9/11 TV

By now, if you saw the first half of ABC's "Path to 9/11" on Sunday, you'll know more about the documentary than I do. You'll know whether or not the controversy surrounding this show, whether facts have been distorted, has any merit.

The problem with any historical event that has been dramatized is inevitably the need for the writers and directors to make it "more dramatic." This often leads to a distortion of events. Of course, if the producers of these movies wanted it to be a documentary of what happened, not a drama, then they would make a documentary.

ABC has already made several cuts and changes to the film over the weekend after former Clinton administration officials protested how certain events were portrayed. The fact that ABC seems to be defending the film by calling it a dramatization doesn't say a lot for the film's content, at least for me.

Part 2 of "Path" will actually be interrupted by Pres. Bush's speech at 9 p.m., then continue, according to TV Guide. Other programs dealing with 9/11 themes include "Dateline" (8 p.m., NBC), which deals with Flight 93; "Primetime" (10 p.m., ABC - time may vary because of the Bush speech), which reports on where we are five years later; "America Rebuilds II" (9 p.m., PBS), a return to Ground Zero; and "Countdown to Ground Zero," (10 p.m., The History Channel).

MONDAY'S BEST BET: If you haven't taken my advice and watched the coolest show of the summer, "Life on Mars" (10 p.m., BBC-America), then you really shouldn't even be reading this blog. Tonight is the season finale, in which time-lost (or insane, or comatose) detective Sam Tyler investigates his father's link to crimes in 1973.

SUPERMAN LIVES: I try to leave the movie stuff to my Reel Fanatic colleague, Keith Demko, but I'm going to cheat a little bit and recommend "Hollywoodland," about the death of TV Superman actor George Reeves. A terrific cast (Adrien Brody, Bob Hoskins, the always wonderful Diane Lane — God, I love her — and Ben Affleck in his finest role in years) examines the many theories behind Reeves' supposed suicide. The movie has drawn criticism for not doing more than offering theories to the crime, but really, since the case has never been solved to anyone's satisfaction, what conclusions can really be drawn?