The Hartford Courant, Conn., Roger Catlin column: A Grand 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles,' 'Cyrano'

Jan 04, 2009 (The Hartford Courant - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- CYRNF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Thomas Hardy had a little trouble getting his novel "Tess of D'Urbervilles" published in 1891, despite its shocking turns. A grand new miniseries made from the work premieres tonight on "Masterpiece Classic" (CPTV, 9 p.m.).

There's a reason they call such stories classics. This one has it all: a spirited and beautiful young woman whose poor family dreams of her marrying up, but then a cruel and horrible violation sets the rocky road for the rest of the fated tale.

Gemma Arterton, recently of " Quantum of Solace," is intoxicating as Tess; Hans Matheson and Eddie Redmayne play the men who torment her.

Adapted by David Nicholls and directed by David Blair, the story is framed by windswept countryside, gnarled trees representing the encroaching evil and a marvelous scene at Stonehenge.

The four-hour, two-night "Tess" concludes Jan. 11 to kick off what looks to be a glorious season on the long-running series, moving to adaptations of "Wuthering Heights" and four different Dickens titles, stretched out over nearly 13 hours. Laura Linney is host.

An adaptation of a theatrical work doesn't get more literal than the presentation later this week of "Cyrano de Bergerac" on "Great Performances" (PBS, Wednesday, 8 p.m.), which starts with audience members fanning themselves with playbills and includes their laughter and applause, with a lot of wide shots of the proscenium stage.

Only the superimposed titles of scene locales takes away from what is essentially a record of a single performance at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York a year ago this week.

But what a show to capture: Kevin Kline masterful in Edmond Rostand's title role, opposite a better than you would expect Jennifer Garner as Roxane, and Daniel Sunjata, perfect in his role as the lovestruck and tongue-tangled suitor.

Series Returns

A new year finally brings new season starts for some of the most anticipated series, many of which are on cable.

Chief among them this week is "Damages" (FX, Wednesday, 10 p.m.). The smart and tension-filled legal tour de force stars Glenn Close as ruthless celebrity lawyer Patty Hewes, and Rose Byrne as the wiser protege Ellen Parsons, who has stayed on at the firm despite ducking a murder attempt. Her motive: eventual revenge on her boss.

Ted Danson's billionaire Arthur Frobisher is recovering in the hospital and a new case is coming, involving William Hurt as a corporate whistleblower. Also joining the cast this season are Timothy Olyphant of "Deadwood."

Also worth a renewed look is "Nip/Tuck" (FX, Tuesday, 10, p.m.). It's back with new episodes addressing last season's cliffhanger: the savage knifing of Sean McNamara at the hands of a crazed stalker who portrayed herself as an agent, menacingly played by Sharon Gless. But it is his partner, Christian Troy, who may have worse medical news.

"Flashpoint" ( CBS, Friday, 10 p.m.), the Canadian import that did well in its summer run, returns for a new season as well.

Among comedies, the most surprising return comes for "Scrubs" (ABC, Tuesday, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), which switches networks for its eighth season, its final one for creator and Connecticut native Bill Lawrence and star Zach Braff. Guest star Courteney Cox returns to her comedy roots in the season premiere.

But my tastes run more to the crazy near-improv of "10 Items or Less" (TBS, Tuesday, 11 p.m.), returning for a new adventures at the grocery store, including the season premiere's dabbling in frozen turkey bowling.

On cable, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (ABC Family, Monday, 8 p.m.) returns for a new season with a wedding to accompany the pregnancy. Boldly, it plays opposite those other supposed teenagers on "Gossip Girl" (The CW, Monday, 8 p.m.), back for with a new episode.

Reality Bites

I keep thinking the pool will eventually run dry for talent-driven reality competitions like "American Idol" and " So You Think You Can Dance."

That will never ever happen for shows like "The Biggest Loser" ( NBC, Tuesday, 8 p.m.), whose pool of obese candidates only seems to grow by the year in every sense of the word.

Early January is the prime time for such shows, in which candidates will change themselves. And "Loser" is not alone. It's joined this week by "DietTribe" (Lifetime, Monday, 10 p.m.), in which a number of friends together try to lose 30 pounds apiece. At least they get to sweat in front of another dreamy trainer.

Also back for a new season is "The Bachelor" (ABC, Monday, 8 p.m.), in which single father and finalist on "The Bachelorette," Jason Mesnick, gets to cull from 25 women, some of whom are single moms as well.

It's paired with "True Beauty" (ABC, Monday, 10 p.m.), a new show from Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks in which models are auditioned but not told they'll be judged by their inner beauty.

Going for pure candid camera, while exploiting his success on " Deal or No Deal," is Howie Mandel, pranking people on the new series, "Howie Do It" (NBC, Friday, 8 p.m.).

The new reality series "Homeland Security USA" (ABC, Tuesday, 8 p.m.) follows the people of the border patrol and the Transportation Security Administration. From the producers of "Brat Camp," it doesn't sound all that different of yet another "Cops" variant, "Vice Squad" (MyNetwork TV, Tuesday, 9 and 9:30 p.m.).

In other new reality shows this week (and there is no shortage of them), "Superstars of Dance" (NBC, tonight, 9) offers international troupes competing against one another before what sounds to be the most complicated judging criterion since the Olympics.

In "13: Fear Is Real" (The CW, Wednesday, 8 p.m.), they try to scare 13 contestants out of being in a competition, starting in a Louisiana bayou, a ploy that's been tried plenty before, though this one boasts Sam Raimi as co-producer.

"Rock of Love Bus With Bret Michaels" (VH1, tonight, 9) finds the lead singer in his third season of narrowing a field of all-too-willing women, this time on the road. At what point will it become clear he's not really seeking a relationship that goes beyond a reality show?

It accompanies the new "Confessions of a Teen Idol" (VH1, tonight, 8), an exploitative series in which long-forgotten co-stars of "Baywatch" and the dude from "The Blue Lagoon" try to work their way back to fame, the reality-show way. Looking the worst for wear is Eric Nies, who starred in the first season of what in many ways was the first reality show, "The Real World" (MTV, Wednesday, 10 p.m.), which happens to begin its 21st season annoying a whole new borough in New York, Brooklyn, in a corner where they still apparently play stickball.

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