The Remote Patrol for Wednesday, April 1, 2000 by Thomas Allen Heald, Guiding Plight All times Eastern, for PBS programs, check local listings
--- 8 p.m. "PEDRO" (MTV) is a first for the crew behind MTV's long-running "The Real World." After 17 years (and 21 seasons), Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray are finally doing scripted drama. It helps that they're honoring one of their reality show tenants, Pedro Zamora, with a look at his life story, and it helps even more to have an Oscar winner telling the tale. Pedro comes hot on the heels of Dustin Lance Black's award as screenwriter for "Milk." Like "Milk," Black considers Zamora a hero of his time with each able to inspire new generations of gay men dealing with discrimination, coming out, and creating families of their own. The challenge for "Pedro" is introducing him to a new audience yet respecting fans who remember parts of his saga from 15 years ago. However, they get most of the possibly repeated information out of the way early on before dealing with his life long before becoming an overnight reality star. Part of the Mariel Boat Lift at age eight, Zamora, his parents and a sister fled from Cuba to the United States beginning a new life and leaving five older siblings behind. Losing his mother at age 13, he threw himself into both his studies and the arms of anyone who'd show him affection. One moment of dark comedy comes as the charming Zamora flirts with a hot guy across the room instead of paying attention during a safe sex lecture at school. As his sister Milly notes when he confronted about his homosexuality, "You're not like them." "The gays" that is. But it's because of his not being "like them," the prostitutes or drug addicts only mentioned in AIDS lectures that he didn't take such warnings seriously. After testing HIV+ during a high school Red Cross blood drive, Zamora took to education activism, a journey which took him from grade schools to congress, Oprah to public rallies, and ultimately MTV where he became the face of AIDS for a generation. One different from heterosexuals Magic Johnson or Ryan White, younger than Rock Hudson and as portrayed by actor Alex Loynax someone still incredibly healthy and, yes, sexy. "Pedro" has a lot on its plate to deal with: a love story, a refugee saga, a behind the scenes look at reality TV and, as with Milk, a shortened life with a ticking clock from the opening credits. Melodramatic and cinematically gorgeous, the recreations can only go so far. The closing credits kick off with actual footage from the reality show, and one of television's first onscreen gay unions of Zamora and fellow activist Sean Sasser. Zamora inspired a generation of AIDS activists who joined his family by watching his life as a soap opera. Among those fans was President Clinton who helped the Zamora family reunite shortly before his death, the day after the final episode of "The Real World: San Francisco" aired. Alongside fellow Real World roommate Judd Winnick's graphic novel "Pedro and Me," "Pedro: The Movie" may inspire more young men and women to dedicate themselves to AIDS education. A life well lived and well celebrated with this tribute. (The DVD out June 30th will feature 3 epispodes of "The Real World: San Francisco." I think they should release the entire season on DVD.) Queen Latifah, John Mayer and Elmo deal with "COMING HOME: MILITARY FAMILIES COPE WITH CHANGE" (PBS). Elmo, meet Major Tom. Tell his wife he loves her. The interns face bad luck under a full moon on "SCRUBS" (ABC). Has Janitor found other work yet? Dr. Cox and Turk just announced new pilots... TELE-GEBRA "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes" + April Fool's Day = Heidi Klum, LeAnn Rimes, Ice-T and Jessica Simpson punk America by working blue collar jobs on "I GET THAT A LOT" (CBS). "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL" (CW) has its contestants act like Tyra. Let's see: misguided musical career, inexplicable blonde weave, screaming fits? Oh right ... just being a huge poser. "THE CHOPPING BLOCK" (NBC) will be replaced by a "Law & Order" rerun to be determined later. 8:30 p.m. "BETTER OFF TED" (ABC) (insert joke from last week). 9 p.m. Will Kate save Ben's life? What time period is it? And what about Naomi on "LOST" (ABC)? A state legislator for gun control is shot to death on "LIFE" (NBC), according to Jim. Lady Gaga performs as hopefully Megan Joy is shown the door on "AMERICAN IDOL: RELOADED" (Fox). 10 p.m. Sam gets a phone call from "home" in 2008 on the "LIFE ON MARS" (ABC) finale. Will he wake up and smell the $4 coffee again? "SOUTH PARK" (Comedy Central) is the victim of the ultimate practical joke. "THE REAL WORLD: BROOKLYN" (MTV) fights to the finishk like Popeye the Sailor Man. Toot toot! 10:30 p.m. Jonah Hill is super bad on "RENO 911" (Comedy Central). TALK SOUP * The Daily Show welcomes Peter Orszag. * The Colbert Report refuses to turn away Dambisa Moyo. * It's apparently Scrabble rack night at Comedy Central. * Tavis presents a tribute to Marvin Gaye. * Dave sees Marg Helgenberger, Francisco Palacios, and Ray LaMontagne. * Jay taps Michael Caine, Dennis Rodman, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer. * Jimmy Kimmel parks with Amy Poehler, Jordana Brewster, and Les Claypool. * Craig is bound to chat with Jennifer Tilly and Heidi Newfield. * Jimmy Fallon hops in the convertable with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Stevie Nicks, and Nick Thune. * Carson chills with Adam Scott, Renee Gauthier, and Cold War Kids --- But the conversation has just begun, add your own suggestions or discuss mine on the "TV or Not TV" Google list or at tvornottv.net. "The Remote Patrol" is copyright© 2008 Thomas Allen Heald and Gigantic Rear Projection, Ltd., a division of Haslenald, Inc. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ TV or Not TV .... Smart (TV) People on Ice! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
