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Mr. TV: Robin Williams on “Law & Order: SVU”
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Almost 30 years ago, I had the privilege to witness the genius of Robin Williams at a taping of “Mork & Mindy” on a Paramount Studios soundstage.
Williams’ extemporaneous comic riffs in between takes stretched the taping well into the evening, yet I was neither hungry nor tired. Only my cheeks hurt from all the laughing.
Mork from Ork only lasted four years on ABC. Then came the movies. ”Good Morning Vietnam,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Birdcage” and “Good Will Hunting” — for which he won an Academy Award. In these films, Williams blended his trademark comedy with some serious dramatic acting.
But there was nothing funny about 2002’s mystery-thriller “One Hour Photo.” His portrayal of Sy Parrish was creepy, deranged and haunting. That’s why I remember the character so well.
It’s also why I’ll be watching the 200th episode of “Law & Order: SVU,” at 10 p.m. tonight on NBC. Entitled “Authority,” Williams plays a similar type character that gets off impersonating cops.
Williams last appeared in a television drama doing a 1994 episode of Homicide: Life on the Streets.” That’s way too long.
Make a note
Vanessa Redgrave and Maximillian Schell star in a beautifully acted Hallmark Channel original movie, “The Shell Seekers,” at 9 p.m. Saturday. Based on Rosamunde Pilcher’s New York Times best-selling novel, Redgrave relives her life while recovering from a heart attack. I viewed an advance screening and recommend you gather your family and “bond.”
Sundance Award winner “Nanking,” makes its television debut at 7 p.m. tonight on Cinemax. Highlighted by secretly filmed archival footage and first-person accounts, the documentary recounts the 1937 Japanese invasion of China that left behind 200,000 dead.
If you’ve missed “Shark,” CBS is giving the James Woods drama series a three-week test run at a new day and time — 9 p.m. Tuesday — coming out of “NCIS.” Based on the results, the network will decide whether to bring the show back for a third season.
And for the next three weeks, ABC is also testing new time slots for the James Patterson produced “Women’s Murder Club” and one of my favorites, “Boston Legal.” “Club” takes over “Legal’s” 10 p.m. Tuesday time period and Denny Crain and company move to 10 p.m. Wednesday putting “Men in Trees” on hiatus.
Top 10 prime-time programs, locally
1. “CSI: Miami,” CBS
2. “CSI,” CBS
3. “American Idol” Wednesday, Fox
4. “American Idol” Tuesday, Fox
5. “NCIS,” CBS
6. “Without a Trace,” CBS
7. “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday, ABC
8. “Cold Case,” CBS
9. “Two and a Half Men,” CBS
10. “Hell’s Kitchen,” Fox
Source: TV household local Nielsen Media Research data for week ending April 27 supplied by WINK-TV.
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Reach Mr. TV at mrtv@naplesnews.com.
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And Robin is a friend of Ed. Weinbergers.
#1 Posted by dooley on April 30, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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