Tube Notes

MUST SEE: "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. In its best episodes, this show captures human dignity against a nasty background. In its worst ones, there’s only the nastiness. Tonight’s episode is one of the good ones. It’s tautly written and superbly acted. Two murder victims seem to have only one thing in common: Both had done prison time for sex offenses against minors. Now the search heads in many directions, including an angry activist played by Eric Roberts. The scenes between Christopher Meloni (as detective Elliot Stabler) and Roberts are filled with understated eloquence.

"El Dorado" (1967) 3 p.m., AMC. Here’s a first-rate cowboy film with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. It also gave James Caan one of his first good roles.

"Norm," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Nikki Cox returns for a guest stop. Now Norm has one more chance to romance her.

"The Fugitive," 8 p.m., CBS. Kimble’s friend is sending messages via the personal ads. Lt. Gerard takes advantage of that.

"The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), 9 p.m., Lifetime. The sequel to this film, "Hannibal," reaches movie theaters today. Some people might want to revisit "Silence." It won Academy Awards for best picture, best actor (Anthony Hopkins as a brilliant psychopath) and best actress (Jodie Foster as the FBI trainee trying to tap his mind).

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