Dumont Prime Weekend ChoicesIt is the third and fourth nights of the May Sweep, and such a range of treats available on network and cable this weekend.
MY SATURDAY PRIME: LIVE:8:00 pm
Paper Moon (TCM) -> A clarion call to all fans of "Wicked Wicked Games"...be sure to catch tonights edition of The Essentials, hosted by the elegant Miss Rose McGowan (yes, she of Charmed), for it stars the adorably cute Miss Tatum O'Neal in her Oscar-winning performance.
11:00 pm
MADtv (FOX) -> On weeks where SNL is in re-runs, I start my latenight comedy earlier with MADtv, which has been surprisingly sharp this season...I loved that "Lesbionic Woman" takeoff on last week's encore.
MY SUNDAY PRIME: LIVE:Cinema Treasures 24/7 on Turner Classic Movies 
7:00 pm
Abel Gance: The Charm of Dynamite (TCM) -> This 1968 documentary looks at the illustrious career of Mr. Abel Gance, France's foremost auteur. I fondly remember seeing the North American premiere of the restored "Napoleon" back in the early '80s, with a resplendent score conducted live by Mr. Carmine Coppola (Mr. Francis Ford Coppola's father), and being absolutely floored by his use of the triptych screens and the very first 1920's era use of colour. C'est magnifique!
8:00 pm
J'Accuse (TCM) -> This 1919 silent is part of the TCM Lost and Found treasure trove, that is, films thought lost by historians and Cinematheques that have been recently discovered and restored for our viewing pleasure. If the masses of America had a nose for vintage film-making, this world broadcast premiere would trounce Desperate Housewives in the Nielsens. As with all TCM films, shown commerical-free.
11:00 pm
La Roue (TCM) -> This 1923 silent feature clocks in at 270 minutes...Mr. Gance was an early pioneer of the miniseries! And it is a romance, so expect scenes of great duration and impact.
LATER:8:00 pm
Animation Domination: The Simpsons / King of the Hill / Family Guy / American Dad (FOX) -> It must seem Plebian to DVR FOX on the night of such epochal treasures of the cinema, but I expect to be rather bleary eyed and dour by the time La Roue concludes, and a 30 minute ride through an episode of The Simpsons might just be the perfect apres-Gance...Mr. Gance is one of the few important film-makers that the writers of The Simpsons have still not yet alluded to in their episodes.
10:01 pm
Brothers and Sisters (ABC) -> I can't give up on this series just yet, even though last weeks episode didn't exactly enthrall me. I've heard whispers that Miss Sally Field's role is being diminished so the younger ones can get more airtime, and I dearly hope this is untrue.
