Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE (network TV): "Providence," 7 p.m., NBC: As the plot lines unfold and interweave, one thing becomes clear: "Providence" really doesn't work well in reruns. Now the show starts a four-week burst of new episodes for the "sweeps" ratings period. Syd finds herself dealing with a sick baby. Meanwhile, her brother, Robbie, is off on what's supposed to be a romantic stretch in nature.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE (cable): "Live by Request," 6 p.m., A&E: When the disco era hit its peak, the Bee Gees were a powerful force. They provided the core of "Saturday Night Fever" — both as an excellent movie score and as an album that sold 30 million copies. Now, the Bee Gees will tap some of those memories. They perform while taking requests by phone or by e-mail.

"The American President" (1995), 2 p.m., TBS: Here is a gifted director (Rob Reiner) who made sure he had a strong script. Aaron Sorkin spent almost a year writing and rewriting this story of a widowed president (Michael Douglas) and a beautiful lobbyist (Annette Bening). The result was so good that Sorkin, now mired in a drug controversy, created his brilliant "West Wing" series.

"Diagnosis Murder," 7 p.m., CBS: The elegant Julius Carry guests as a prominent lawyer who confesses — then changes his story.

"The Lone Gunmen," 8 p.m., Fox: Yves comes up with a fresh way to get close to a suspect — by dancing with him in a tango contest.

"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC: Mili Avital, the gifted actress from the "Stargate" movie, guest stars in a story about mail-order brides and prostitution.