What's On
PICK OF THE WEEK
Jane Eyre
Sunday, Oct. 19, 8-10:30 p.m. (A&E)
TV highlights for the week of Oct. 19-25. All times are Eastern; check local listings. Ratings are listed for shows when available.
SUNDAY - 10/19
World Series (NBC, 7-10:30 p.m.): In Game 2, the Florida Marlins will take on the Cleveland Indians. Play continues Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and if necessary, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Hope (TNT, 8-10 p.m.): Goldie Hawn makes her directorial debut with this Southern drama produced by Girls Inc., which produces shows to help girls become "strong, smart, and bold." Lily Kate Burns (Jena Malone) is all that as a young dancer who befriends a visiting black preacher, much to the displeasure of her uncle (J.T. Walsh) and aunt (Christine Lahti). Less successful are the portrayals of the adults, most of whom are racist, weak, or unstable. (TV-PG)
Jane Eyre (A&E, 8-10:30 p.m.): A&E has taken Charlotte Bront's classic tale and distilled it down to the stormy love story of a young governess and her employer. While fans of the novel may notice certain gaps in the story line, wonderful performances, a lavish production, and a faithfulness to the spirit, if not the details, of Bront's story make this a marvelous adaptation. Samantha Morton ("Jane Austen's Emma") is terrific as Jane, as is Ciaran Hinds, who roars and rhapsodizes with relish as the irascible Mr. Rochester. (TV-G)
Masterpiece Theatre (PBS, 9-11 p.m.): If you prefer Jane Austen's reserved irony to Bront's tempestuous passion, "Masterpiece Theatre" is rebroadcasting "Persuasion," the excellent 1995 movie that also stars Hinds, and Amanda Root in wonderful performances. Here, Hinds trades his bellowing and bluster for restrained bitterness as the sea captain whom Anne Elliot (Root) jilted eight years before.
MONDAY - 10/20
Bear in the Big Blue House (Disney, 10-10:30 a.m.): As welcome as a bearhug, this honey of a new show for preschoolers is courtesy of Jim Henson Productions. It stars Bear, a very cuddly seven-footer and his friends: Tutter, the house mouse; Pip and Pop, a pair of otters; and Treelo, a smart lemur. (TV-Y)
Arthur (PBS, time varies): Mr. Rogers comes to visit Arthur's neighborhood (both animated and in the flesh) in the season premire of the popular PBS show.
Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? (HBO, 8-9 p.m.): This engrossing profile of one of the greatest athletes of our time takes a look at Joe DiMaggio on and off the field. From his 13-season career with the New York Yankees, where he led the Yanks to nine World Series championships, to his marriages to Dorothy Arnold and Marilyn Monroe, DiMaggio was a mysterious guy. It also features footage of his shortlived TV program and commercials.
WEDNESDAY - 10/22
Divided Highways: the Interstates and the Transformation of American Life (PBS, 10-11:30 p.m.): In addition to history of the US interstate, humorist Dave Barry, Steppenwolf musician John Kay, Tom and Ray Magliozzi of "Car Talk," and culinary expert Julia Child share road-trip experiences.
SATURDAY - 10/25
Scooby Doo Marathon (Cartoon Network, midnight-midnight Sunday): Zoinks! More mysteries than you can shake a Scooby snack at. Cartoon Network serves up a Halloween treat with a day starring the Great Dane and his fellow sleuths.
