Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. This rerun shows why "Raymond" has evolved into such a wonderful series. It uses the smallest things to magnify human quirks. The story involves the family Christmas letter. Ray's wife and mother have created it; everyone else is offended by what they did and didn't say. There are big laughs and even some perceptive human glimpses. With episodes like this, everybody will love "Raymond."

"Ken Burns Stories: Huey Long," 9 p.m., PBS. Before Ken Burns became PBS' superstar, his 1985 "Huey Long" ran in a few movie theaters. It's a brilliant political biography that's worth seeing again. The son of a prosperous Louisiana farmer, Long became the champion of the little guy. He taxed big companies and big incomes to pay for schools, roads and more. He was loved as a populist and hated as a power-mad despot.

Of Note

"Ransom" (1996), 7 p.m., Fox. Ron Howard is master of mainstream filmmaking. This is a fairly good story (with one too many plot twists) elevated by Howard's touch and a great cast. Mel Gibson and Rene Russo are rich people whose son (Brawley Nolte, Nick's son) is taken; Delroy Lindo and Gary Sinise play key cops.

"Roman Holiday" (1953), 6 p.m., AMC. This black-and-white film is an enduring classic because of the Oscar-winning performance of Audrey Hepburn. She plays a princess who runs away from the palace and meets a normal, unroyal guy (Gregory Peck).

"The Dead Zone," 9 p.m., USA Network. This series got off to a strong start and will be back next month for a second season. Here is a rerun of the first two hours. Anthony Michael Hall plays a decent guy who emerges from a six-year coma to find he's lost his old life and gained strange new powers.

"Crossing Jordan," 9 p.m., NBC. This is the second half of a rerun that teams former "Law & Order" actors Jill Hennessy and Chris Noth (Big from "Sex and the City"). They're closing in on a serial killer.