Mantis

Telemovies abound on tonight's schedule, with subjects ranging from an alcoholic wife to a widower, with a paraplegic super hero known as MANTIS thrown in for good measure. Guess what? "MANTIS" is the best of the bunch. Overall, though, the best bets are from Lincoln Center and Cicely, Alaska.* "The Nanny" (8-8:30 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- Lesley-Anne Down guest stars, and her British accent, up against Fran Drescher's non-British accent, ought to make for some good laughs right there. CBS.* "MANTIS" (8-10 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45)

NFL teams already have their stopwatches poised to time draft prospects at the annual scouting combine that begins Wednesday in Indianapolis. Should Notre Dame inside linebacker Manti Te'o or Georgia inside linebacker Alec Ogletree plummet to the Ravens' 32nd overall draft pick of the first round in late April, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock thinks the Super Bowl champions would bolt into a speedy 40-yard dash to select either coveted defender....

The question some adult viewers are going to have when they see Fox TV's "M.A.N.T.I.S" tonight is, "How did this show ever make it onto the network's fall schedule?"The answers are: 1) "M.A.N.T.I.S." is not primarily for adults. 2) For all its comic-book trappings, there's a deeper message here of empowerment that could be appealing to teens and pre-teens, especially African-Americans.The action-adventure series, which premieres at 8 tonight on WBFF (Channel 45), stars Carl Lumbly as Dr. Miles Hawkins, an African-American biophysicist who is paralyzed from the waist down when he's struck by a stray a bullet.

You are missing the point. Or at least, you are if you're one of the bazillion people following the Manti Te'o story, dutifully trying to determine whether the Notre Dame football star was the victim or the perpetrator of a bizarre hoax. Granted, the story is irresistible as one of those 15-minutes-of-fame-kitten-stuck-in-the-well fables without which people who gather around the water cooler wouldn't have anything to talk about. Mr. Te'o, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, had generated an outpouring of sympathy after he played through pain, turning in a gritty performance that keyed his team to an upset win, right after learning that his girlfriend and grandmother had died within hours of each other.

Due to entirely accidental alignments in tonight's network schedules, viewers can, by switching channels at the appropriate times, treat themselves to an instant mini-festival showcasing Carl Lumbly in different shows and roles. Three straight hours of him! If that doesn't precisely meet your definition of must-see television, then you've gotten my point.* "Family Matters." (8-8:30 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- Donna Summer guest stars as Urkel's Aunt Oona, who visits bearing gifts (which, in this case, might be called Oona mementos)

The new crime-fighter on the block -- the one they call M.A.N.T.I.S. -- is a rarity in the super-hero world: an African-American. Unlike other black super-heroes such as Meteor Man or Blankman, M.A.N.T.I.S. takes crime-fighting seriously. He is the alter ego of Dr. Miles Hawkins, a brilliant biophysicist who was paralyzed after being struck by a bullet during an urban riot while saving a young boy. He helps develop an exoskeleton that lets him get out of his wheelchair -- the Mechanically Augmented Neuro-Transmitter Interactive System.

Ardent backyard gardeners can eliminate some of the backbreaking work from their favorite pastime with the help of a mini-tiller.These lightweight machines are easily portable, small enough to work in tight spaces, yet powerful enough to get the job done. With optional attachments, they perform several tasks that make them useful throughout the gardening season.The Mantis tiller, a 20-pound machine usually sold with a free edging attachment, is the most widely known of the mini-tillers. Optional attachments convert the Mantis into a lawn dethatcher, aerator, planter/furrower, crevice cleaner or hedge trimmer.

Last season, Fox presented a telemovie pilot for a proposed series called "M.A.N.T.I.S.," starring Carl Lumbly as a paraplegic who invents and wears an exoskeleton suit that enables him to walk and gives him super-strength. The series based on that premise premieres tonight -- with a new supporting cast. It's worth watching on its own merits, and also because there's nothing else new and interesting on broadcast TV tonight.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- One change in this series that not everyone may welcome is its reduction in the number of African-American cast members.

If you're a fan of quality TV, things don't get more frustrating than this: At the same hour tonight, three shouldn't-miss, first-run programs are competing for viewers at the same time: NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," CBS' "Picket Fences," and HBO's "Dennis Miller," with guest star Garry Shandling. Tough call. You be the judge.* Baltimore Symphony: The Tokyo Concert (8-9 p.m., Channel 11) -- WBAL goes behind the scenes of the BSO's Asian tour. CBS.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8-9 p.m., Channel 45)

Last week, the final hour of prime time resulted in a battle that turned out like this: In the weekly Nielsen ratings, ABC's "20/20" just made the Top 30, CBS' "Picket Fences" just missed the Top 40, and NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street" just missed the Top 80. This is what we in the TV critic game call a shame, because "Picket Fences" and "Homicide" should be seen by everyone.* "Ancient Prophecies II" (8-10 p.m., Channel 2) -- More mumbo-jumbo for morons. I don't mean to poke fun at anyone's fervent beliefs, but the insidious, insulting and insipid way in which these "Ancient Prophecies" are described and re-enacted should make disbelievers out of us all. NBC.* "M.A.

