Monday night is turning into one of the best nights for television and tonight there is an abundant choice of good films, a new comedy and Ally McBeal (World, 8.30pm).
If ATV aspires to beat TVB in the ratings battles, then Ally McBeal is a strong card to hold as the quirky American series is taking the world by storm. The comedy/drama about a Boston-based lawyer looking for love, was last week nominated for 10 Emmy Awards, including best comedy series, the most of any new series.
It is easy to see why 'Ally-mania' has taken off in the US as the programme is well-written by the prolific David Kelley (Picket Fences) and series' star Calista Flockhart is excellent as the neurotic lawyer with the vivid imagination.
Also gaining popularity is Baby Cha Cha, the computer-generated dancing baby which periodically makes an appearance on the show. The image has become so popular that it has sold more than 350,000 official T-shirts since March, while the baby's favourite song, the early 70s nugget, Hooked On A Feeling by Blue Swede, sold more than 300,000 copies in a month.
On tonight's programme, an overweight attorney keels over outside the courtroom prompting a session of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation with McBeal. The incident causes the man to call off his wedding in order to pursue the woman who gave him the kiss of life.
Flockhart who was recognised for her work with an Emmy nomination for 'best actress in a comedy series', will have competition from Kirsty Alley, the former Cheers actress who was also nominated for her new series, Veronica's Closet (Pearl,9pm).
