Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See:

"Kennedy Center Honors," 8 p.m., CBS. Each year this serves as one of TV's classiest events. It offers intelligently written tributes, strong performances, lots of emotion and little empty sentiment. As usual, the honorees cover both the pop culture and classical worlds. Want pop? There's Jack Nicholson and Julie Andrews. Then there is composer-producer Quincy Jones, whose career has ranged from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, from jazz to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Oprah Winfrey gives a tribute. Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles sing a duet. Prefer classical? Luciano Pavarotti and Van Cliburn are honored.

Of note:

"My Wife and Kids," 7 p.m., ABC. Remember Raven-Symone, who played in "The Cosby Show" and "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper"? In this rerun, she plays a teenager, visiting her friend. That's part of a day when Michael (Damon Wayans) feels overwhelmed while his wife's away.

"The West Wing," 8 p.m., NBC. Everyone is troubled in this rerun. Toby is enraged by an information leak, Sam feels guilty about an oil leak and Josh worries about the leaking Mexican economy. Meanwhile, the president asks his lawyer about the implications of covering up his health problems.

"The Bernie Mac Show," 8 p.m., FOX. Here is a second chance to see the terrific pilot film for this series, with Mac and his wife reluctantly taking in three kids.

"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. Megan Follows, the brilliant young actress who starred in "Anne of Green Gables," guest stars as a hard-pressed mother whose apartment building burned. This rerun also has Rudy Giuliani appearing as himself in the mayor role, introducing the new district attorney (Dianne Wiest).