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MONDAY
OCTOBER 258-10PM The Brooke Ellison Story (A&E, TV-PG) Christopher Reeve directed this real-life tale of Harvard graduate Brooke Ellison (played at different ages by Vanessa Marano and Lacey Chabert), a quadriplegic since a car accident at age 11. Though the film can occasionally feel like an after-school special, the late Reeve imbued it with a delicacy informed by his own physical challenges. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (left, with Chabert) ably conveys strength and devotion as Brooke's mother, who left her job to dedicate her life to Brooke's future. B —Allyssa Lee
SERIES FINALE 8-9PM The Benefactor (ABC) In an earlier-than-scheduled finish to this flop-sweaty reality show, Mr. Moneybags (Mark Cuban) graces the final three contestants' hometowns with visits, discovers something shocking about one of them, and gives him or her the boot. The final two then get 60 seconds to explain why they deserve his $1 million, even though ''Because I suffered through this entire show'' takes much less time than that.
SEASON PREMIERE 8-10PM The Swan (Fox, TV-PG-D) You need plastic surgery. Oh, yes you do, and to think otherwise is dangerously healthy.
8-11PM Amnesia (BBC America, TV-14) John Hannah stars as a cop whose wife is missing. Sure, he might have killed her, but his accent is so dreamy that I give him the benefit of the doubt.
9-11PM 2004 Radio Music Awards (NBC, TV-14) Keep your TiVo remote handy. Janet Jackson's getting an honorary award at this live event, and I hear she has boobs and ain't afraid to use 'em.
10-11PM CSI: Miami (CBS, TV-14-SV) A suspect dies in front of the jury. Some folks just can't face jail.
SERIES DEBUT 10:30-11PM Battle for OZZfest (MTV) Think of it as the American Idol of hard-rock bands. We know Sharon's the Simon, so does that make Ozzy the Paula?
(Additional reporting by Annie Barrett)
