Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Out of Sight" (1998), 9 p.m., USA Network. Lately, director Steven Soderbergh has conquered the mainstream movie world. In 2000 he made "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic." Both won Academy Awards. Currently he has "Ocean's Eleven," a delightful heist film. Soderbergh had been an independent-movie guy with one hit (the 1989 "Sex, Lies & Videotape") and some failures. "Out of Sight" starts with a richly layered tale by novelist Elmore Leonard. A charming robber (George Clooney) is caught and convicted, breaks out of prison, and inadvertently takes a federal agent (Jennifer Lopez) hostage. A big scheme follows along with comedy, romance and violence. Soderbergh and Clooney turned an ordinary story into a delight.

OF NOTE

"The Weakest Link," 4 p.m. & 4:30 p.m., KHNL. The show remains in prime time on NBC, but also begins a syndicated (non-network) version weekdays. George Gray ("Junkyard Wars") hosts.

"Fear Factor," 7 p.m., NBC. After being a summer success, this tacky show begins its regular duties. Tonight's contestants range from a beefy cop to a former beauty queen who is the bravest minister we've ever seen. They walk the wings of a plane and bob for plums in a tank filled with water snakes. Then they conclude with a stunt — driving a car off a building — that's remarkably uninteresting.

"Boston Public," 7 p.m., FOX. Harper agonizes when a former student wants him to be a witness at his execution. Meanwhile, news about a star student creates a problem in the romance between his mother and Guber.

"Ally McBeal," 8 p.m., FOX. Mariah Carey guest stars as a matchmaker's disgruntled customer.

"Masterpiece Theatre: The Song of the Lark," 9 p.m., PBS. Here is the second chance to see this uncomplicated but lovely film based on a Willa Cather novel. Alison Elliott is excellent as a minister's daughter who aspires to sing opera.