Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Trista and Ryan's Wedding," 8 p.m., ABC. It's time for TV to savor its only recent matchmaking success. The other shows — the ones that let guys do the picking — haven't produced a marriage. "Bachelorette" has. Tonight, we'll witness the union of Miami dancer Trista Rehn and Colorado firefighter Ryan Sutter.

"The Rebels of Oakland: The A's, the Raiders, the '70s," 7 p.m., HBO. Back in the 1970s, some teams were still banning facial hair. Oakland's teams, by comparison, reflected a raucous new era. They also reflected a city known for Black Panthers, bicycle gangs and fierce independence. "There wasn't any special section," Ray Ratto, a columnist and fan, says of the stadium. "Everybody basically drank out of the same bottle. (Then) they threw it at somebody." Two maverick owners ruled: Al Davis, born in Brooklyn, moved to Oakland. He found the ideal Raider coach, John Madden. Charlie Finley stayed in Chicago and let a 13-year-old kid be his Oakland executive. The kid became rap star M.C. Hammer. It's a bizarre and fascinating tale.

Of Note

"Billboard Music Awards," 7 p.m., Fox. With the rise of "American Idol," Fox has grabbed young rock fans. Tonight, "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest leads this tribute to the best-selling stars. Performers include Beyonce Knowles, R. Kelly, Shania Twain, Eve, Evanescence and Clay Aiken.

"Ed," 7 p.m., NBC. Ed tries, perhaps futilely, to warm up Carol's dad, played by Dan Lauria of "The Wonder Years."

"Law & Order," 8 and 9 p.m., NBC. In the first rerun (giving "West Wing" a rest), the cops investigate a murder that could lead to a SARS outbreak. In the second, they trace several seemingly unrelated events, including a woman who ran over her cheating husband.