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“ ++++ THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN”

PHOTO BY JEFFREY GUSKY

—Sunday Mirror

WWI, which aired early
in 2017. Right now, you
can watch the docu-
The revival this season
mentary, in full, for free,
of Will & Grace has been
on the Smithsonian
a success, getting good,
Channel website; on
if not great, reviews,
demand; or on YouTube.
and good, if not great,
Ignore what seems to
ratings. The premise of
be the grim subject
the episode (“Friends
matter — this film is
and Lover”) airing on
fascinating, moving and
Thursday, Jan. 4 (NBC,
ultimately uplifting. Dr.
9 p.m.) is a little risqué
Jeffrey Gusky, 68, a
Messing
for current broadcast TV
distinguished emer-
and certainly wouldn’t
gency-room physician,
have gotten past network
is also an avid photog-
censors when the show
rapher/researcher. He
began in 1998. Will and
traveled to Poland in the
Grace (Debra Messing,
mid-’90s to get more in
49) try to convince them-
touch with his Jewish
selves they are OK dating
faith and, on the site of
the same, charismatic
the concentration camp
man (played by Nick
depicted in Schindler’s
Offerman, the real-life
List, he found a sec-
husband of series’ co-star
tion that was unknown
Megan Mullally.)
even to local residents.
My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Bialik
Thus began his “nose”
starring Rachel Bloom,
for sites — and the
30, begins its new season
genesis of his first book
on Friday, Jan. 5 (CW, 9
of photos: Silent Places:
p.m.). The last season
Landscapes of Jewish
ended with Rebecca
Life and Loss in Eastern
(Bloom) acting even more
Europe (2003; Overlook
meshugah than usual.
Press).
She was abandoned
During the last
at the altar by the guy
decade, he has explored
she’d been chasing for
scores of virtually for-
years (he left her for the
gotten underground
priesthood!). In response,
quarries near the WWI
Rebecca threw herself off Gusky
front line in France that
a (real) cliff. She survived
once housed thousands
and found an unexpected
of WWI soldiers (French,
well of strength, with
American, British and
the help of her fierce girl
German). The soldiers
squad. Now that squad
carved their names and
has to decide whether
symbols into the soft
to help Rebecca as she
limestone walls. A little
seeks revenge on the
more than five minutes
erstwhile groom.
into the documentary,
The episode of The
there is a glimpse of a
Big Bang Theory that airs
wall carving of a Star of
on Jan. 4 (CBS; 8 p.m.)
David.
promises to be a real
Dr. Gusky told me
showcase for Mayim
that
it was a religious
WWI underground altar
Bialik (Amy), 42. Sheldon
shrine created by
and Amy subject their
French Jewish soldiers
friends to a series of secret experiments
— but, I gather it is in a quarry near
to see who would be most qualified to
the one fully explored in the film — but
be best man and maid of honor at their
not the same one. The quarry he fully
wedding.
explores has many American soldiers’
names carved into the walls. We see
A SERIOUS TV OFFERING
Dr. Gusky find a few of their descen-
Two weeks ago, I caught up with a
dants — including members of a Native
Smithsonian channel documentary,
American tribe. •
Americans Underground: Secret City of

DEBORAH COX

Deborah Cox is not scheduled to perform at the Sat. matinee & Sun. evening performances

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BroadwayInDetroit.com,

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32

January 4 • 2018

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