Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Hunter," 8 p.m., NBC. Last week's two-hour opener got Rich Hunter (Fred Dryer) and Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) back as police partners. Now comes their first new hour-long episode. A Mexican teenager is found soaked and wandering the streets, leading to an investigation of a scheme to smuggle immigrants and then kill them.

"Nashville Star," 10 p.m., USA Network. In the past couple of weeks, viewers have ousted two remarkably talented people, Jamey Garner and Amy Chappell. Now there only five are left in this likable talent show. Tonight, that's trimmed to four. Visually, they range from Buddy Jewell (a big guy in the Charlie Daniels mode) to the ultra-cute Miranda Lambert. All have good voices and country instincts.

Of Note

"The Birdcage" (1996), 7 p.m., ABC. As a wedding nears, the groom (Dan Futterman) faces a problem. The bride (Calista Flockhart) has conservative parents. How will he introduce them to his father (Robin Williams) and his dad's gay lover (Nathan Lane)?

"Touched by an Angel," 7 p.m., CBS. In the show's final season, producer Martha Williamson was eager to bring back one of her favorite characters. That's a woman (played by Wynonna Judd), whose son died. Tonight, the angels try to persuade her not to forsake her religion to marry an agnostic.

Dove Awards, 8 p.m., Pax TV. A taped version of the award show, which was held April 10.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Mark-Paul Gosselaar of "NYPD Blue" appears mainly in flashbacks in this rerun. His character has been killed — apparently the victim of an anti-gay hate crime.