Television Critic David Bianculli previews this week's "American Playhouse" presentation on PBS titled "The Trial of Bernhard Goetz." Goetz was acquitted last year of assault charges stemming from his shooting of four black youths in a New York City subway car after, Goetz contended, the youths tried to rob him. The trial, which dominated the New York City press for several weeks, was known as "The Subway Vigilante" trial.
Television Critic David Bianculli previews the CBS remake of the 1954 film classic "The Caine Mutiny," based on Herman Wouk's acclaimed novel. Brad Davis stars as Commander Queeg, the role Humphrey Bogart made famous in the original film. Other actors include Jeff Daniels and performance artist Eric Bogosian. The performance is directed by Robert Altman.
Television Critic David Bianculli reviews the new ABC series "China Beach." Like "M*A*S*H," "China Beach" features the medical corps that tend to the wounded. But unlike "M*A*S*H," most all the main characters in "China Beach" are women - the nurses who work in the operating rooms and run the USO clubs - and the setting is Vietnam.