Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

• MUST-SEE: "South Pacific," 7 p.m., ABC: When TV remakes a musical, it does it right. Like ABC's "Annie" and CBS' "Gypsy," this one is a keeper. Based on stories by James Michener, this classic by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein is set on a tropical island during World War II. Glenn Close plays Nellie, a naive nurse usually played by people half her age.

• "Boston Public," 7 p.m., Fox: One ongoing plot has involved a bullied student, played by John Francis Daley of "Freaks and Geeks" and "The Geena Davis Show." Now officials find a list of his enemies. Is it a hit list?

• "Alligator" (1980), 7 p.m., Sci Fi Channel: This may be the best movie we'll ever get about a 36-foot alligator that terrorizes St. Louis.

• "Platoon" (1986), 7:30 p.m., TBS: Here's another chance to see a powerful Oscar-winner. Oliver Stone, a former Vietnam infantry officer, got viewers to feel the emotions involved in warfare.

• "First Years," 8 p.m., NBC: In last week's premiere, a great cast got buried by a weak story. Things are much better this week.