Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
• "Crossing Jordan" season-opener, 9:30-11 p.m., NBC; or "CSI: Miami" premiere, 10 p.m., CBS.
Competition doesn't always improve shows. Sometimes it just makes them more shrill.
That's clear with these forensic-medicine shows competing weekly. "CSI" has a fairly large story, complete with a plane crash. "Jordan" expands to 90 minutes tonight and is a fine show with a great character — a Boston doctor (Jill Hennessy) filled with anger since her mom's unsolved murder.
Tonight, however, she's quit her job to chase clues about her mom in Los Angeles. At the same time, Boston people probe a serial killer.
The result is filled with wild coincidences and hyper plot twists. Next week, one hopes, "Jordan" will calm down.
Meanwhile, "CSI" opens with a private-plane crash in the Everglades. Soon, David Caruso and Kim Delaney are on the case. It's a fairly smart hour that uses the Florida settings beautifully.
OF NOTE
• "American Idol in Vegas," 8-10 p.m., Fox. All 30 finalists will perform (alone or in groups). Still, the big focus will be on the immensely gifted winner, Kelly Clarkson.
• "The Civil War," 8-10:30 p.m., PBS (check local listings). The second of five nights takes us through key battles and the Emancipation Proclamation.
• "Fear Factor" season-opener, 8-9:30 p.m., NBC. Teller — the quiet half of the Penn and Teller magic duo — is in this celebrity edition with his partner nudging him along. He faces sex symbols (Natasha Henstridge, Gena Lee Nolin), former child stars (Barry Williams, Keshia Knight Pulliam) and a soap star (Matt Cedeno).
• "Biography," 8 p.m., A&E. This profiles the cast of "Malcolm in the Middle."
• "One on One" season-opener, 8:30 p.m., UPN. As last season ended, Flex was told to choose between a basketball comeback and raising his teen daughter. Tonight, in a pleasant-enough episode, that gets tougher.
• "Everybody Loves Raymond" season-opener, 9 and 9:30 p.m., CBS. Last season ended hilariously with Ray's wife and mom in full feud. Tonight, they reunite to help his brother. In another episode, Ray sees a marital therapist.
• "Half and Half" premiere, 9:30 p.m., UPN. After reworking this pilot, the show gets off to a fine start. At the core is Rachel True, a gorgeous and talented actress with break-out potential. She plays someone who grew up modestly; now she gets reacquainted with her half-sister (Essence Atkins) who grew up rich.
