Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Winter Olympics," 7 a.m.,6:30 p.m., midnight, NBC, also on MSNBC and CNBC. The women figure skaters finally get their turn with the short programs tonight and the long ones Thursday. The Americans have been talking about a sweep for Michelle Kwan, Sarah Hughes and Sasha Cohen. If there is an upset, look for Russia's Irina Slutskaya. Other prime time events include men's 1,500-meter speed skating, plus the finals for women's bobsleigh and men's freestyle aerials. Both cable channels have semifinal games in women's hockey.

"American Masters: Ralph Ellison: An American Journey," 9 p.m., PBS. A half-century after Ralph Ellison wrote "Invisible Man," it makes many lists as one of the greatest American novels. Remarkably, Ellison spent more than 40 years on a book so complex that he never finished it. At one point, 340 pages were lost in a cottage fire. Only after his death was his estate able to patch together his second novel. Here is a fascinating, Black History Month portrait.

Of Note

"My Wife and Kids," "According to Jim," 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. In "My Wife," parents worry about one kid with a hamster and another with a boyfriend. "Jim" has a cat's funeral on the day of a Bears game.