The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 145

SCREEN THE OBSERVER 31 JANUARY 1999 20 WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY By William Leith 'so obviously not a model in a good wayl' she is demoralised. Later, she is mean to a guy because he's too nice. I liked this programme; at least it's not setinthe smooth, psychologicaEytinthreat-ening world of mainstream TV drama. If full of bad peogle you're supposed to like, or at least fancy. The theory, that Cupid has flown' the coop' is an interesting one.

Sex and the City will get under your skin, and give you an opinion, which will, almost certainly, be different from that of your co-viewers. Next week you'll hate it In ER (Channel much less controversially, a Woman has a miscarriage, a fireman smashes his head in, someone has a horrible seepingxilcer, a man has possible bladder cancer, and the new character, Lucy Knight, finds herself in the position of having to answer a dead man's phone. The billboards advertising this series carry the slogan, 'If sex is 1he battleground, meet the new generals'. Above the slogan are the four women, in high heels and little black dresses Parker herself, looking duelled and windswept, like Richard Gere in a frizzy wig; Kristin Davis, who, comparatively Have the speaking, is the Sex and the City wimp, with black WOmen priced shoidder-kgthhau, themseves out Kim Cattrall, the blonde whose char- of the market? acter leally wants to be a model, and Cynthia Nixon, the lawyer with pierdng eyes. Interestingly, though, as soon as the show starts, it seems clear that these women, far from being 'the new generals', feel left out and unwanted.

In the New York of today, their currency, we are told, has been deval- xied. A male character tells us that, as a man, things are going very much his way; he calls this the 'mid-3os power flip If a fascinating sociological point, not unrelated to what people call 'the Bridget Jorums phenomenon'. If sex in contemporary New York is a battlefield, and if we believe this show's script, we are not watching the generals, but the retreating army. So, has the confusion of the characters this show somehow spread into the whole project? Possibly. I watched it with a woman; she was not sure whether brnotit-was ironic.

She wanted to know if these women were being laughed at I didn't think they were; 1 thought their militant unhap--piness was being depicted as a sort of triumph. But there's some ambiguity, when Cynthia Nixon's character, who despises men who go out wife models, is told she's Sex and the City (Channel 4, 10pm 10.30pm) is like a more brutal AUy McBeal Four New York women in their thirties, each' successful, each reasonably attractive, find themselves unable to locate a suitable life partner. Do they want too much? Have they priced themselves out of the market? Are they getting too old? These are the questions which viewers will debate during this programme. The women, led by Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie, the sex columnist, are less soppy than Ally Mcbeal. Some women will feel horribly misrepresented; others will cheer.

As with Ally McBeal, a backlash will be in progress almost immediately. CHANNEL 4 ITV BBC2 BBC1 6.00 BUSINESS BREAKFAST 64319 7.00 BBC BREAKFAST NEWS (T) 33116 9.00 K)LROY(T)(S) 8341241 9.45 THE VANESSA SHOW (T)(S) 47571 16 10.55 NEWS AND WEATHER. (T) 6812680 11.00 REAL ROOMS (S) 6839357 11.25 CAN'TCOOK, WONT COOK (T) (S) 6809116 11.55 NEWS AND WEATHER (T) 1082203 12.00 CALL MY BLUFF Guests include Phil Hammond, Michael Dobbs and Tim Vine. (S) 88777 12.30 WIPEOUT(S) 5217785 12.55 THE WEATHER SHOW (t)(S) 48555067 1.00 ONE O'CLOCK NEWS CD 36203 1.30 REGIONAL NEWS AND WEATHER 47277135 1.40 NEIGHBOURS (T) (5)25156390 2.05 IRONSIDEA stylish bank robbery bears all the hallmarks of being conducted by a known ex-con. Raymond Burr stars.

(R) 3203951 2.55 BODY SPIES Two busy women vow to cut their alcohol intake, currently more than double the weekly recommended amount. (S) 5557241 3.25 CHILDREN'S BBC Playdays 6470970 3.45 Little Monsters (S) 2340574 3.50 Chucklevision (T) (S) 5189086 4.10 See It Saw It (T) (S) 3682680 4.35 The Wild House (T) (S) 5242135 5.00 Newsround (T) (S) 2782203 5.10 Blue Peter (T) (S) 6334845 6.00 SESAME STREET 80357 7.00 THE BIG BREAKFAST (T) 59154 9.00 SCHOOLS French Express 9.25 Schools at Work 9.30 Rat-a- Tat-Tat 9.45 Book Box 10.00 Stage Two Science 10.15 All About Us 10.30 Channel Hopping 10.50 Stop, Look, Listen 11.00 First Edition VI 11.15 Tackling Technology 138609 11.30 POWERHOUSE (7)1067 12.00 SESAME STREET (T) 81965 12.30 BEWITCHED 39999 1.00 PET RESCUE (T) (S) 52241 1.30 ROOTS TO SUCCESS Monty Don offers advice on creating an award-winning show garden. 13902593 1.50 THE FEMININE TOUCH (Pat Jackson, 1956) A student BHM nurse falls in love with a handsome doctor, but all too soon Hulll finrjs herself torn between continuing her intensive training or emigrating to Canada with him. George Baker and Belinda Lee do their best (T) 46851864 3.30 HAMPTON COURT PALACE The choir practise harder than ever to get Prince Charles's birthday song right (T) 22 4.00 FIFTEEN-TO-ONE (T) (S) 57 4.30 COUNTDOWN (T)(S) 5236574 4.55 RICKI LAKE Familiar faces from previous shows reveal how their lives have changed. (T) 3890777 5.30 PET RESCUE Inspector Gary Eastwood follows up a reported sighting of an abandoned pregnant cat.

