It was meant as a lesson on how to appreciate life for those who still have their lives in front of them, delivered by a man who didn’t have much time left.
It became a viral hit on the web, both in video and as a piece of writing, and tonight terminally ill Carnegie Mellon Prof. Randy Pausch discusses his “Last Lecture” with ABC’s Diane Sawyer at 10 p.m. on a special edition of “Primetime.”
In September 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had successful surgery, but it metastasized to his liver and spleen last August. His doctors gave the 47-year-old three to six months to live.
A month later he delivered a speech as part of CMU’s “Journeys” lecture series, in which faculty members reflect on their life’s journey. Pausch’s speech, entitled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” became an instant phenomenon.
There are more than half a dozen versions of the abridged speech posted on YouTube, and it has been streamed more than 6 million times across different online video platforms. The text of the 76-minute lecture has also been passed around as an email.
Pausch’s messages: To never lose the childlike wonder that so often gets lost in the push toward adulthood, to never break a promise, and other seemingly simple ideas that people rarely follow.
Now Pausch, who is still fighting the disease and just recovered from a bout of heart and kidney failure, has written a new book based on his talk, called “The Last Lecture.” It was released yesterday, and tonight Pausch and his wife, Jai, with whom he has three children, talk to Sawyer about the book, Pausch’s journey and his future.
Considering all the hype the “Last Lecture” has generated on the internet, and the fact that NBC’s competing “Law & Order” is a rerun, “Primetime” should at least perform better than “Men in Trees’” 1.5 adults 18-49 rating in the same slot last week.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Laurence Fishburne and Cokie Roberts both make appearances.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN2
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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The Phillies take on the Mets at Shea Stadium.
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7:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“American Idol” (R)
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A host of big-name celebrities make appearances for the now-annual “Idol Gives Back” episode.
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8 p.m.
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CW
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“America’s Next Top Model” (R)
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A clip show of what’s happened so far this cycle.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Criminal Minds” (D)
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What at first appears to be a rash of suicides in Pittsburgh might actually be mass murder.
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9:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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The Suns and the Spurs face off as the teams jockey for playoff position.
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10 p.m.
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MTV
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“If I Were King” (A)
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Examining Diddy’s career as a fashion designer.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 10
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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6 p.m.
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ESPN2
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“College Hockey” (S)
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A semifinal in the NCAA men’s Frozen Four.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“American Idol” (R)
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This week’s results show, a day late due to last night’s “Idol Gives Back.”
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8:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“30 Rock” (C)
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Jack finds a ratings hit in the reality show “MILF Island.”
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“CSI” (D)
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Catherine looks into a murder of a 3-year-old near a comedy club.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“The Office” (C)
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Jan and Michael throw a dinner party in the show’s post-strike return.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Eli Stone” (D)
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Katey Sagal guests as a partner looking into why the firm is losing high-profile clients.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“ER” (D)
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Sam finds out that Gates and Julia aren’t a couple anymore.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 11
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Chef Wolfgang Puck guests, as does Lee Woodruff.
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4 p.m.
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ESPN
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“Golf” (S)
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Second-round coverage of The Masters, from Augusta, Ga.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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Melinda confronts a blogger who knows her secret.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Miss USA” (A)
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The 57th annual event, hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Numb3rs” (D)
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Charlie trains with the FBI in hopes of learning to defend himself.
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10 p.m.
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Versus
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“NHL Hockey” (S)
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Coverage of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, teams TBD.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 12
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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3:30 p.m.
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CBS
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“Golf” (S)
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Third-round play from The Masters, the year’s first major.
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3:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Either Yankees-Red Sox or Rockies-Diamondbacks.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Hockey” (S)
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The college hockey national championship game, won last year by Michigan State.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“NASCAR Racing” (S)
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The Subway Fresh Fit 500, live from Phoenix.
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9 p.m.
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Lifetime
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“The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” (M)
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Based on the best-selling novel by Kim Edwards.
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11:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“Saturday Night Live” (C)
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Ashton Kutcher hosts, Gnarls Barkley provides the tunes.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 13
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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2:30 p.m.
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CBS
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“Golf” (S)
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Final round of The Masters, won last year by Zach Johnson.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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Big game between the Spurs and Lakers in L.A.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Oprah’s Big Give” (R)
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The final three each head home, and John Travolta makes an appearance.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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The fam takes in a country singer who owes back taxes.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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Some of Katherine’s secrets flutter around Wisteria Lane.
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10 p.m.
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Comedy Central
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“Night of Too Many Stars” An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education” (A, C)
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Benefit concert hosted by “Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart.
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10 p.m.
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FX
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“Dirt” (D)
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Season finale. An overweight TV star tries to prevent showing up on the cover of the magazine.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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