Bonnie Malleck
In this era of program specialization, narrow casting and demographic flow charts, it seems fitting to offer an awards show aimed at family entertainment.
Enter the first annual Family Film Awards, a two-hour special tonight that salutes recent films and TV shows in 15 categories appropriate for family viewing.
It airs at 8 p.m., Channel 4.
TV nominees include Canadian series Road to Avonlea, plus Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Touched by an Angel and Lois & Clark. Kevin Sullivan and Trudy Grant of Toronto-based Sullivan Entertainment, who are executive producers of Avonlea will attend.
Among the movie nominees: Babe, James And The Giant Peach, and Toy Story for outstanding comedy; Apollo 13, Indian In The Cupboard and Mr. Holland’s Opus for best drama.
Bob Hope will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Since the show is telecast live, Hope’s physical appearance, however frail, could refute recent supermarket tabloids’ gloom and doom stories that the 92-year-old comedy icon is on his death bed.
OTHER WATCHABLES
– On the rerun scene, TVOntario launches another run for the fascinating five-part documentary Watergate, a co-production between the Discovery Channel and BBC, 9 p.m.
– CBC has the so-so 1989 family film The Wizard (8 p.m. on 5). Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) plays a determined 13-year-old who kidnaps his emotionally troubled brother (Luke Edwards) and flees with him to L.A., pursued by furious relatives.
– Channel 17 has another run for the 1976 film compilation That’s Entertainment, Part 2. This round focuses on comedy and drama as well as music. Airs at 8 p.m. but don’t forget, it’s still membership pledge week.
– A&E reruns the two-hour Biography on Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown at 8 p.m. TNN has The Life and Times of Gary Cooper .
