Tube Notes

MUST-SEE: "That’s Life" (7 p.m.) and "Kate Brasher" (8 p.m.), both CBS. For most of the season, "That’s Life" has seemed stranded. This is a warm, witty show about a bartender who tries college, despite the indifference of her family and friends. Each show has a talented young actress. Heather Paige Kent plays Lydia DeLucca; Mary Stuart Masterson plays Kate Brasher. Both characters bring a blue-collar pragmatism, facing tight finances. Both also bring a warm sense of empathy. Tonight, Lydia and her brother Paul (Kevin Dillon) are forced together. He has a fight with their parents and moves in with her. "Kate Brasher" heads into her new world. Last week, she was a waitress, barely able to support her two teen sons. Now she has been given a job at a community center, where her colleagues juggle cynicism and idealism.

"Hey La, Hey La, the Girl Groups are Back," 6 p.m. KHET. This concert performance featuring Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Ronnie Spector, the Angels, the Chiffons and other girl group stars represents the kick-off of KHET’s March Pledge Drive, which continues through March 11 with several special presentations and pledge breaks designed to tease $100,000 out of member-viewers. It’s followed at 7:45 p.m. by "Doo Wop 50," celebrating 50 years of vocal group harmony with The Platters, Penguins, Gene Chandler and Johnny Maestro among other guests.

"The Bird Cage," 7 p.m., ABC (1996). Here is a rerun of a comedy that let its actors go for large laughs: With his son getting married, Robin Williams doesn’t want to rattle the bride’s family. His solution is to have his gay lover (Nathan Lane) pretend to be his wife. It is, alas, a flawed plan.

"The Tuskegee Airmen," 6 p.m., 1995 and "Black Aviators: Flying Free," 8 p.m., both History Channel. First is another chance to see a superb movie made by HBO. Laurence Fishburn stars in this story based on the WWII events of the first black combat fighter pilots of the United States. Andre Braugher and Cuba Gooding, Jr. co-star. The follow-up is a documentary that examines the stories of African-American aviators and the battles fought to become pilots and ascend the military ranks."

"Fire on Ice: Champions of American Figure Skating," 7 p.m., Arts and Entertainment. Here is another chance to see this elaborate portrait of the U.S. women who have skated to gold in the Olympics. Included: Nancy Kerrigan, Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan. (If you miss it, it’s also on video through www.aande.com)

"The District," 9 p.m., CBS. The police chief wants an all-out search for a teen killer. The FBI, however, stops him.

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