Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
Video Music Awards, 8 p.m., MTV (same-day tape). The MTV people always have known how to put on a great party and a fun awards show. This time they have a witty host (Chris Rock) and lots of musical performers, include Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Linkin Park, Coldplay, Good Charlotte and Metallica. They also have some stunning variety. Consider the nominees for best video. They are 50 Cent's "In Da Club," Eminem's "Lose Yourself," Missy Elliott's "Work It," Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" and — really — Johnny Cash's "Hurt." Yes, the same list has Timberlake and Cash — who had been recording for 26 years before Timberlake was born. It's a wondrous mishmash with the nomination leaders being Elliott (eight nods), Timberlake (seven) and Cash (six). Van Toffler, MTV president, jokingly calls the awards "the biggest cultural and musical train wreck on the tube." MTV can make train wrecks fun.
Of Note
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 7 & 8 p.m., CBS. In the first rerun a teen was pinned under the tire of a taxi. In the second a comedian died on stage.
"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. This funny rerun has Ross falling for a gorgeous paleontology professor (Aisha Tyler). She should be drawn to him — but ends up in Joey's arms. That's during a party scene with Joey's soap opera co-stars. It includes several real-life "Days of Our Lives" stars — Kyle Lowder, Matthew Ashford, Farah Fath and Alexis Thorpe.
"Will & Grace," 7:35 p.m., NBC. Madonna plays Karen's new roommate, who has high-maintenance needs and strong tastes in men.
"Temptation Island 3," 8 p.m., Fox. One of the nastier reality concepts returns. Instead of trying to get people together this show starts with four reasonably happy souls then tries to split them apart.
"Peter Jennings Reporting: I Have a Dream," 9 p.m., ABC. It was 40 years ago that Martin Luther King made his extraordinary speech. "It was an event of such magnitude that it was telecast live on all the networks," recalls Jennings, now the ABC anchor. Here, Jennings looks back at the speech and its circumstances.
