Write up in the Montreal Gazette:
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=e8b4a92c-7a0b-4817-b02e-fa84bedb991d Charges against Jehovah's Witness elders
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
What to watch: The Fifth Estate (CBMT-6, 9 to 10 p.m.) features Spiritual Shepherds, an explosive full-length report hosted by Bob McKeown that reveals disturbing allegations and evidence of sexual abuse of minors by elders of the Jehovah's Witness Church in Canada and the United States.
McKeown's interviews with abuse victims are heartbreaking and revealing, as they share their stories of being shamed, shunned and ultimately exiled by a church hierarchy more interested in keeping their allegations a secret than protecting defenseless children from horrific acts of abuse that they allege.
It's a shocking, powerful program that's sure to make waves in the Church, the officials of which refused to respond to the victims' allegations on camera, though not for a lack of trying on the part of the tenacious McKeown and the Fifth Estate team. The likely impact of this kind of report is precisely why it's essential media organizations continue to devote the substantial time and resources required to produce such important investigative journalism.
What to avoid: It just debuted Sunday during the Super Bowl, but is anyone else already sick of that Pepsi Twist ad with the ubiquitous Osbournes, the one where Jack and Kelly morph into the Osmonds and Ozzy wakes up with Florence Henderson? That's just what the Osbournes need: more TV exposure.
What else is on? Jeff Goldblum (The Fly, Jurassic Park) stars as a veteran war correspondent trying to cover the civil war in Uzbekistan while guiding his new photographer (Lake Bell) through all of the madness on War Stories (WPTZ-5, 8 to 10 p.m.), an expensive-looking NBC made-for-TV movie.
The Great Canadian Music Dream (CBMT-6, 8 to 9 p.m.) takes its search for the country's hottest young musical talent to Winnipeg, while judges Paula, Randy and Simon go to Hollywood for the next round of auditions - sure to be much more listenable than most of the ones we've heard so far - on American Idol (WFFF-44, 8:30 to 10 p.m.). Meanwhile, viewers of Star Search (WCAX-3, 8 to 9 p.m.) continue to seek an explanation for Arsenio Hall's baffling hair-do. (Save your energy; there isn't one.)
Fran?ois gets in trouble with the city when he builds a deck in his backyard without getting the proper permits on 450, Chemin du golf (CFJP-35, 8:30 to 9 p.m.), TQS's amusing suburban sitcom. (Although it's nowhere near as funny as the show's deafening laugh track, one of the loudest I've ever heard, would have us believe.)
Trista Rehn - aka The Bachelorette (WVNY-22, 8:30 to 10 p.m.) - gets an extra 30 minutes to eliminate one of four guys still vying for her affections, as well as prove the women of reality TV can be just as vapid and superficial as the guys.
And if you deem most of the above to be far too lowbrow for your refined taste in television, PBS's American Masters (WETK-33 and WCFE-57, 9 to 11 p.m.) presents a profile of the nearly century-old Juilliard School in New York City and the staggering number of accomplished artists who've passed through its hallowed halls. It's sure to be fascinating.
But I, for one, will likely be watching Celebrity Mole: Hawaii (WVNY-22, 10 to 11 p.m.) Hey, don't judge.