Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Peter Jennings Reporting: Bitter Medicine: Pills, Profit and the Public Health," 9 p.m., ABC. The costs and the profits for prescription drugs have been soaring, Peter Jennings says in this excellent documentary. Drug companies find new ways to prop up both. Once a drug has been on the market for 20 years, the patent lapses. That should allow competition and cheap generics, but one company found a roundabout way to re-patent its drug. It made millions in extra profits before the courts stepped in. Others, Jennings says, have a common scheme: They'll create a new drug — Celebrex or Vioxx, for instance — that's virtually identical to the 20-year-old one. Then they'll advertise it until people think it's new and necessary.

Of Note

"That '80s Show," 7 p.m., Fox. Corey and Tuesday face a standard question: Your place or mine?

"American Family," 8 p.m., PBS. The season ends with Esteban (Esai Morales) in a bind: He's in love with a woman who's moving to New York. He's on probation, however, so can't leave California.

"Radiant City" (1996), 5 p.m., ABC Family. Kirstie Alley is wonderful as a mom who wants more in this boy's-eye view of life in a 1950s Brooklyn housing project.

Miss Universe pageant, 8 p.m., CBS. There should be a strong Latino flavor this year. The pageant is in Puerto Rico. The current Miss Universe, Denise Quinones, was Miss Puerto Rico. Also, Marc Anthony sings.

"The Bernie Mac Show," 8 p.m., Fox. In this rerun, Bernie wonders if he's too old to keep up with the nieces and nephew he's raising.

"Purgatory" (1999), 9 p.m., TNT. Here's another chance to see a beautifully crafted, made-for-TV cowboy movie/fantasy about bank robbers who have a chance at redemption. Eric Roberts and Sam Shepard star.