(T) (S) 93 6.00 LATE LUNCH WITH MEL AND SUE With guest Richard E. Grant. (T)(S) 95690 7.00 CHANNEL 4 NEWS (T) (S) 249999 7 .55 MUSIC OF THE MILLENNIUM Shane MacGowan selects his favourite tune. (T) 130951 8.00 BROOKSIDE Niamh evens the score with Benny and finds her powers of forgiveness thoroughly tested by Joey, while a flicker of romance ignites between Susannah and Greg. Rachel offers Nikki moral support and 6.00 GMTV 2012262 9.25 TRISHA(T)(S) 5718067 10.30 THIS MORNING Presented by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

Today's show includes keep-fit tips from Rosemary Conley. Including news at 10.55. (T) 56433932 12.20 YOUR SHOUT 8892883 12.25 LONDON TODAY (T) 8891 154 12.30 ITN LUNCHTIME NEWS (T) 31357 1.00 LONDON TODAY (T) 61999 1.30 THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW (T) (S) 1987796 2.15 HOME AND AWAY (T) (S) 418999 2.45 DALE'S SUPERMARKET SWEEP (T) (S) 400970 3.15 NEWS (T) 9307488 3.20 LONDON TODAY (T) 6052311 3.25 CITV Moptaop's Shop 3707244 3.35 Teddybears 3428425 3.45 Jumanji (T) (S) (R) 63697964.10 Whizziwig (T) 6534574 4.40 Mad for It 2573338 5.10 HOME AND AWAY James has a present for lovelorn Chloe, while Tiegan and Joey's floundering relationship finally buckles under the pressure, and Tom tries to forget Justine. (T)(S) 9574135 5.40 ITN EARLY EVENING NEWS (T) 646241 6.00 LONDON TONIGHT (T) 64 6.30 LONDON BRIDGE Ravi blocks Cliff's chance of freedom after Isobel spills the beans about the blackmail attempt and Ray puts an unwelcome proposition to Freddie. Luke goes up in the world and Winnie gets an almighty shock while doing a tarot reading for Cass.

(S) 16 7 .00 EMNIERDALE Turner reveals the identity of the new bar manager, causing Shockwaves all round, while Zoe invites new acquaintance Denise back to her place for coffee. Kathy rights Laura's wrongs, much to her rival's disgust, and what is Scott's motive for coming home? (T) (S) 9241 7.30 CORONATION STREET An 7.00 CHILDREN'S BBC Tales of the Tooth Fairies 3508390 7.05 Teletubbies (S) (R) 6426932 7.30 Secret Squirrel and Co (S) (R) 6212999 7.55 The Really Wild Show (T) (S) 6280390 8.23 Rewind (T) 9452338 8.25 Taz-Mania (S) 7396951 8.45 Polka Dot Shorts (S) 8676222 8.50 Tales of the Tooth Fairies (R) 3372512 9.00 SCHOOLS Images 9338J95 9.10 What? Where? When? Why? (S) 5938339 9.25 The Art (S) 4193C48 9.45 Words and Pictures (S) 1283425 10.00 CHILDREN'S BBC Teletubbies 24970 10.30 SCHOOLS Numbertime 2280319 10.45 Cats' Eyes (S) 2278574 11.00 Around Scotland (S) 8519965 11.20 The Geography Programme (T) (S) 8562951 11.40 Science in Action (T) (S) 8970135 12.00 Revista (S) 9959512 12.15 Hallo Aus Berlin (S) 7497777 12.30 WORKING LUNCH 45113 1.00 CHILDREN'S BBC Brum 94538357 1.10 THE TRAVEL HOUR Caroline Righton visits the Alsace region. (S)(R) 9292319 2.10 SPORTING GREATS Eamonn Holmes talks to David Moorcroft (S) 61348628 2.40 NEWS AND WEATHER (T) 3600406 2.45 WESTMINSTER (T) (S) 2507932 3.55 NEWS AND WEATHER (T) 6541864 4.00 TURNING POINTS With the Marquis of Bath. (S) 4395241 4.05 BIRDS WITH TONY SOPER(S) 3609357 4.25 DAISIES IN DECEMBER (Mark Haber, 1995) Jean nan Simmons stars in this touching rorhantic drama as a illlUI sixtysomething librarian who falls for standoffish widowed stockbroker Joss Ackland during a Christmas holiday in Cornwall. (T)(S) 53360244 6.00 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Disaster strikes the Enterprise on an ill-fated mission as crew members frantically struggle with the added NEIGHBOURS Mike continues to see his ex-wife on a social 5.35 level, leaving Libby feeling more than a little frustrated.

