Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

Football, 3 p.m., ABC: Remember when New Year's Day lasted only 24 hours, tops? Now the major bowl games are spread over a three-day football festival. Things finally end tonight with Miami and Nebraska in the Rose Bowl with the national championship at stake.

"Survivor: Africa" (CBS) or "Popstars" (WB, seen on KFVE), both 7 p.m.: The two reality shows are wrapping up now with opposite fates. For "Popstars," this is the finale. Things close with the first concert by the freshly formed pop group called Scene 23. For "Survivor: Africa," we're one week away from the million-dollar finale. The difference is in casting. In its first two tries, "Survivor" cast wonderfully, getting a rich range of people. This time, everyone seems too cold, too careful, too calculating. Mix in an unrelenting environment, and you have a show that's short on humanity and likability. "Popstars," by comparison, has a wonderful cast.

Of note

"Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993), 7 p.m., FOX: Here is another chance to see this broadly popular comedy. Robin Williams plays a divorced actor who disguises himself as a nanny to be close to his children.

"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. In a funny rerun, we learn what happened on the key Ross-and-Rachel night leading to her pregnancy.

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), 3 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., AMC: The state-of-the-art buddy film has it all. There is action, comedy and intelligent observations about the final days of the cowboy era. There are two handsome stars (Paul Newman and Robert Redford), a gorgeous love interest (Katherine Ross) and snappy music.

"Victoria & Albert," 7 p.m., A&E: Here is the first (and best) half of a terrific mini-series. Victoria Hamilton is wonderful as the unsure teenager who suddenly becomes queen of England.