Tonight's installment of "20/20" (9 p.m., Ch. 4) includes a nice little segment about Salt Laker Kim Peek, the savant who helped inspire Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie "Rainman."
And the seven minutes or so isn't simply a rehash of Peek's amazing abilities to recall facts and figures, although it does begin with that subject. There's footage of Peek answering all sorts of questions posed to him by different groups (including students at Thomas Jefferson Junior High in Kearns).More importantly, Bob Brown's segment is an update on Peek and the wonderful effect the movie has had on his life - that he began to go out and meet people and hold question-and-answer sessions. It's estimated that Peek has appeared before about 350,000 people in the past five years.
"His personality started to come out," Fran Peek, Kim's father, says. "It was amazing. He could talk to people. He got a little self-confidence.
"He was somebody, maybe a human being for a change, and other people liked to talk to him."
Fran Peek and others attribute these changes directly to the attention Kim received from "Rain-man." And those who knew him before can see lots of changes.
"You see it in the way he talks, relates to other people," says Barry Morrow, who co-wrote the "Rainman" screenplay. "He used to look at the ground, space, anywhere but right at you. And now he keeps you locked in. He knows he's somebody."
The changes in Kim have been so profound that Morrow says if he had it to do over again, he'd change the ending of "Rainman." At the conclusion of the movie, Hoffman's character was returned to an institution.
"We'd have to revise our thinking that Kim or his equivalent, (the character) Raymond Babbitt, should be in an institution," Morrow says. "I don't think anybody can spend five minutes with Kim and not come away with a slightly altered view of themselves, the world, our potential as human beings."
All in all, a nice little segment on the widely watched news magazine.
URICH & SON: Another pair of Utahns are on TV this weekend - along with some gorgeous Utah scenery.
Deer Valley resident Robert Urich, the host of "National Geographic Explorer" (Sunday, 7 p.m., TBS) explores Utah in this week's episode, titled "High Adventures."
And he takes along his teenage son, Ryan, as the pair go white-water rafting, rock climbing and horse riding.
"Every week on `Explorer,' we take you on exotic adventures to far-away places," Urich says in his introduction. "But this week, I'm looking for adventure a little closer to home.
"You know, one of the reasons I moved to Utah was for this rugged beauty. Out here, there's always the chance to push yourself, to test your limits. That's what adventure's all about."
First up is rafting in Westwater Canyon, 18 miles of whitewater on the Colorado River. Included is some great footage shot by the "Ryan-cam" - a camera attached to Ryan's helmet.
The father and son also go rock climbing in Potash Canyon (and Bob has to catch up to young Ryan) as well as riding in some spectacular southern Utah scenery.
Urich's bits serve as introductions and conclusions for the three main elements of the two hours - the first about British business executives in a rigorous survival school; the second about some very brave (or incredibly foolish) ice climbers in Colorado; and the third a repeat segment about an ill-fated but triumphant early Antarctic expedition.
But it's nice to see Urich and his son demonstrating how "there are plenty of great adventures to be had right here in our own back yard."
BURKE'S BACK: Yes, CBS is airing "Burke's Law" tonight (8 p.m., Ch. 5).
And, no, this isn't a repeat of the series that aired on ABC back in the '60s.
But, yes, that is Gene Barry back in the title role of this all-new revival. And this time Barry's character - rich, suave homicide detective Amos Burke - is joined by his son, Peter (Peter Barton of "Young and the Restless").
The new "Law" has a lot in common with the old one, although it all seems somewhat sillier 30 years later.
It also has a lot in common with "Murder, She Wrote" - murder mysteries filled with lots of guest stars. (Tonight's cast includes George Segal, Michelle Phillips, Polly Bergen, Grant Show and Gerald McRaney.)
"Burke's Law" will never be confused with "NYPD Blue" or "Homicide: Life on the Streets." It's light-hearted, lightweight entertainment - nothing more.
And, with that as a goal, it succeeds. If you like Jessica Fletcher, you'll probably like Amos Burke.