TV: Five shows worth watching tonight: Dec. 28
SCIENCE Nature PBS, 8 p.m. These are not good days for the polar bear. The revered science program travels to the Arctic to capture the natural activity of the grizzly bear descendants, who long ago adapted to life in the frigid climes by consuming a specialized diet of seal meat. The bad news: As the winters become increasingly warmer, the ice is disappearing and seals are scarce, which means the polar bears are living on borrowed time. Watch and see how scientists are helping the majestic creatures survive and thrive.
REALITY Extreme Cheapskates TLC, 9 p.m. Seriously, is there any form of American life that TLC isn't turning into a reality show? This special is the pilot for a proposed series profiling people whose cheapness has no boundaries. The rogue's gallery of skinflints includes Jeff, who cycles daily around his hometown in search of pennies dropped on the street. Or meet Jordan, who has mastered the art of bartering and is quite willing to trade an hour of labour for a bag of day-old donuts. The real prize-winner, however, is Angela, who makes her own household cleaning products and feeds her six kids with expired food from the local salvage centre. A penny saved is a penny earned, you know.
BIOGRAPHY Private Screenings: Sidney Lumet TCM, midnight Not long before he passed away last spring, renowned director Sidney Lumet sat down with TCM's Robert Osborne for this revealing interview. A former child actor and Second World War veteran, Lumet discusses his directorial baptism by fire in the early days of live television in the early fifties, which precipitated his transfer to the big screen starting with the 1957 feature 12 Angry Men. The profile is highlighted with clips from Lumet's most notable films, including Fail Safe, The Pawnbroker, Serpico and the prophetic 1976 feature Network.The Associated Press
MOVIE About a Boy Bravo!, 7:30 p.m. Remember the days when Hugh Grant cranked out a minimum of two movies a year, even after he was arrested with a hooker? The foppish Englishman is both a dastard and a charmer in this 2002 comedy-drama, which is based on the novel by Nick Hornby. Grant is perfectly cast as Will, a thirty-something bachelor happy to live off his dead father's fortune, while trying to bed every woman in London. The man-child meets his match – or maybe himself – in 12-year-old Marcus (Nicholas Hault), who thinks Will would make a swell match with his single mother Fiona (Toni Collette). Touching and funny.