Half of the buzz about the Oscars revolves around fashion. Which actress will look the most radiant? Retro? Ridiculous? Long after the winners and ceremonies are forgotten, millions will still remember the fashion hits and faux pas.
Dedicated to the powerful relationship between the big screen and costume design, the series "Hollywood Fashion Machine" (9 p.m., AMC) examines the busy life and influential career of contemporary designer Ellen Mirojnick. She may not be a household name, but Mirojnick has made a profound impact on fashion trends on and off the screen.
Liv Tyler stars in "One Night at McCool's," one of the movie's focused on in "Hollywood Fashion Machine," a documentary broadcast at 9 p.m. today on AMC.
As this informative hour relates, she had many fights with director Oliver Stone while outfitting Michael Douglas's character in the 1987 drama "Wall Street." Stone felt that her "power suits" were over the top, but Mirojnick countered that they were not making a documentary about finance, but creating an illusion and telling a story about greed. Mirojnick's fashions not only helped create an indelible image, but also changed the way that real Wall Street brokers dressed.
Her other unforgettable screen images include Sharon Stone's killer duds in "Basic Instinct," and clothes that reflect the gradual disintegration of Glenn Close's character in the thriller "Fatal Attraction." She also created the memorable and minimal outfits for the Las Vegas howler "Showgirls."
In a real departure for AMC, much of this documentary focuses on (and helps promote) the upcoming comedy "One Night At McCool's." Clearly inspired by "There's Something About Mary," the film concerns a voluptuous young woman (Liv Tyler) who inspires very different flashbacks from the three men (Paul Reiser, John Goodman and Matt Dillon) who spend the night with her. Tyler's outfits are essential elements in each man's recollection, and Mirojnick shows how she alters the look of the same dress to reflect each suitor's memory of Tyler's character.
The very funny and quotable film critic Frank DeCaro of "The Daily Show" hosts his third annual "Out at the Movies Fabulous Big 'O' Special" (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central). Silly, dishy and good for at least 60 zingers a minute, DeCaro has a very good time sending up Oscar hype and hoopla.
Tonight's other highlights
The NCAA Basketball Tournament continues (6:30 p.m., CBS).
A CIA agent (Michael Jai White) makes a pact with the devil and returns to his old beat in the 1997 comic book fantasy "Spawn" (7 p.m., Fox).
Lorelei's grandmother (Marion Ross) arrives with a trust fund for Rory on "The Gilmore Girls" (7 p.m., WB).
Scheduled on "Primetime" (9 p.m., ABC): a follow-up on Harvard Medical School's class of 1987.
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