Absolutely Fabulous

Broadly acted and twice as broadly written, "High Society" (9:30 p.m.-10 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) spills its humor all over itself and then asks viewers to pay the dry-cleaning bill.OK, just this once. Or maybe twice. Here's a sitcom that succeeds -- sort of -- despite its many gross excesses. Credit goes to lead actresses Jean Smart ("Designing Women") and Mary McDonnell ("Dances With Wolves"), who respectively throw themselves into the roles of a New York-based trash novelist and her best-friend publisher.

theater 'Ace': See Ace here before it goes to Broadway. This new musical tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who is magically transported back in time - and heals his shattered past. The show, at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., runs through Sept. 28. Times vary. Tickets are $49-$86. Call 703-820-9771 or go to signature-theatre.org. Mary Carole McCauley museums 'The Legacy of Enoch Pratt': To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Baltimore philanthropist Enoch Pratt's birth, which was Sept.

CBS has some quality reruns, and Fox has a new documentary miniseries on organized crime -- but if you want TV that's absolutely fabulous, your one-stop shopping location tonight is Comedy Central.* "Understanding Whitewater" (7:30-8 p.m., WMPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- With congressional hearings on Whitewater scheduled to begin tomorrow, this program will take a look at the history of the story. Ken Bode of "Washington Week in Review" is moderator. PBS.* "The Nanny" (8-8:30 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11)

When "Chicken Run," Nick Park and Peter Lord's clay-animated feature, opens in theaters on Friday, there will be two camps of fans. Those who ask, "Who are these guys?" And those who ask, "Where are Wallace and Gromit?" For the past 10 years, Nick Park and his animated creations, a batty inventor named Wallace and his wise dog, Gromit, have been delighting a select group of filmgoers and video-renters, who have waited eagerly for each of the team's new adventures. Made under the auspices of Aardman Animations, the British studio co-founded by Lord in 1972, the trilogy of Wallace and Gromit adventures have become beloved favorites of viewers lucky enough to catch them on the odd PBS broadcast or while grazing in select video stores.

If making an entrance and knowing when to leave are the Golden Rules of chic, Edina and Patsy might make RuPaul envious.After 18 episodes, concluding with the series finale tonight at 8 on cable's Comedy Central, the pair that is "Absolutely Fabulous" has possibly eclipsed every other since Lucy and Ethel in influence, point for Nielsen ratings point.A stretch, you say? Consider that fewer people watch an "AbFab" episode on American television than watch a typical Saturday afternoon of golf on CBS. Yet, now that the British Broadcasting Corporation series is ending its first run on Comedy Central, a movie is planned -- a feat of television transubstantiation rarely achieved.

Is it my imagination, or does TV get more worked up about Halloween nowadays than the rest of the world does?"The Montel Williams Show" (11 a.m.-noon, WMAR, Channel 2) -- NAACP head Kweisi Mfume joins Montel to discuss his experiences growing up in Baltimore, and both men talk with a group of troubled teens brought in from across the nation."Bridging the Gap: Korean and African-American Relations" (7 p.m.-8 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- In a live broadcast designed to heal divisions between the two groups, leaders from both communities discuss their differences and answer questions from the audience.

Celebrities old and new are all over the place tonight. Current stars can be found on an ABC special and "Late Show With PTC David Letterman," while cable's "Biography" offers a look at Marilyn Monroe.* "Off Camera With Dean Cain" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- The young superhero from "Lois & Clark" demonstrates prodigious powers, for he's credited as host, writer, director and executive producer of this special featuring his interviews with other young celebrities. Included are Andrew Shue ("Melrose Place")

theater 'Ace': See Ace here before it goes to Broadway. This new musical tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who is magically transported back in time - and heals his shattered past. The show, at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., runs through Sept. 28. Times vary. Tickets are $49-$86. Call 703-820-9771 or go to signature-theatre.org. Mary Carole McCauley museums 'The Legacy of Enoch Pratt': To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Baltimore philanthropist Enoch Pratt's birth, which was Sept.

One of the best early episodes of "Seinfeld" is repeated tonight, and that's the best broadcast TV has to offer. The rest of the action -- including new sitcom imports and an advance peek at one of the fall's new TV headliners -- is (during the summer, where else?) on cable.* "In the Heat of the Night" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- This series will go on hiatus, for at least half a season: Although it remains in production, it's not on the network's fall schedule. This two-hour episode, in which the formerly bigoted sheriff Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor)

Peter Jennings devotes a prime-time hour tonight to the Haitian crisis -- which, with the way things are going in Rwanda, puts him one crisis behind. The real world is moving almost too quickly to keep up, but the world of television, tonight at least, is less active. In fact, except for a few scattered highlights, tonight's TV world is flat.* "Beverly Hills, 90210" (8-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- This episode from 1992 is one of several "90210" installments from this era featuring a now-familiar face: guest star Dean Cain, now starring in ABC's "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."

