WEDNESDAY’S BEST PICKS
7PM (AMC) MOVIE Pretty Woman Julia Roberts, who had charmed filmgoers the year before as the brave, doomed Shelby in “Steel Magnolias,” became a certifiable superstar with this 1990 comedydrama. She earned her second Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a hooker with a heart of gold whose strictly business relationship with a corporate takeover artist (Richard Gere) becomes something more. Directed by Garry Marshall, the film also stars Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo and Marshall-movie regular Hector Elizondo.
8PM $ The 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors It’s pretty difficult to beat the star power of this year’s honorees as George Clooney, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. (collectively U2), Amy Grant, Gladys Knight and Tania Leon are feted for their contributions to American culture. Also making appearances are Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Ariana DeBose, Maren Morris, Michael W. Smith, BeBe Winans, and many others.
8PM (HBO) MOVIE The Man From U.N.C.L.E. The movie version of the classic 1960s TV series lacks the Robert Vaughn-David McCallum chemistry as Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer assume the roles of reluctant spy partners Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, but director Guy Ritchie gets the atmosphere of the time right as the agents launch a Cold War pursuit of the masterminds behind a global nuclear threat. Alicia Vikander plays a scientist’s daughter who could help the duo in their mission. Hugh Grant also stars.
8 PM (TCM) MOVIE Rear Window One of director Alfred Hitchcock’s most memorable films, this 1954 classic manipulates the feelings of isolation and helplessness into ideal suspense. James Stewart stars as a photographer restricted to a wheelchair from a broken leg, who keeps an eye on his neighbors from his apartment. He comes to believe that one of them (Raymond Burr) is a murderer. Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter also appear.
10 PM $ The Gift: Kindness Goes Viral With Steve Hartman Steve Hartman examines how one simple act of kindness can create a ripple effect that causes real, positive change in this one-hour CBS News special. Hartman meets an MIT professor as she works on a formula to answer the question: What does it take for an act of kindness to spread? It’s all about ordinary people committing extraordinary acts and changing lives far beyond their own communities. The impact will amaze you.
10 PM (FX) MOVIE Ant-Man and The Wasp Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a superhero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) with an urgent new mission. He must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets in this 2018 action film.