I’m well aware that I promote this 2000 Coen Brothers comedy a lot – and I did it long before George Clooney optioned my book on the Smothers Brothers as a possible film, so I’m not brown-nosing here. Not completely. But I absolutely adore any movie audacious enough to connect The Odyssey to Sullivan’s Travels, with an old-timey country soundtrack and a Three Stooges vibe, and somehow make it all work. This is that movie – and Clooney is its Ulysses. Truly. And wait until you see the sirens who emerge from the river, where they’re washing laundry: One of them is played by Melinda Clarke. And all of them are bewitching – just as sirens are supposed to be.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
As it happens, there are several movies on TV tonight that I’ll write about, and point you towards, every chance I get. Here’s one of them, and here’s another chance: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains in a cinematic masterpiece from 1942. Watch it again, Sam. And watch it again, even if your name isn’t Sam.
Starz!, 8:23 p.m. ET
Here’s another movie I recommend whenever I can – a film I loved so much that, when I was in Paris last year, I sought (and found! And sat on!) the steps on which Owen Wilson sat before being whisked to a memorable taste of Parisian night life. Alas, no carriage came for me – but I’ll always have Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen’s best comedy film in decades. (See how I tied that back to Casablanca, folks? No extra charge.) Rachel McAdams co-stars as Wilson’s fiancé.
Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET
This new episode is called “The Consultant” – and perhaps, with a consultant, I would feel comfortable describing what’s about to happen in this hour. I know, though, that it involves two universes, the red-haired Olivia, and a Walter where he shouldn’t be.
HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET
Among tonight’s guests: David Stockman (expect lots of talk about the budget and the economy) and Tavis Smiley (expect lots of talk about everything, especially Barack Obama). But on the week when Rick Santorum retrieved his hat from the ring, seemingly leaving the Republican nomination to Mitt Romney, everyone, especially Maher, should have plenty to say.