Karl proves the hero of the hour at Tommy Tuckers, while romance appears to be blossoming between Sally and Joel. (T)(S) 713002 SIX O'CLOCK NEWS (T) 96 6.00 6.30 NEWS MAGAZINE 48 AIRPORT Aeroflot supervisor 7.0 confusion of a repeated sense of deja vu, causing their predicament to seemingly replay itself time and again before their eyes (T) (S) (R) 944512 6.45 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE-SLAYER Xander has one of those days, setting Jacqui faces up to the future with 8.30 THE REAL HOLIDAY SHOW Memorable features from past episodes, including a flight across Africa, a spiritually awakening trip to Barbados and four widows' Sri Lankan adventure. (T) 2338 9.00 ER The long-awaited new series of the medical drama sees a third-year student put through her paces in the thick of things on the busy accident and tpr ow to ao a gooo aeea auring a scnooi emotionally drained Natalie attends the court hearing, where she finds a shoulder to cry on -Des's brother, Colin, of all people. Kevin realises he could be in real danger of losing the girls if he's not careful, while Roy is extremely worried about the Valentine disco is his lack of co-ordination on the dance floor about to be exposed for all to see? (T) 28 8.00 MIDSOMER MURDERS The naked body ol a young woman is found strangled in local Jeremy Spake receives a tempting offer, while royal suite manager Anita Newcourt faces a crisis which could have international repercussions. (T)(S)(R)1845 7.30 DREAM HOUSE The ubiquitous Carol Vorderman continues her series on the construction of a house fit for the twenty-firsl century.

Tonight the smart kitchen. (T)(S) 32 8.00 CHANGING ROOMS The generation gap takes on a new meaning as a Bolton woman swaps housos with her mother trip to the zoo, and ending up being possessed by the spirit of a malevolent African hyena (T) (S) 355999 7.30 TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK Chris Yates explains the lure of the ROUGH TRADER Wall St golden boy Joseph emergency department, while Ross Jett, Blood on the Carpet (BBC2, 9.50pm) treads a fine line as he serves his TELLING TALES Supergrass Darren Nicholls carp. (T)(S)(R)74 reveals all In Inside Story (BBC1, 10.15pm) 8.00 BATTLE OF THE SEXES How pronation. Meanwnie, tremon son soxual hierarchies develop wilhin familios, whether they bo gelada succumbs to an infection and Corday baboons fighting to secure new recruits to their harem or giant dinosaur ants fighting for control of a nest. Including remarkable footage of foisty female hyonas and the macho male within lion prides.

(T)'(S) 8135 8.30 HOME FRONT (T)(S)4870 woodland nine years after three identical, and still unsolved, murders took place there. Is a serial killer on tho loose? That's the question uppermost in Barnaby's mind as he and partner Troy dig deep into the murky past of Midsomor Bottom-feeders' whodunit, starring John Nettles, Daniel Casey, Phyllis Logan and Trudie Stylor. (T) (S) 8086 10.00 NEWS AT TEN (T) 74574 10.30 LONDON TONIGHT (T) 862680 10.40 THE BIG MATCH Jim Rosenthal presents highlights of tonight's FA Cup fourth-round roplays, with commontary by Chvo Tyldosley and Poter Drury, This competition has como to life with Swansea City and Fulham providing tho blggost upsets against West Ham and Aston Villa-were any of tho big fish in dangor of sinking without traco this evening? 47359048 12.15 TRUE IDENTITY (Charles Lano, 1991) Desperate, rsnm nonsonse starring Lenny I lonry as a struggling actor who lilllll falls foul of tho Mafia, forcing him to adopt tho guise of a whito assassin to escnpo tholr clutches. Frank Langolln, Jamos Eail Jones and Mlclmol McKean aro equally culpable, (S) 302742 1.55 THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW (T) (S) (R) 1971891 2.40 MASTERCLASS Saxophone1 maestro Chris 'Snako' Davis, who has worked with Lisa Stansfiold, People and countloss otlior artists, puts throe aspiring musicians through 9190574 3.10 TRISHA(T)(S)(R) 9651830 4.10 SOUNDTRAX(S) 89597452 4.15 ITV NIGIITSCREEN 6487346 5.30 NEWS 89742 returns from an interview in Denver. Anthony Edwards and George Clooney star, See preview (T) (S) 2048 10.00 SEX AND THE CITY New series.