Ardent backyard gardeners can eliminate some of the backbreaking work from their favorite pastime with the help of a mini-tiller.These lightweight machines are easily portable, small enough to work in tight spaces, yet powerful enough to get the job done. With optional attachments, they perform several tasks that make them useful throughout the gardening season.The Mantis tiller, a 20-pound machine usually sold with a free edging attachment, is the most widely known of the mini-tillers. Optional attachments convert the Mantis into a lawn dethatcher, aerator, planter/furrower, crevice cleaner or hedge trimmer.

A lot of programs are taking a breather tonight after straining to offer so many first-run episodes during the February sweeps. "Picket Fences"? A repeat. "The X-Files"? A repeat. "Homicide: Life on the Street"? An original -- which makes tonight's best bet an easy call.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Apparently, not even a praying "M.A.N.T.I.S." could save this series from hiatus, and probable cancellation. Beginning next week, its place will be taken by a new Fox series, "VR.5," that is a much more compatible fit with "The X-Files."

During this ultra-competitive sweeps month, the networks don't think much of their best Friday-night series: CBS is presenting an "In the Heat of the Night" made-for-TV movie instead of "Picket Fences," and NBC is showing a two-hour "Soap Opera Awards" special instead of "Homicide: Life on the ** Street."So what's left to watch tonight? Only one thing, and "X-Files" marks the spot.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel 45) -- Tonight's guest villain is played by Curtis Armstrong, who previously played the good guy second banana on "Moonlighting."

If you're a fan of quality TV, things don't get more frustrating than this: At the same hour tonight, three shouldn't-miss, first-run programs are competing for viewers at the same time: NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," CBS' "Picket Fences," and HBO's "Dennis Miller," with guest star Garry Shandling. Tough call. You be the judge.* Baltimore Symphony: The Tokyo Concert (8-9 p.m., Channel 11) -- WBAL goes behind the scenes of the BSO's Asian tour. CBS.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8-9 p.m., Channel 45)

Last week, the final hour of prime time resulted in a battle that turned out like this: In the weekly Nielsen ratings, ABC's "20/20" just made the Top 30, CBS' "Picket Fences" just missed the Top 40, and NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street" just missed the Top 80. This is what we in the TV critic game call a shame, because "Picket Fences" and "Homicide" should be seen by everyone.* "Ancient Prophecies II" (8-10 p.m., Channel 2) -- More mumbo-jumbo for morons. I don't mean to poke fun at anyone's fervent beliefs, but the insidious, insulting and insipid way in which these "Ancient Prophecies" are described and re-enacted should make disbelievers out of us all. NBC.* "M.A.

Two days ago, Shannen Doherty was missing from "Beverly Hills, 90210," but tonight she makes a roaring comeback as a good girl gone bad, and on the lam, in "Jailbreakers," Showtime's newest neo-retro "Rebel Highway" made-for-tv movie. Otherwise, the night is dominated by the three Rs: reruns, reruns, reruns.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel 45) -- Perhaps it's time to start praying, "M.A.N.T.I.S." the first episode, which premiered two weeks ago, earned a 14 share of the available audience and was third in its time slot.

A lot of programs are taking a breather tonight after straining to offer so many first-run episodes during the February sweeps. "Picket Fences"? A repeat. "The X-Files"? A repeat. "Homicide: Life on the Street"? An original -- which makes tonight's best bet an easy call.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8-9 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Apparently, not even a praying "M.A.N.T.I.S." could save this series from hiatus, and probable cancellation. Beginning next week, its place will be taken by a new Fox series, "VR.5," that is a much more compatible fit with "The X-Files."

Two days ago, Shannen Doherty was missing from "Beverly Hills, 90210," but tonight she makes a roaring comeback as a good girl gone bad, and on the lam, in "Jailbreakers," Showtime's newest neo-retro "Rebel Highway" made-for-tv movie. Otherwise, the night is dominated by the three Rs: reruns, reruns, reruns.* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel 45) -- Perhaps it's time to start praying, "M.A.N.T.I.S." the first episode, which premiered two weeks ago, earned a 14 share of the available audience and was third in its time slot.

Due to entirely accidental alignments in tonight's network schedules, viewers can, by switching channels at the appropriate times, treat themselves to an instant mini-festival showcasing Carl Lumbly in different shows and roles. Three straight hours of him! If that doesn't precisely meet your definition of must-see television, then you've gotten my point.* "Family Matters." (8-8:30 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- Donna Summer guest stars as Urkel's Aunt Oona, who visits bearing gifts (which, in this case, might be called Oona mementos)

The new crime-fighter on the block -- the one they call M.A.N.T.I.S. -- is a rarity in the super-hero world: an African-American. Unlike other black super-heroes such as Meteor Man or Blankman, M.A.N.T.I.S. takes crime-fighting seriously. He is the alter ego of Dr. Miles Hawkins, a brilliant biophysicist who was paralyzed after being struck by a bullet during an urban riot while saving a young boy. He helps develop an exoskeleton that lets him get out of his wheelchair -- the Mechanically Augmented Neuro-Transmitter Interactive System.