noted for his novels about the Native-American experience, writer Sherman Alexie follows the success of Smoke Signals (1998) with his directorial debut. The focus of this fragmented, semi-autobiographical tale is Seymour Polatkin (Evan Adams), a gay Native-American poet, who returns to “the rez” following the death of one of his childhood buddies. When reunited with his past, Seymour must confront a heritage of anger and self-destructiveness no less challenging than the misunderstandings he encounters in contemporary white society. The Business of Fancydancing, which appeared at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, airs on Sundance Channel on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m.; Friday the 9th, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturday the 17th, 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Thursday the 22nd, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday the 25th, 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and Wednesday the 28th, 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. To confirm schedule: www.sundancechannel.com. —Suzie Lynde

The Brotherhood 2: Young Warlocks

At an exclusive private school, three friends are the outcasts of their class. Constantly in trouble with the school, bullied by other students, and never getting the girls they want, they long to be in with the in-crowd. When a new student, the mysterious and good-looking Luc arrives on campus, they are given the chance to transform their lives. Luc initiates the three friends in a warlock ritual; in return, they gain the popularity and respect they never dreamed possible. After watching his friends commit a series of crimes, the third friend starts to figure out that Luc is after something much more from him and his friends—he’s after their souls. • This is not really a “gay” film; however, it is extremely homoerotic. • The television broadcast of The Brotherhood 2: Young Warlocks airs on DIRECTV Channel 170 , here! Pay-Per-View (www.hereppv.com). Held over in January: P.S. Your Cat Is Dead with Steve Guttenberg and Friends and Family. —Troy Carrington

Interview with Anne Rice

Author and “Mistress of the Macabre” Anne Rice joins Houston’s own Ernie Manouse to bring forth her thoughts on religion and the supernatural. Rice also talks about her final volume in The Vampire Chronicles, her literary practice, Elton John’s musical Lestat, and the back-story on how she created her own vampire lore. Airs Thursday, January 15, at 10 p.m. on PBS (Channel 8, KUHT-TV). • InnerVIEWS is a new show with Manouse airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. on PBS (www.pbs.org). January 22 is Ben Vereen, and January 29 is Nellie Connally (a former first lady of Texas). —SL

The Red Carpet

Who’s wearing who? Who’s schmoozing who? It’s the ultimate celebrity coverage, live from the red carpet, with Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa. Starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, on E! (www.eonline.com). —BD

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