Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Intimate Portrait," 7 p.m., Lifetime. Sherry Lansing once predicted that no woman would run a movie studio in her lifetime. A few years later, in 1980, she took over 20th Century Fox. This documentary traces her route from the South Side of Chicago to jobs as a teacher, model, actress and mogul. Like many "Portrait" hours, it goes overboard in praise. We see her successes, snatching such rejected ideas as "Fatal Attraction" and "Forrest Gump"; we see no hint of any failures. Still, the starpower is impressive. When was the last time one hour had fresh interviews with Tom Cruise, Sidney Poitier, Michael Douglas and Henry Kissinger?

Of Note

"Mystic Pizza" (1988), 2 and 4 p.m., AMC. This quiet story about three young women at a pizza place was boosted by great casting of near-unknowns. In support are Vincent D'Onofrio, Annabeth Gish and even Matt Damon. In the lead is stunning work from Julia Roberts. Her portrayal of a hard-edged woman with a soft soul remains one of her best.

"The Mole II," 7 p.m., ABC. When the season started, this reality show had an awful Friday timeslot. It was yanked after two weeks. Now ABC makes amends. Tonight, it reruns the hours that none of us saw the first time. The new ones begin next Tuesday.

"Andy Richter Controls the Universe," 7:30 p.m., Fox. This fun show, which will be back next year for mid-season, reruns a story of reactions to a co-worker's death.

"The Bernie Mac Show," 8 p.m., Fox. In this rerun, Bernie makes the kids go to church — then regrets it.

"Founding Brothers," 6 p.m., History Channel. John Adams was elected the second U.S. president, in a race so quiet that he didn't admit he was running. That amiable approach soon changed. He felt surrounded by enemies, but his wife (the brilliant Abigail Adams) was his only trusted aide.