TV Barn's TV Picks for Wednesday, March 16, 2005 by Tom Heald with Jon Delfin All times Eastern. For PBS programs, check local listings
Support Tom Heald, who's having his head shaved on March 17th to raise money for children's cancer research, at http://www.stbaldricks.org/ShaveePhoto.asp?SolNumber=15322794
AARON'S PICKS
“One Strong Arm” (10:30 p.m., A&E)
The right side of Cody Wagner’s body hasn’t been right since he was 18 months old. Partially paralyzed by a stroke, the subject of this quick-moving and quickly moving documentary is like many disabled young people, struggling to find friends and purpose in the wider world.
His father, who’s proud to call the 21-year-old his best friend, breaks your heart when he says that ever since he saw “The Green Mile,” he has “dreamed of signing over everything I owned to find a person who could tap Cody on the head and make him well.”
But it’s another movie that changes the family’s life: “Over the Top,” that forgettable Sly Stallone pic about arm wrestling. It proves inspirational to the 103-pound “Codester” as he finds a challenge he can rise to with his one strong arm.
“TV Land Awards” (9 p.m., TV Land & Nickelodeon)
For those without video recorders, “One Strong Arm” isn’t repeating after tonight, but this annual tribute to the TV stars of yore will rerun again and again - kind of like the shows they starred in.
Among the highlights of this year’s two-hour infomercial for classic TV are Stevie Wonder honoring “Soul Train” legend Don Cornelius with a live performance of “Superstition”; a tribute to 100-year-old Charles Lane, whose countless TV appearances included five years as Homer on “Petticoat Junction”; and more hardware for Aaron Spelling, Bob Newhart, “Desperate Housewives” and the Carol Burnett 5.
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7 p.m.
An ESPNU Town Hall: Should College Athletes Be Paid (ESPN)
8 p.m.
American Dreams (NBC)
Survivor: Palau (CBS; special night)
America's Top Model (UPN)
Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (Bravo)
Clean Sweep (TLC)
It Takes a Thief (Discovery)
My Family (BBC America)
American Justice (A&E)
Drastic Plastic Surgery (Oxygen)
8:40 p.m.
The Catherine Tate Show (BBC America)
9 p.m.
Alias (9:01, ABC)
The King of Queens (CBS)
The West Wing (NBC)
MythBusters (Discovery)
Crank Yankers (Comedy Central)
American Idol (Fox)
World Poker Tour (Travel)
Modern Marvels (History)
Megastructures (National Geographic): Alcatraz
In a Fix (TLC)
Forensic Files (Court)
9:30 p.m.
Yes, Dear (CBS)
The Simple Life: Interns (Fox)
Video IQ (Fuse)
10 p.m.
My Crazy Life (E!)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Good Eats (Food): Dr. Strangeloaf
Wife Swap (10:02, ABC)
Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica (MTV)
While You Were Out (TLC)
Blue Angels: A Year in the Life (Discovery)
10:30 p.m. The Ashlee Simpson Show (MTV)
11:30 p.m.
History in the Making: Conquest of America (History)
CHATTER BOX
Deutsch: Dylan Lauren, Farrah Gray, Ash Huzenlaub
Rose: Andrew Card
The Daily Show: Al Green
Smiley: Rep. Joe Barton, Stephen Collins
Letterman: Amanda Peet, Dean Karnazes
Kimmel: John Stamos, Harland Williams, Aslyn
Ferguson: Kevin Pollak, Maureen Dowd, Deana Carter
