The quality and success of HBO’s “The Sopranos” may have set an out-of-reach bar for future underworld-fueled dramas, but “Falcone,” a new CBS series about an undercover FBI officer, already had one strike against it because of CBS’ memorable 1980s series “Wiseguys,” which had the same theme and more zing.
Not that “Falcone” isn’t interesting in its own right. The show, premiering at 8 p.m. Tuesday with a special two-hour launch on WBBM-Ch. 2, has a good pedigree.
It is based on the real life experiences of special agent Joe Pistone, the inspiration for the film “Donnie Brasco.” The show is co-produced by Mark Johnson, while Pistone serves as the series’ technical advisor.
Jason Gedrick (“Murder One”) elicits the appropriate concern for his life as Pistone, who uses the persona of jewel thief Joe Falcone to keep him under cover while on the inside with a New York crime family.
“(For) two years I’ve been out there, living with scumbags, being a scumbag,” Pistone tells his FBI boss Jules Weller (Robert John Burke).
Also fine is Titus Welliver (“Brooklyn South”) as Santino “Sonny Boy” Napoli, a forceful captain in the Volonte crime family, who is about to be challenged for his seat of power-with Pistone waiting to bring him down.
“Falcone” builds additional compassion by showing Pistone juggling his pretend life with his real life with his wife (well-played by Amy Carlson) and two daughters.
Shot stylishly in and around New York City, “Falcone” is getting special treatment from CBS, which is rolling out the entire series over eight nights: Tuesday through Saturday, and April 10-12, at 9 p.m. on each night except for Tuesday’s premiere.
While good, “Falcone” can’t match “The Sopranos”‘ storytelling. Compared to the realistic nature of the characters on that HBO series, most of the people here are just pretty hoods in black coats and leather jackets.
What’s worse, “Falcone” doesn’t have the zest of “Wiseguy,” which told a better story about a federal agent (Ken Wahl) who was more emotionally involved with his marks than Pistone is with Sonny.
(Court TV has scheduled a 15-hour “Wiseguy” marathon starting at noon on Sunday.)
Sunday
“Odyssey Weekly” at 2:30 p.m. is a retooling of Odyssey Network’s values and ethics newsmagazine “News Odyssey,” with Mary Alice Williams as host and executive editor.
A 13-year-old (Bill Switzer) carries on an e-mail friendship with the President of the United States (Randy Quaid) complete with dispensing advice on how to run the country in “Mail to the Chief” on ABC’s “Wonderful World of Disney” at 6 p.m., on WLS-Ch. 7).
The WB’s new Sunday night begins at 7 p.m. on WGN-Ch. 9 with “D.C.,” Dick Wolf’s (“Law & Order”) new series about a group of ambitious young people working at the foot of power in our nation’s capital. It continues at 8 p.m. with the second-season premiere of “Movie Stars,” starring Harry Hamlin as an action film star and Jennifer Grant as his actress wife. At 8:30 p.m. is “Zoe,” the collegiate teenage comedy that moves from Monday. “Felicity” pops up at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Bob Hoskins stars as Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega in a biopic of the last years of Noriega’s dizzying leadership. “Noriega: God’s Favorite” premieres at 7 p.m. on Showtime.
A two-hour “Biography’ centers on aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne at 7 p.m.
Fox Family Channel remakes “The Spiral Staircase,” the 1946 classic about mystery and havoc in a rambling mansion at 7 p.m.
Chuck Norris steps from his “Walker, Texas Ranger” role (somewhat) to play another lawmanone who works on missions sanctioned by the leader of the free world. “The President’s Man” is a CBS movie airing at 8 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
Last year the Travel Channel followed Geraldo Rivera en route during his sailing adventure to the International Dateline at midnight on New Year’s Eve. This special at 8 p.m. shows whether the newsman reached his goal.
Monday
“Between the Lions” is a new PBS kids’ series at 7 a.m.on WTTW-Ch. 11 about a family of beasts that run a magical library. And hang onto your breakfasts, because it’s a new season of “Barney & Friends” at 8:30 a.m. on WTTTW-Ch. 11.
The History Channel is expected to debut as a new category on “Jeopardy!” at 3:30 p.m.on WLS-Ch. 7.
The NCAA men’s basketball championship will be decided on CBS starting at 8 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
The three-decade career of Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre (Cher to her fans) is examined on “Bravo Profiles” at 9 p.m.on Bravo.
“Crime Stories” pokes at professional wrestling in the second installment in its series on violence among children at 9 p.m. on Court TV.
Tuesday
On TNN’s “Rockin’ Bowl,” college bowlers queue up for cash and bragging rights. The premiere pits Indiana rivals Purdue and Ball State against each other at 7 p.m.
Zane (Mark Ruffalo) catches up with his apartment-burning girlfriend Beatrice (Heather Burns), on UPN’s “The Beat” at 8 p.m. on WPWR-Ch. 50.
ABC is pulling its fine, but low-rated, comedy “Sports Night” after Tuesday’s 8:30 p.m. episode on WLS-Ch. 7 for a midseason replacement. It deserves better.
“On the Ropes,” a documentary about young boxers from New York’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood that won raves at the Sundance Film Festival, makes its TV premiere at 8 p.m. on TLC, with an update on the fates of various participants.
Wednesday
PBS kicks off the first of an occasional series of cultural arts performances with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 8 p.m. on WTTW-Ch. 11.
Wynonna Judd performs live on CMT’s “All Access” at 8 p.m., and conducts a Web site chat at 9 p.m. on www.country.com.
Real-life husband and wife Annette O’Toole and Michael McKean guest star as multiple-murder suspects on NBC’s “Law & Order” at 9 p.m. on WMAQ-Ch. 5.
It’s a new season of laughs and mayhem for Comedy Central’s hit animated series “South Park” — with Eric Cartman as the Tooth Fairy at 9 p.m.
Thursday
The NAACP holds its 31st annual Image Awards for African-Americans in Entertainment, hosted by Diana Ross at 7 p.m. on FOX-Ch. 32.
Oscar-winner Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”) is profiled on “The Directors” at 7 p.m. on Encore.
“Real History” spotlights three women locked up at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility at 8 p.m. on TLC.
How human beings can commit unspeakable acts of depravity is the subject of TNT’s documentary “Faces of Evil” at 9 p.m.
Friday
UPN presents the latest in its series of “Teen Files” documentaries on hard-hitting subjects affecting young people. This one, at 8 p.m. on WPWR-Ch. 50, is about drug use.
Heather Matarazzo (“Now and Again”) co-stars in “Getting to Know You,” based on author Joyce Carol Oates’ collection of shorts on teenagers coping with their families’ emotional baggage at 8 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.
Cynda Williams is a cop who falls for murder suspect Marc Gomes in “Hidden Blessings” at 9 p.m.on BET.
Saturday
The Disney Channel’s new music-documentary series “2 Hour Tour” follows 98 Degrees to gigs in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana at 6:30 p.m.
If you missed Monday’s edition of NBC’s game show “Twenty One,” Pax TV, which is partially owned by the Peacock Network, reairs the week’s episode at 8 p.m. Saturday on WCPX-Ch. 38. But if you did see it, and you know the outcome, why bother?