It's a battle of the titanic egos, as Sam Donaldson and Dick Morris sit across from each other on "PrimeTime Live" tonight.State of the State Address (noon-1 p.m., repeats 11: 30 p.m.-12: 30 a.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- Gov. Parris Glendening tells us the state of our state."Grace Under Fire" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Poor Grace. First, she finds her new boarder is a stripper. Then her son finds one of her old book reports, submits it as his own and gets a lousy grade. ABC."

Is it my imagination, or does TV get more worked up about Halloween nowadays than the rest of the world does?"The Montel Williams Show" (11 a.m.-noon, WMAR, Channel 2) -- NAACP head Kweisi Mfume joins Montel to discuss his experiences growing up in Baltimore, and both men talk with a group of troubled teens brought in from across the nation."Bridging the Gap: Korean and African-American Relations" (7 p.m.-8 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- In a live broadcast designed to heal divisions between the two groups, leaders from both communities discuss their differences and answer questions from the audience.

Broadly acted and twice as broadly written, "High Society" (9:30 p.m.-10 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) spills its humor all over itself and then asks viewers to pay the dry-cleaning bill.OK, just this once. Or maybe twice. Here's a sitcom that succeeds -- sort of -- despite its many gross excesses. Credit goes to lead actresses Jean Smart ("Designing Women") and Mary McDonnell ("Dances With Wolves"), who respectively throw themselves into the roles of a New York-based trash novelist and her best-friend publisher.

Celebrities old and new are all over the place tonight. Current stars can be found on an ABC special and "Late Show With PTC David Letterman," while cable's "Biography" offers a look at Marilyn Monroe.* "Off Camera With Dean Cain" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- The young superhero from "Lois & Clark" demonstrates prodigious powers, for he's credited as host, writer, director and executive producer of this special featuring his interviews with other young celebrities. Included are Andrew Shue ("Melrose Place")

If making an entrance and knowing when to leave are the Golden Rules of chic, Edina and Patsy might make RuPaul envious.After 18 episodes, concluding with the series finale tonight at 8 on cable's Comedy Central, the pair that is "Absolutely Fabulous" has possibly eclipsed every other since Lucy and Ethel in influence, point for Nielsen ratings point.A stretch, you say? Consider that fewer people watch an "AbFab" episode on American television than watch a typical Saturday afternoon of golf on CBS. Yet, now that the British Broadcasting Corporation series is ending its first run on Comedy Central, a movie is planned -- a feat of television transubstantiation rarely achieved.

One of the best early episodes of "Seinfeld" is repeated tonight, and that's the best broadcast TV has to offer. The rest of the action -- including new sitcom imports and an advance peek at one of the fall's new TV headliners -- is (during the summer, where else?) on cable.* "In the Heat of the Night" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- This series will go on hiatus, for at least half a season: Although it remains in production, it's not on the network's fall schedule. This two-hour episode, in which the formerly bigoted sheriff Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor)

It's a battle of the titanic egos, as Sam Donaldson and Dick Morris sit across from each other on "PrimeTime Live" tonight.State of the State Address (noon-1 p.m., repeats 11: 30 p.m.-12: 30 a.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- Gov. Parris Glendening tells us the state of our state."Grace Under Fire" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Poor Grace. First, she finds her new boarder is a stripper. Then her son finds one of her old book reports, submits it as his own and gets a lousy grade. ABC."

Today marks the scheduled start of the Whitewater hearings, which will be carried live (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) by CNN -- but won't exactly get the saturation coverage earmarked for anything having to do with O. J. Simpson. As for entertainment programming tonight, the freshest offering is the second episode of Michael Moore's "TV Nation."* "TV Nation" (8-9 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- The premiere of this series didn't exactly grab the TV nation: The show finished third in its time period. Part of that is due to the fact that this series is mature enough, in content and concepts, to belong at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. instead, and part may be due to the fact that "TV Nation" is not easily described.

Peter Jennings devotes a prime-time hour tonight to the Haitian crisis -- which, with the way things are going in Rwanda, puts him one crisis behind. The real world is moving almost too quickly to keep up, but the world of television, tonight at least, is less active. In fact, except for a few scattered highlights, tonight's TV world is flat.* "Beverly Hills, 90210" (8-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- This episode from 1992 is one of several "90210" installments from this era featuring a now-familiar face: guest star Dean Cain, now starring in ABC's "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."

Today marks the scheduled start of the Whitewater hearings, which will be carried live (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) by CNN -- but won't exactly get the saturation coverage earmarked for anything having to do with O. J. Simpson. As for entertainment programming tonight, the freshest offering is the second episode of Michael Moore's "TV Nation."* "TV Nation" (8-9 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- The premiere of this series didn't exactly grab the TV nation: The show finished third in its time period. Part of that is due to the fact that this series is mature enough, in content and concepts, to belong at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. instead, and part may be due to the fact that "TV Nation" is not easily described.