the good witch

catherine bell, the hallmark channel, good witch, katherine bell, chris potter

Catherine Bell, star of ''JAG,'' and ''Army Wives,'' ditches her military uniforms for something slightly mysterious in the cable romance ''The Good Witch'' (Hallmark at 9).

Cassie Nightingale (Bell) sets a small town on its ear when she suddenly takes possession of a legendary, dilapidated mansion known as ''The Grey House'' and opens a potion shop known as ''Bell, Book and Candle.''

She quickly casts her spell on the local sheriff when she helps his son cope with a local bully, dispels his daughter's nightmares and fills his father with pleasant thoughts of the old country
But not every resident sees Nightingale in such a kindly light. A local booster who happens to be the mayor's wife accuses her of practicing black magic and tries to drive her out of town.

Nightingale's enemies are as benign and generic as her magical arts. It says something when a movie about witchcraft and its detractors can unfold without a mention of religion or the occult. But the real missing ingredient here is any chemistry between Nightingale and her love interest. Bell's witch may not ride a broomstick, but she straddles the line between cool understatement and complete disinterest.

Let's all root for the end of the writers strike so Nadine Velazquez can return to ''My Name Is Earl'' and stay out of horribly contrived romances like ''Husband for Hire'' (Oxygen at 8). She plays the spoiled daughter of a Mexican-food magnate (Erik Estrada) who hires a day laborer (Mark Consuelos) to spite her former fiance (Mario Lopez) and fulfill the obligations of her mother's will. Estrada sets the acting bar here, and it's mighty low.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

''True Hollywood Story'' (E! at 6) profiles Donald Trump.

John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman star in the 2003 drama ''Runaway Jury'' (CBS 2,3 and 22 at 8, TV-14).

Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones star in the 2002 romantic satire ''The Terminal'' (ABC 6 and 16 at 8, TV-14).

''American Idol'' winner Jordin Sparks appears on ''Talkshow with Spike Feresten'' (Fox 5 and 29 at midnight, TV-14).

CULT CHOICE

Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier and the great Edna Mae Oliver star in the 1940 adaptation of ''Pride and Prejudice'' (TCM at 8), a near-perfect entertainment from Hollywood's golden age, as much a product of David O. Selznick as Jane Austen.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

An officer down on a repeat ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (NBC 4,10 and 28 at 8, TV-14) … On back-to-back episodes of ''Cops'' (Fox 5 and 29, TV-14,D,L), shirtless and clueless (8 p.m.), golf cart mayhem (8:30 p.m., repeat) … A fighter seems linked to a teen's grisly end on a repeat ''Law & Order: SVU'' (NBC 4,10 and 28 at 9, TV-PG) … John Walsh hosts ''America's Most Wanted'' (Fox 5 and 29 at 9, TV-PG) … Lupo returns to find terror at home on a repeat ''Law & Order'' (NBC 4,10 and 28 at 10, TV-14).

kmcdonough@unitedmedia.com

SCHEDULE CHANGES

Following program changes were made after Total TV press time.

6:00 p.m. -- A&E -- Cold Case Files replaces previously scheduled programming.

MSNBC -- Coverage of the Nevada Caucuses and South Carolina Republican Primary replaces programming until 10.