Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett New Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Excess Baggage" (1997), 7 p.m., ABC. A crabby teen gets her dad's attention with a fake kidnapping. It's a fine idea — until someone steals the car where she's hidden. That's the start of a tangled tale that has some major problems. The biggest is that both lead characters are so hard to care about.

The casting saves the film, however. Alicia Silverstone was perfect as the teen. Benicio Del Toro, then an unknown, was fascinating as the car thief. Del Toro's role is similar to the one that later brought him an Academy Award in "Traffic." He plays a sometimes-crooked guy whose conscience emerges when nasty folks surround him.

Of Note

"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. In a terrific rerun, Chandler learns the secret about Monica's locked closet.

"Scrubs," 7:30 p.m., NBC. The former "Hearts Afire" stars were reunited in this rerun. John Ritter and Markie Post arrives for parents' weekend.

"C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. This rerun has a tour bus crashing on its route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

"Hoosiers" (1986), 6 p.m., TNN. Here's a great sports film. It's a fictional tale inspired by the real story of a tiny Indiana high school team that leaped into the state basketball tournament. David Anspaugh directed beautifully. Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper star.

"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. This reruns the moving episode in which Carla's accident changes the lives of Benton and their son.