What's On TV
Listings are not necessarily recommended by the Monitor. All times Eastern, check local listings.
Saturday 2/19
Rainbow Fish (HBO Family, 6:30-7 a.m.): Inspired by the bestselling books by Marcus Pfister, the charming series about a colorful fish looking for adventure makes its television debut. In the premire episode, Rainbow meets a new friend on the first day of school.
Election Coverage (CNN, MSNBC): Decision 2000. This is a primary race that refuses to play a secondary role. Throwing punch for punch, Republicans John McCain and George W. Bush are locked in a dead heat in South Carolina, a critical state for both.
Sunday 2/20
Daytona 500 (CBS, 12 noon): While most sports save their best for last, NASCAR flags off its season with "The Great Chase" - the Daytona 500. Still, it saves a lot of vroom for the 33 other races of the year.
The Wishing Tree (Showtime, 8-9:35 p.m.): Alfre Woodard ("Mumford") plays Clara Collier, a successful Atlanta lawyer with her own firm, who is called home to Savannah, Ga., by the death of her mother (see story above).
The X-Files (Fox, 9-10 p.m.): Sounds spooky, but "X-Files" weaves mystery in a new style. In this 150th episode of the series, Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson ) are followed documentary-style by a "COPS" camera crew.
Flowers for Algernon (CBS, 9-11 p.m.): Matthew Modine stars as a mentally challenged man who is transformed into a genius in this heartfelt and emotional drama. Kelli Williams ("The Practice") plays his teacher.
Masterpiece Theatre - All the King's Men (PBS, 9-11 p.m.): The brotherhood of men-at-arms leads down a poignant and terrible path in this intelligent antiwar film. During World War I, a company of soldiers raised and trained on King George V's estate at Sandringham, England, disappears during the battle of Gallipoli. Based on new evidence.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Tuesday 2/22
NYPD Blue (ABC, 10-11 p.m.): A new cop joins the detectives when Martinez is promoted to sergeant. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) is disciplined and gentlemanly - the perfect complement to the squad room. But Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), who is dealing with some racial issues, is afraid the African-American Jones will read him the wrong way. A second new episode of "Blue" airs tomorrow (same time, same station) to help establish the credentials of Detective Jones.
Wednesday 2/23
The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS, 8-11 p.m.): Rosie O'Donnell returns for her second year as host of the awards show in Los Angeles. Santana (who leads the field with 10 nominations), TLC, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, and the Backstreet Boys will perform at Staples Center. Elton John (also performing) will receive the Grammy Legend Award (see "Veteran acts," page 17).
Thursday 2/24
Mystery! - Trial by Fire (PBS, 9-11 p.m.): A murder divides a prosecutor (Juliet Stevenson) and her lover (Jim Carter), the chief superintendent of a police force in a London suburb (see story above).
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