The Remote Patrol: 4/1: No not the Golden Globe winner
Thomas Heald, Esquire
by Thomas Allen Heald, Guiding Plight
All times Eastern, for PBS programs, check local listings
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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
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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.