Lifestyle

'Simpsons' return with spooks in tow
Weekend tv

Joel Brown
New York Times Syndicate

Well, finally.

The return of "The Simpsons" with new episodes is the highlight of any fall television season. But baseball on Fox has pushed back the debut until now. Sunday at 8, Fox unveils this year's installment in the Simpson Halloween omnibus tradition, "Treehouse of Horror XII."

The fun begins when Marge orders the UltraHouse 3000, a futuristic home, fully equipped and computer activated to take care of every chore. Anyone who knows their Ray Bradbury knows what happens next. Pierce Brosnan provides the voice of the "smart house" computer, which falls in love with Marge and plots to eliminate Homer.

In the second story, Homer is cursed by a tarot-card-reading gypsy so that he will bring bad luck to everyone he loves. Soon Marge finds herself turning into a blue version of Cousin It. And in the final part of the trilogy, Bart and Lisa are attending Springwarts School of Magicry when Bart teams up with the wicked Lord Montymort, aka Mr. Burns, to beat Lisa in the school talent show.

At 4:30 Sunday, Fox will broadcast the seventh game of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Anaheim Angels, if needed, or the original "Die Hard" movie (1988), with Bruce Willis as a tough city cop battling terrorists in a Los Angeles high-rise.

Highlights

"Backdraft" (1991), ABC tonight at 8: Firefighter mystery-thriller with Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro and Donald Sutherland.

"Mad TV," Fox tonight at 11: A "Dateline" parody featuring Christopher Titus ("Titus") as the unlikely genius behind reality television, and Jessica Simpson hosts an "MTV Fall Break Beach Party" and performs her latest single "A Little Bit."

"Saturday Night Live," NBC tonight at 11:30: Compilation of Halloween skits from episodes past.

"60 Minutes," CBS Sunday at 7.

"Becker," CBS Sunday at 8: Becker travels all the way to a Staten Island, N.Y., hospital to visit his former patient, Mr. Humphries (guest Hal Holbrook), who is not expected to make it through the night. But of course he does, so Becker has to come back tomorrow ...

"American Dreams," NBC Sunday at 8: Meg is ecstatic when teen heartthrob Jimmy Riley asks her to be his regular dance partner on "Bandstand," as the show's newest "spotlight couple." Woo-hoo!

"Masterpiece Theatre," KSPS Sunday at 8: Part 4 of "The Forsyte Saga," Irene abandons Soames, and she and old Jolyon renew their acquaintance.

"Alias," ABC Sunday at 9: Sydney is sent on a case to track down a new generation of weapons, and Sloane tells Jack the truth about Emily's death.

"Double Jeopardy" (1999), CBS Sunday at 9: Ashley Judd is wrongly convicted of murdering her husband Bruce Greenwood -- who ain't dead. So she and Tommy Lee Jones hunt down the creep.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," NBC Sunday at 9: When a Chinese immigrant is murdered, the detectives expect a connection to Tiananmen Square, but their investigation leads them to a major art-smuggling ring.

"The Practice," ABC Sunday at 10: The firm defends a controversial medical-research facility.

"Boomtown," NBC Sunday at 10: Armed burglars dressed as cowboys kidnap paramedic Teresa and demand that she save the life of their wounded buddy.

Family Fare

"A Bug's Life" (1998), ABC Sunday at 7: The computer-animated hit, with Dave Foley providing the voice for the misfit ant trying to save his comrades from grasshoppers. Kevin Spacey also contributes his voice.

Cable Cast

"Charade" (1963), TCM tonight at 5: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn star in a stylish Paris adventure directed by Stanley Donen -- this was the basis for the current "The Truth About Charlie," starring (gulp) Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975), VH1 tonight at 7:30: A rockin' good way to prepare for Halloween, with Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick stranded at mad scientist Tim Curry's spooky mansion.

"Ghost World" (2001), Showtime tonight at 8: Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson star as teenager misfits trying to make the transition to adulthood, with Steve Buscemi as an oddball one of them befriends. Based on the graphic novel.

NFL football, ESPN Sunday at 5:30: Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins.

"Inside the Actor's Studio in Paris," Bravo Sunday at 8: Now host James Lipton is not only sucking up to actors, he's sucking up to FRENCH actors. Is there no shame? Tonight, Juliette Binoche.

"The Sopranos," HBO Sunday at 9: Tony and the boys throw "a Bada Bing Bash" for Paulie when he gets out of jail -- but what's up with him and Johnny Sack?

"Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO Sunday at 10: Ted Danson guests in an episode with the cheerful title of "The Corpse-Sniffing Dog."

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