Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. On Thanksgiving NBC re-runs a terrific episode from a year ago. Monica has bumped into a guy she knew in school when they were both chubby. Back then he hated the already-beautiful Rachel. Monica invites him to Thanksgiving dinner. He is now handsome and slim — and is played by Brad Pitt, the real-life husband of Jennifer Aniston, who plays Rachel. It's great fun.

"Dinotopia" series premiere, 7 p.m., ABC. The peaceful James Gurney books have been converted into a world of killer creatures and marauding pirates. That's TV. In the series, controls have failed and some dinosaurs are on a killing spree. There's also a band of pirates nearby. All of that is quite silly but there's also good news. "Dinotopia" looks great (complete with computer-animated creatures), actors from the dull miniseries are gone and the replacements, led by Shiloh Strong and Erik von Detten, are a big improvement.

Of Note

"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999), 7 p.m. Fox. On the big screen, this film has moments of stunning beauty. On TV, we start to notice that the story is weak and some things (the pod race for instance) seem endless.

"The Wizard of Oz" (1939), 3 & 5:15 p.m., TBS. Here's a fresh chance to see a great family film.

"The Iron Giant" (1999), 7 p.m., WB. Critics praised this cartoon, done in the 1950s style, with a boy befriending a giant robot from outer space.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 7 p.m., CBS. Here are two reruns, giving "Survivor" a week off. In the first episode five casino guards are killed; in the second the victim was a poker champion.

"Will & Grace," 7:30 p.m., NBC. Jack's mom arrives for Thanksgiving in this rerun, but she thinks he's straight and romancing Grace.

"Elvis Lives," 9 p.m., NBC. Presley's music is performed by LeAnn Rimes, Dave Matthews, Norah Jones, Chris Isaak, No Doubt and more. Interspersed are old clips and new reflections by everyone from Carson Daly to Bill Clinton.