Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 77

1 1 ft PITTSBURGH P0ST-GA7Xn'E 7j SUNDAY. JANUARY 10, 1999 'The PJs' needs nfoirSi; 'Sopranos' is fcoBI Ihiiglfts By Rob Owen Post- Gaolla TV Editor TV REVIEWS in The PJs' When: 8:30 tonight on Fox. Voices of: Eddie Murphy, Loretta Devine. 'The Sopranos' When: 9 tonight on HBO. Starring: James Gandolfinl, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco.

Lorraine Bracco and James Gandolfini star in "The Sopranos," which debuts tonight at 9 on HBO. Bracco plays Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a therapist, and Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano, a Mafia don in New Jersey. -si waiting in the wings. The fourth episode deals with Tony's pre-teen son, Anthony Jr.

(Robert Her), learning what nis father really does for a living. His teen sister (Jamie Lynn Sigler) educates him by printing out a history of the mob from the Web. His disappointment is obvious, but it's also clear that Anthony Jr. faces a giant "Now what?" in his life. and even a latent charm.

The characters, unavoidably stereotypical at times, are believable and honest. The show's strongest running theme highlights generational differences. Tony's mom and elderly Uncle Junior (Dominic Chi-anese) represent a dying generation, Tony's selfish nephew (Michael Imperioli) is the Gen mobster, and Tony's kids are Eddie Murphy, executive producer of "The PJs," is also the voice of lead character Thurgood Stubbs, shown above. The show debuts tonight at 8:30 on Fox before moving to Tuesday after "King of the Hill." rou can tell how a network feels about a new series by the way it chooses to launch a show. For instance.

Fox is clearlv high on "Family Guy," which will air after the Super Bowl. This an- imated comedy may be midsea- Snn'S nnP KI1PP thincj thanlrc a character with breakout potential: Baby Stewie, who is intent on taking over the world. ixcvci iiiwiu uuu ruinyocuic Brain" on The WB mined similar 'comic territory a few years ago with a plotting mouse. That was a cult show, and Fox sees "Family Guy" as a mainstream series. The same can't be said for Fox's "The PJs," which previews tonight at 8:30 before moving to Tuesday after "King of the Hill." This time slot is the kiss of death.

Although "The PJs," a foama-tion comedy (think: the California Raisins in those '80s commercials), may be more compatible with "King" than its live-action predecessors, Tuesday is still the most competitive night of television, and a night Fox has performed poorly on all season. Eddie Murphy is an executive producer of "The PJs" and lends his voice to the lead character, Thnrnnnri Stnhhe thf turwrin. w.v, mmjjwui tcndent of a big city housing project. In tonight's premiere Thurgood catches young Calvin (Crystal Scales) skipping school and attempts to reform him. He consults with his friend Walter (Marc Wilmore), a parole officer.

"I don't deal with young children' Walter says. "I work mainly with their teen-age parents." Ouch. exemplifies my biggest concern about "The PJs." The line is funny because it's sometimes true, but it's also sad and stereotypical. Seeing at least four locks' on Thurgood's apartment door may give some viewers a knowing grin, but it's not something you'll bust a gut laughing over. That was mv biccest disaD- 'nftirltmnnf "Tkn To Tf AA wilii 1 lie a in.

1L 11111- n't make me laugh. Some things intended as funny completely flat. One of Thurgood's friends can only speak by pressing a microphone to his Maybe it would be funny in a way if "South Park" hadn't already done the same thing with its Vietnam vet character, Aside from the few surprisingly politically incorrect jokes that at least get your attention, "The Chatham College Evening Weekend Studies Open House Wednesday, January 13 p.m. Mellon Center held the code of silence," Tony says. "Nowadays, everyone turns government witness." Edie Falco, who also has a role as a corrections officer on "Oz," personifies the suburban Mafia wife.

