Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
New Year's Eve parties; 9 p.m. on ABC, 8:30 p.m. on MTV, 11:05 p.m. on Fox. Rock 'n' roll rules the holiday on all three networks. The veteran is Dick Clark, in his 31st year of hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve." At 9 p.m., he reviews music highlights from 2002, including tours by Coldplay, LL Cool J, Alabama and The Who; his live reports from New York's Times Square later in the program will be interspersed with a party taped in Hollywood. Ali Landry ("Spy TV") hosts the party with music by Nelly, Missy Elliott, B2K, Third Eye Blind, Uncle Kracker, Rod Stewart and O-Town.
Meanwhile, MTV has a studio at Times Square. It will use that to catch performances (including the Foo Fighters) and the crowd. Carson Daly hosts "New Year's Eve Pajama Party" from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., joined by Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher. Fox will be near the other end of the country in Las Vegas for "America's Party" from 11:05 p.m. to 12:35 a.m. Ryan Seacrest, who will be the solo host of "American Idol" when it returns Jan. 21, introduces Ashanti, Sheryl Crow, Ja Rule, Sugar Ray and more.
Of Note
"Live from Lincoln Center," 8 p.m., PBS. The New York Philharmonic offers a New Year's Eve concert focusing on the music of George Gershwin.
"Just Shoot Me," 7 p.m., NBC. Here is a rerun of the season opener. Rena Sofer adds some spice as an outspoken woman whom Jack hires, even though she has zero magazine experience.
"Andy Richter Controls the Universe," 7:30 p.m., Fox. Here is a second chance to see the season opener, laced with biting satire. The office is supposed to hire a minority. Andy tries to be politically correct, but he keeps getting it all wrong.
"According to Jim," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Long ago, Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi created comedy greatness. In this rerun, Aykroyd teams with John's brother and the show's star, Jim Belushi. They play guys trying to re-create their wild and crazy days.
"FRASIER," 9 p.m., NBC. This moderately amusing rerun has Frasier taking his family to Boston, where he bumps into his old "Cheers" pals. Soon, Norm, Cliff and Carla (George Wendt, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman) are regaling Niles with tales of his brother's past failures.
