Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Star Search" (7 p.m., CBS) and "The Bachelorette" and "Celebrity Mole" (8 and 9 p.m., ABC), premieres. Here's final proof that the reality kick has overwhelmed us. Three shows premiere back to back. First, CBS tries to grab some of the magic of Fox's "American Idol," which returns in two weeks. It takes a familiar title ("Star Search"), adds a hipper host (Arsenio Hall) and trims the number of categories (to four) and the competition time. The contest runs Wednesdays and Thursdays and ends Feb. 6. Then ABC offers short-term spins on two existing shows. In the original round of "The Bachelor," viewers met Trista Rehn, a pediatric physical therapist and a dancer for the Miami Heat basketball team. She was the runner-up then, but now she's in charge. This time 25 guys vie for her hand in marriage. Then "The Mole" has a six-week gimmick with celebrities as contestants. As usual, one is secretly working with the producers to sabotage the others. The lineup includes actor-comedians Kathy Griffin and Kim Coles, model Frederique Van Der Wal and actors Stephen Baldwin, Corbin Bernsen, Michael Boatman and Erik Von Detten.
Of Note
"Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999), 7 p.m., Fox. In his first movie, Mike Myers played a 1960s spy who time-traveled to modern days. Now he returns to 1969. There are some funny moments along the way, including the hilarious Mini-Me.
"Ed," 7 p.m., NBC. Sabrina Lloyd ("Sports Night") guests as an intense law-school grad who wants Ed to hire her.
"My Wife and Kids," 7 p.m., ABC. Michael is supposed to go camping with his daughter and her friends to instruct them in Native American teachings.
"The George Lopez Show," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Hoping to hear some kind words from his mother, George remodels her bathroom.
"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. When a rich teenager is a hit-and-run victim, cops suspect that someone murdered her. The case eventually pits Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) against a lawyer to whom she's had past connections.
