Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Line of Fire" premiere, 9 p.m., ABC. Here's just what TV viewers need — a great new drama series in the "24" and "Sopranos" stratosphere. "Line," borrowing the "NYPD Blue" slot for two months, follows both sides with rich layers of depth. Jonah Malloy, superbly played by David Paymer, leads the mobsters. He has the calm air of an accountant; he kills and maims. Lisa Cohen, played with solid authority by Leslie Hope, leads the FBI. Floating between them is a loose-cannon type, played by Anson Mount. Brilliantly written and directed by Rod Lurie, "Line of Fire" surprises us in all the best ways.

OF NOTE

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965), 7 p.m., ABC. Sometimes, less really is more. This special is wonderfully simple in its animation, story and music. It also has great warmth and wit. A short has been added to fill out the hour.

"The Tracy Morgan Show" debut, 7 p.m., NBC. Fresh from "Saturday Night Live," Morgan moves into "Whoopi's" slot to play a husband and dad who has an auto repair shop. His approach is never quite what you'd expect from real dads or TV ones, and that's what gives this slight comedy an offbeat appeal. Next week, "Whoopi" returns in her new time slot at 7:30 p.m.

"Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty," 6 p.m., A&E repeats at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight. For the next two nights, A&E has new movies from its terrific series. As this one opens, Hornblower (the terrific Ioan Gruffudd) is a respected commander in the Royal Navy. Then peacetime leaves him penniless — until new adventures ensue. The show adds Julia Sawalha (the absolutely superb daughter in "Absolutely Fabulous") as a love interest.