‘Mind’ man’s trek.
“Mind of Mencia” host Carlos Mencia just returned from a trip to Iraq, where he spent a week visiting with US soldiers and entertaining them. He was scheduled to do one show per day, with about 700 soldiers attending each show, but often added an other show to handle the overflow.
Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia,” renewed for a fourth season, is scheduled to go back into production early next year (the ongoing writers’ strike could be a factor in that). He’s currently on a national comedy tour sponsored by Budweiser.
On a related note, Steve Garrin’s VideoActive Productions studio, located on Broadway, was used by the USO this week to record a holiday show that will air, via satellite – on Christmas Eve – to troops in Iraq and else where. It features call-in greetings from Al Pacino, Pat Cooper, Mel Brooks, Jackie Martling and others.
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Something unusual tonight on USA – a “supersized” episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and the final “CI” episode of this fall in which Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Eames appear.
In the episode, “Untethered” (10-11:03 p.m.), Goren (D’Onofrio) goes undercover in a prison to investigate whether inmates are being murdered and abused – and he, himself, is medicated and put into isolation, throwing his world into chaos. Tony Goldwyn and Debra Monk guest-star.
Last, but not least:
* Ch. 5’s Rosanna Scotto emcees today’s Catholic Charities Cardinal’s Christ mas lunch (the Waldorf).
* There’s a full night of “CNN Heroes” programming tonight including the “All- Star Tribute” gala, airing at 9 with hosts Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour.
* “Becks Strikes the USA,” part of Current TV’s “Super News” series, airs today and online (current.tv/super news).
* “Idol” time: Kimberley Locke makes her Manhattan stage debut tomorrow at the Beacon with Dave Koz.
* Alison Rudnick (Discovery) at Ted’s Montana Grill.