Tube Notes

MUST SEE: "The Outsiders," 6 p.m., Fox Family Channel. Growing up in Tulsa, Okla., S.E. Hinton found herself watching the ongoing war between blue-collar guys and the college-bound crowd. Eventually she put that into novels, including this teen classic. Director Francis Ford Coppola turned it into a stunning movie. Some people criticize the richly emotional tone of this 1983 film and of its score, which was written by Coppola’s father. But the result is powerful. Coppola captures the quiet elegance of young working people. The lead roles went to Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio and C. Thomas Howell; in support are Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez and, briefly, Tom Cruise.

"Norm," 8:30, ABC. Tommy Smothers guests as Norm’s dad.

"Lizzie McGuire" premiere, 8:40 p.m., Disney Channel. In 1991, Nickelodeon introduced an above-average teen show, "Clarissa Explains It All." Now Disney comes up with a similar show. The star, Hillary Duff, even looks like "Clarissa" star Melissa Joan Hart (who now stars in "Sabrina"). Both characters talk to the audience; the difference is that Clarissa did it directly and Lizzie uses brief, animated segments. Tonight’s opener involves the disasters of school picture day. It’s laced with stereotypes — all the girls are vain and frivolous, the main guy is not — but has moments that are clever and amiable.

"Dennis Miller Live" season-opener, 9:30 p.m., HBO. "Monday Night Football" season is gone now and Miller is back serving up unfettered humor and opinions.

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