Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Popstars 2," 7 p.m., WB (seen on KFVE). "Popstars 2" is both energizing and disturbing. Here are young people, desperate to be part of a new, boy-girl pop group. Some 6,000 showed up for the first round; 330 made it to this one. It's discouraging to think that many young women starved themselves to meet the standards of the Britney-Christina era. One, rejected last year, says she lost 30 pounds and has returned to strut her bare-midriff stuff with the others. Still, the energy and enthusiasm is contagious. Round two includes two best friends ... and a brother-sister combination, and a gifted singer confined to a wheelchair. These are people we soon care about. Tonight, some make it to the third round and some don't.

OF NOTE

"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. Ross is getting terribly possessive about his baby-to-be, which Rachel is carrying. Tonight, he's upset because she's going on a date with an actor from Joey's soap opera.

"Survivor: Africa," 7 p.m., CBS. Now it's time for the third round.

"Inside Schwartz," 7:30 p.m., NBC. Ali Landry, the former Miss USA, plays a gorgeous woman who attracts Schwartz — to the dismay of her friend and his ex-lover, Eve.

"Will and Grace," 8 p.m., NBC. Parker Posey, a favorite of independent-movie buffs, guest stars as Jack's boss who is obsessed with dating Will.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m. CBS. An apartment contains lots of blood but no bodies.

"Shot in the Heart," 9 p.m. (analog) and 6 p.m. (digital), HBO. Here's another chance to see this true story filled with rich layers. Giovanni Ribisi plays Mikal Gilmore, a successful writer whose brother (Gary) was a convicted killer on death row.

"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. On her first day back on the job, Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherrie Stringfield) clashes with Abby and Kerry.