Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Friends," 7 and 7:30 p.m., and "Will & Grace," 8 p.m., NBC. Here's a handy service for those who can't tell Brad Pitt from Matt Damon. Both have guest shots. At 7:30, it's Pitt in a "Friends" rerun. He plays a former nerd who started the "I Hate Rachel" club. That leads to some hilarious moments with Rachel — played by Jennifer Aniston, Pitt's real-life wife. At 8, Damon guests on "Will & Grace." He plays a straight guy who's trying to pretend he's gay so he can get a free European trip with the Gay Men's Chorus. Those two follow a new "Friends" at 7 p.m., which deals with the aftershocks of Joey's futile infatuation with Rachel. Now she's moved out of Joey's place and into the apartment of Ross, the father of the baby she's expecting. Tonight, Ross tries to soothe his new girlfriend, Mona, Joey gets a dog as consolation, and Monica's X-rated Valentine plan crumbles.
Of Note
"Intimate Portrait," 7 p.m., Lifetime. Lisa Gay Hamilton grew up as one of the only blacks in her school. It seemed like a prejudice-free zone — until the father of her co-star announced they were not to kiss in the school play. Hamilton has gone on to play some roles that are traditional for black actresses (including an angry lawyer in "The Practice") and some that aren't (including Ophelia in "Hamlet").
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 7 and 8 p.m., CBS. First is a rerun, probing the death of a deaf man who was hit by a car. The second is new: A body is dumped in the spot where the CSI people usually store and study old body parts.
"American Porn," 9 p.m., PBS. No one's sure how big the American pornography business is, but there are estimates that it has doubled in the past five years (thanks to the Internet) to $10 billion a year. This film starts in an upbeat mood, as a young woman arrives with her husband, to audition. Then it moves into much nastier turf.
"Just Shoot Me," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Finch is ready to hire an attractive young woman (Shannon Elizabeth of "American Pie") to care for his son. The catch is that he doesn't have a son.
"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. Last week, Greene and Corday were shocked when their baby gobbled Ecstasy drugs that had been hidden by Greene's teen daughter. Tonight, as the baby's life teeters, the repercussions could tear apart the family.
