The TV Zone

Car lover alert: Check out tonight's pretty solid CNBC special, "Saving General Motors" airing at 9. This one's for car lovers (or anyone else worried about the state of a company that so long ago was the tail that wagged the U.S. economy.) But it's chiefly for car lovers because this is a doc on a business channel that isn't all THAT much interested in the biz about cars as it is about the wheels themselves. Plus, this sprawling doc tackles something that's just about as iconic as milk, or at least once was - General Motors. Reported by Phil LeBeau, "Saving" is about GM's struggle for survival - though watch this and you won't get the sense that the situation's as dire as we all seem to think right now. That said, it's reasonably tough in spots though an exceedingly fair-minded (and open-minded) overview of this giant-in-trouble. Only one in five cars sold in the U.S. are now GM-built (down from one half in the '50s), while even that figure is under assault. LeBeau notes, GM's remarkable legacy both "inspires it and cripples it." He's got access to all the top dogs here - including chairman, Rick Wagoner, who puts on a good face, and maybe one that's even justified. (LeBeau explores the megagiant's success in China and eastern Bloc countries because "apparently ex-communists love Chevys." Also good interviews with quality chief Bob Lutz - a great salesman who insists quality has improved and you kinda believe him - and Ed Welburn, chief of global design, who's in charge of designing the new Camaro, out in 2010 (a terrific looking car, BTW; see above.) There's much much more here - crippling gas prices, worker strife, GM's struggle with hybrids, and the new Chevy Volt (in production and due 2010.)

Bottom line: Watch this. Interesting and engrossing.

Grade: B.