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Intelligencer Journal

By Kevin McDonough

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS CRITIC'S CHOICE SERIES NOTES LATE NIGHT

For all of the dramas, comedies, documentaries, music, news, talk and sports available on television, it's easy to get confused about the essential nature of television. It is an advertising medium. And when companies find other, better ways to sell their products, television as we know it will begin to change, or vanish, or a little bit of both. Nobody symbolizes the marriage of television, gimmickry and salesmanship better than Ron Popeil, the subject of tonight's "Biography" (8 p.m., Biography Channel). Even if you don't know the name Ron Popeil, you probably recognize, or own, one of his many Ronco products and inventions, sold via TV commercials and infomercials during the past five decades. Who doesn't remember his famous Pocket Fisherman, the Veg-O-Matic, the Smokeless Ashtray, the Miracle Broom and the Inside-the-Shell Egg Scrambler? "Biography" traces Popeil's roots to a family of successful pitchmen who sold wares out of peddlers' carts at boardwalks and county fairs. Popeil's father was a noted salesman and inventor who, we learn, gave him everything he needed but love. "Biography" also chronicles his many marriages, his brief bankruptcy and other stumbles on the way to marketing Nirvana. Ronco products even worked their way into a classic episode of "The Simpsons," when Homer bought the voice-throwing Mr. Microphone, later used by Bart to convince townsfolks he was Timmy O'Toole, a boy trapped in a well. But wait, there's more ... . Popeil recently sold his company to spend time raising his two young daughters, but not before Ronco's greatest triumph. The Showtime Rotisserie, marketed via infomercial, has sold more than 3 million units. Now retired, Popeil is trying to develop a way to replace those dangerous hot-oil turkey broilers with something safe and easy to use. He promises you'll be able to insert the bird and "set it - and forget it!" t "Parco, P.I." (10 p.m., Court) enters its second season, offering dramatic recreations of the casework of private detective Vinny Parco. For the uninitiated, Vinny uses a bevy of attractive female investigators to tail possible bad guys. With an accent as thick as the cheese on a slice of New York pizza, Parco injects a great deal of color and pizzazz into these tales. His enthusiasm goes a long way toward compensating for the acting skills of some of the performers. In tonight's case, Vinny helps a Congressional candidate's wife look into a shadowy business partner she fears might capsize the campaign. t The "Wide Angle" (10 p.m., PBS 12 and 33) documentary "1- 800 India" looks at outsourcing from the perspective of the Indians who work at a huge telephone call center.

Shaun Robinson and Damien Fahey host "Miss Teen USA 2006" (8 p.m., NBC). On back-to-back episodes of "House" (Fox, r, TV-14), a laughing policeman (8 p.m.), Foreman faces morality (9 p.m.). On back-to-back episodes of "Veronica Mars" (UPN r, TV-PG), justice for Felix (8 p.m.), nightmares (9 p.m.). On back-to-back episodes of "Gilmore Girls" (WB, r, TV-PG), wedding plans (8 p.m.), woman's best friend (9 p.m.). Scheduled on "48 Hours Mystery" (10 p.m., r, CBS): The FBI unravels the case of a missing coed after 10 years. A hefty posse take on a prodigy on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14). "Primetime" (10 p.m., ABC) looks at outsiders and people with unusual jobs. "REAL Sports with Bryant Gumbel" (10 p.m., HBO) includes an interview with NBC executive Dick Ebersol. Tommy's dad goes missing on "Rescue Me" (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).

Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson and Harry Hamlin star in the 1982 drama "Making Love" (10 p.m., Fox Movie Channel) about a woman's discovery of her husband's affair with another man. Controversial in its time.

Someone gets the power of veto on "Big Brother: All Stars" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,V) ... On four episodes of "According to Jim" (ABC, r, TV-PG), spelling bees (8 p.m.), dangerous pursuits (8:30 p.m.), a wedding-gown deception (9 p.m.), Dana's minister is disabled (9:30 p.m.) ... It's the singer, not the song, on "Rock Star: Supernova" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,V).

Hilary Duff and Dirty Pretty Things appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" (11:35 p.m., CBS) ... Jay Leno hosts John C. Reilly, Christina Milian and Pharrell on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) ... Jonathan Winters, Kenan Thompson and Against Me! appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (12:05 a.m., ABC) ... Harrison Ford, Amy Adams and K.T. Tunstall are booked on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (12:35 a.m., NBC) ... Craig Ferguson hosts Matt Dillon, Padma Lakshmi and Paula DeAnda with Baby Bash on "The Late, Late Show" (12:37 a.m., CBS). Kevin McDonough can be reached at kmcdonough@unitedmedia.com. Please see TELEVISION page A9

(c) 2006 Intelligencer Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.