A thirtysomething birthday party leadsa group of women friends to review their sex lives, and lake a more male approach to the dating game. Carrio has some success with an old flame, and meets a certain Mr Big. Comedy set In New York, starring Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker. See preview (T)(S) 72116 10.30 SEX AND THE CITY Miranda slips up by landing a dato with a man who has a thing for models. Samnntha has her sexual encounter videotaped and Carrio conducts her own rosoarch into tho power of beautiful people by going out with a handsome hunk.

See preview (T) (S) 81864 11.00 MARK THOMAS COMEDY PRODUCT (T) 2319 11.30 MUSIC OF THE MILLENNIUM A celebrity selects a Juno evoking tho spirit tho new millonnlum. (T) 230319 .12.25 BOARDSTUPID GOES SKIING The team report from tho Mammoth ski resort In California as tho third round of tho world downhill sorros gots under way, (R) G298926 12.55 FOOTBALL ITALIA: MEZZANOTTE Round-up of tho week's action in Sorio 13105617 3.20 TRANS WORLD SPORT A compondlum of sporting action Ironi around tho globe. 9549094 4.20 WHAT A CRAZY WORLD (Mlchnol Cnrrorns, 1963) Joe rami Brown stars ns an aspiring rock star, dospnrnto to ncl'tlovo and fortune, whoso future Is determined by a clmrity concert for orphans. Porlod drivel with Susan Mnuglian, Marty Wildo and Harry Corbott. 3072636 5.55 SESAME STREET 28G955G for a spot of radical redecorating.

(T) (S) 9703 8.30 BATTERSEA DOGS' HOME The recovery of William tho boxot, handed into the homo by a tourist, continues Plus lips on how to keep your pooch well groomed. (T)(S)380154 8.50 THE NATIONAL LOTTERY DRAW (T) (S) 259845 9.00 NINE O'CLOCK NEWS (T) 7864 9.29 NATIONAL LOTTERY UPDATE 763999 9.30 THE FILES Mulder investigates an unsolved spato ol murders dating back to 1952 and discovers his own father may havo known the original suspect, an allogcd communist agitator who supposedly hanged lnmsolf boforo ho could stand trial. An episode told largely in flashback, guost starring Darren McGavin, who tangled with spooks on television 20 yonrs before Muldor and Scully ns Kolchnk, tho Night Stalker. (T)(S) 150339 10.1B INSIDE STORY Darren Nlcholls, tho cutaway driver who turnod suporgrnss following tho summary execution of three diugdonlingpnssungois in his Rango Rovoi, rovonls why ho rouctud life ol ci imo. Elsowhoiu, tho (mnily ol one ol Iho niDii his ovidonco hoi pod to convict fight to ninko heard then vol sionol tho truth.

(S) 583593 11.10 DEADLY WHISPERS (Bill Norton, 1994) Psychological i jipa ihriller about a devoted family man who builds up a thriving Inlfifl business to support his wife and throe children only to son his world lall apmt whon ho is implicated in tho nnmlor ol his daughter. Tony Dnnn, Pamela Rural and llontlmr Tom star. (T)(S) 400319 12.40 WEATHER 7047508 12.45 BBC NEWS 24 (to Cam) 24 2001 9.00 MERSEY BLUES In a bid to gathor ovidonco against pnmo murder suspect Los Jackson, tho murder squad arrange an ID parade but their investigation takes an unexpected turn with the revolation that not ono but two mon wore driving from iho scono of the crlmo. (T) (S) 856425 9.50 BLOOD ON THE CARPET Insight into tho controversial caso of Joseph Jott, an affluent black Wall Street bond trador who worked for Gonernl Electric until 1994, whon ho was accused of fraud involving 'phantom deals'. With his company bank account rozon and tho big law firms unwilling to tako his caso, Jott was forced to trawl Iho phone book in search of legal representation.

This programmo revlows tho courtroom wranglo which ensued and risks wholhor Jott was tho victim of incism. (T) (S) G00G09 10.28 VIDEO NATION SHORTS (T) 140319 10.30 NEWSNIGHT With Joromy I'nxman. (T) 740086 U.15 PICK OF THE DAY PIERRE BOULEZ: A LIFE IN SEVEN CHAPTERS In his first major British TV interview, Piorro Pouloz talks to Radio 3 controller Rogor Wright about his music, llfo and vision. Ho alsooxplnins his controversial suggestion that 'all oporn hoiiRos should ho blown up1. (S) 8681 16 11.55 WEATHER 31 111.) 12.00 DESPATCH BOX (S) 64487 12.30 LEARNING ZONE 476636!).