When in doubt, go to tape

Not that all of the newcomers are horrible. "60 Minutes II" is such a clone of its progenitor that if you like the original, you'll love the copy -- except for the Andy Rooney replacement. Didja ever notice that stand-up comic Jimmy Tingle's commentaries are spotty in quality and definitely weak in delivery? Otherwise, it's more of the same: short documentaries and news pieces about contemporary events.

On the other end of the scale, there's forgettable stuff like "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane," a new comedy on the WB network. Focused on four high school pals who subway around New York, this show is like "Saved by the Bell" -- without the wit. But there is a Screech wannabe who can be counted on to do or say the wrong thing.

HBO's mini-series on a Mafia don undergoing a mid-life crisis, "The Sopranos," doesn't interest me. There have been enough movies about gangsters to meet my quota, with gems like "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas" far outdistancing this comedy-drama.

The problem with "The Sopranos" is the one that confronts all movies and TV shows about the Mafia: When does attention become adulation? Should we really think that people who are willing to sell drugs and commit murder are charming folks with cute problems in raising their children or dealing with their aging mother's unwillingness to enter a nursing home?

NBC struck ratings gold with "Providence," a drama centered on a Rhode Island family headed by a veterinarian. Returning to the fold is the prodigal daughter, a plastic surgeon who has found by going back home an antidote to the phoniness of her work and life in Los Angeles.

Women especially have embraced this hour-long show. My wife took to it immediately, declaring that it had everything women want in a series: doctors, birth, death, puppies and crying men. My daughter-in-law needed to watch only five minutes of the first episode to opine: "I love this show."

Much of it is lost on me (I confess to falling asleep halfway through the second show), although I have hopes for one of its unusual features: the appearance of the main character's recently deceased mother to offer advice to her daughter. Decidedly not an angel, Mom returns smoking a cigarette and butting in on the family she left behind. That could make for interesting and different content, although so far she's been used only in passing.

If none of those shows captures your attention, try finding a new videotape titled "Pope John Paul II: The Conscience of the World." For an hour, the tape explores the Pope's life, including his efforts on behalf of Polish freedom, his challenge to communism, his 1998 visit to Cuba and his outreach to Jews. The documentary also repeats what I consider to be one of the most extraordinary moments in the 20th century: the Pope's jail-house encounter with Ali Agca, the man who shot him.

Throughout the tape, important people in the Pope's life are interviewed, including Lech Walesa and Mikhail Gorbachev, who offer their thoughts on his lasting influence.

The final half-hour of the tape consists of a Rosary recited in New York City by the Pope during one of his visits to the U.S.

As his days dwindle down, this tape offers a reminder of the power of John Paul's 20 years as head of the Church.

("John Paul II: The Conscience of the World" is available from BWE Video. Check with your local video store, call 800-654-1686, or visit www.bwevideo.com. It costs $19.95.)

(02-04-99) [[In-content Ad]]