With her big hair and talonlike fingernails, Carmela Soprano realizes she's privileged and lives to help those less fortunate, but in the first four episodes it's unclear whether she knows what her husband does. Or maybe she's in big-time denial. UANNUAL CHmHaM "The Sopranos" is not a show for children or squeamish adults. There's profanity, violence that leads to gore, and nudity in the strip club that serves as Tony's office. I'm not a huge fan of Mafia stories, but after watching several episodes of "The Sopranos," I'm hooked.

This is not the same old drama foisted on viewers by the networks. "The Sopranos," created by David Chase Fly has depth, dark humor PITTSBURGH JANUARY 9-7 5PM 10PM 11AM 10PM 11AM- 6PM (412)828-8221 PJs" too often goes for the obvious, including an unoriginal "Titanic" parody and Johnnie Cochran quotes. Thurgood's exclamations are original (including "What the Cool Holy and a slam of The WB made me chuckle. The show's best moment, Thurgood moving down a hallway without walking, is an excellent play on Spike Lee's moving sidewalk style of filming, but only movie buffs will get it. Maybe in time "The PJs" will grow on viewers.

"King of the Hill" took a few episodes to work its way into my heart, but at least with that show the characters seemed well-defined from the start. The same can't be said about "The PJs." HBO found success attracting male viewers with its "Real Sex" documentaries and the violent prison drama "Oz," so it's no surprise their latest is basically "GoodFellas: The Series." "The Sopranos" stars James Gandolfini as North Jersey Mafia don Anthony "Tony" Soprano, who endures daily strife with his family and the family. He's under so much stress, he starts seeing a shrink, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). She helps him sort out his feelings about his job (ostensibly "waste management and his miserable mother (Nancy Marchand), who frequently begs, "I wish the Lord would take me now." Even as we see Tony cheat on his wife with a mistress, beat people, murder and threaten to castrate enemies, he remains the show's protagonist.

You'll pull for him because even though he's a murderous mob boss, he's a put upon, sensitive guy who gets all teary when ducklings living in his backyard fly away. In tonight's premiere, Tony bemoans the next generation of mobsters who lack honor. "In the old days, everybody up- I COLTEGE Chatham College Office of Evening Weekend Studies Woodland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-365-1155 cechatham.edu www.chatham.edu Coeducational Master's Degree Programs Master of Management Master of Liberal Arts. Master of Science in Counseling Psychology Master of Arts in Teaching Post-Baccalaureate Certificates Accounting Landscape Design Conservation Ecology Landscape Studies Gerontology Media Technology Horticulture Flexible and Convenient Day, evening and weekend classes Credit for life experience Full-time or part-time schedules Classes begin febwr MONDAY- FRIDAY: SATURDAYS: SUNDAY: HiFonrmioN: The sequel you've been PRAYING foe Get tomorrow's headlines tonight. jHKpy (Mr til 1 .1,.

fv44 I' ywsi fcj 1 for "First Look" on KDKA-TV News at Eleven. by Tom DvdzJck 3ff Every night, KDKA-TV2 and the Post-Gazette bring you an exclusive preview of what's running in the next day's PG. It's a quick read of what's happening around the city and around your hometown. So tune in tonight at 11:00 p.m. for your "First Look" at tomorrow's news.

brought to you by Chevrolet iS "Everyone's favorite Catholic schoolboy is coming of age the Age of Aquarius in this heartwarming sequel to "the comedy hit Over the Tavern. JANUARY 7 FEBRUARY 7 Today at 2 7 pm pittchi iixh I A AH. (412) 321-9800 ivy' Visa MasterCard Amox Allegheny Square Northsida Just 5 minutes from downtown I Ak about Student and Senior discounts! BY PHONE: (412) 323-1919 rcKmfurm Tic ket Centers www.ticketmastor.com Groups: (412) 642-1977 TICKETS NOW ON SALE! 2KDKATU lH6MET6WNJ.WW.Myi EATER tUllsbiirjil) jJoal Caicllf wiJMyfcMi.