Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: "Biography," 9 p.m., A&E. Looking ahead to a month full of new "Biography" hours, host Harry Smith picked this as one of his favorites. "I love ones that surprise us," he says. So here is Martha Stewart, often considered the essence of overdone suburban comfort. "She's from this sort of lower-class family in New Jersey, where canning food was a very practical thing," Smith says. "She does modeling early. She's a very successful student in high school." Then came Wall Street stock brokering, magazine work, books, TV — and a home-crafts empire.

"Providence," 7 p.m., NBC. There are romantic troubles all around. That includes Robbie and Tina; it also includes Syd and the handsome politician she just met.

"Diagnosis Murder," 7 p.m., CBS. Rushing toward its series finale this show offers a movie-length tale. Complications start when a key witness is killed in the courtroom.

"The Lone Gunmen," 8 p.m., Fox. This episode borrows a character from "The X-Files," Assistant Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi). Tonight, the Gunmen have him figured as a murder suspect.

"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Chad Lowe, who has done terrific work on "Life Goes On" and "ER," has a guest shot. He plays a wealthy man suspected of murdering a pregnant executive.