Floridian: What's worth your TV time this week

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What's worth your TV time this week

Ex-Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby hams it up as the airborne Peter Pan, a role that won her a Tony award last year.

[Publicity photo]
Ex-Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby hams it up as the airborne Peter Pan, a role that won her a Tony award last year.

Peter Pan, A&E, 8 tonight: You'll probably spend at least 15 minutes looking for the wires. But once you get past scanning former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby's back for the flying harness, you'll enjoy watching her ham it up as the airborne prince of Never Never Land -- a role that won her a Tony award last year. Best of all, this eight-camera production avoids the washed-out colors and static images that so often doom live stage productions broadcast on TV. And as much as this critic loves The Simpsons, a few more family-friendly productions can't hurt on a TV dial crowded with explicit content.

The Practice, ABC (WFTS-Ch. 28), 10 tonight: Amid a lackluster crop of new shows, ABC's crack legal drama roars into a new season focused on provocative new cases. This time, it's a lawsuit against the government for allowing companies to use a toxic chemical to treat playground equipment and a murder case that pushes the district attorney into some tricky ethical territory. Along the way, top dog Bobby O'Donnell (Dylan McDermott) pouts, lawyer Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) shouts and assistant district attorney Helen Gamble (Lara Flynn Boyle) undercuts a friend. Business as usual at Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley's other legal show.

Gideon's Crossing, ABC (WFTS-Ch. 28), 10 p.m. Tuesday (special premiere): I know, I told you last week this drama is overblown and too self-important to really be important. But ex-Homicide star Andre Braugher still manages some impressive scenes as Dr. Benjamin Gideon, head of experimental medicine at a Boston teaching hospital. Sure, there are the obligatory young, good-looking residents (extra points for finally including an East Indian doc). But the real heft here comes from guest star Bruce McGill, who overshadows everyone as a ruthless businessman/cancer patient who uses mind games to push Gideon into moving mountains for a cure. And thanks to sponsor Johnson & Johnson, it all unfolds without commercial interruption.