In recent days, there has been lots of commentary about why we mourn celebrities. In the case of the late, great Bernie Mac, the answer is obvious: he was funny. With his bug-eyed faces and his blunt, sometimes profane delivery, the Mac Man could make you laugh to tears.
That gift is celebrated in the documentary "I Ain't Scared Of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac" (10 p.m. Sunday, Comedy Central). As you watch, Mac will make you laugh again, and his tribute might make you a little weepy too.
High school has lots of drama, and a good sports story has as much, plus more. Put them together and you should have gold, right? Like "Friday Night Lights" but real.
"4th and Forever" (Current TV, 9 tonight) focuses on Long Beach Polytechnic High, a school named the sports school of the century by Sports Illustrated and that sent more players to the NFL than any other high school. (Its alums include Snoop Dogg, Cameron Diaz, Billie Jean King and Tony Gwynn.)
But in 2009, the football team's record was 6-6, so the reality show hangs its drama on redemption.
It's not a horrible starting point; the problem is that "4th and Forever" hits us with that angle like we're tackle dummies. That's just not necessary. We get that there's pride and legacy at stake.
