Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

State of the Union address, 4 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, plus cable news channels. Facing crises with the economy and talk of war with Iraq, President Bush gets his chance to speak to Congress. It will be followed by commentary and a response from the Democrats.

"8 Simple Rules," 7 p.m., ABC. This pleasant comedy has scored by spanning generations. Kids like it because it depicts a modern family with three teens. Grown-ups like it because John Ritter, the perpetual scamp on "Three's Company," plays a quirky dad. Now an episode plays on that. Drifting into a dream scene, Ritter imagines he's Mr. Roper in "Three's Company." His daughters (played by Kaley Cuoco and Amy Davidson) are Chrissy and Janet; Kyle (Billy Aaron Brown), who's kissed both of them, plays their roommate. It's a fun and silly episode. Stick around for the final payoff.

Of Note

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Here's the third session of auditions. Overall, they sent 234 young singers (ages 16 to 24) to Hollywood. On Wednesday, we'll see that field trimmed to 32.

"Gilmore Girls," 7 p.m., WB. Lorelai is supposed to fish with Alex. She knows nothing about fishing and needs a crash course.

"Frasier," 7:30 p.m., NBC. This moves a half-hour earlier than usual, rerunning one of its lesser episodes. That's the one in which Frasier takes a stand by refusing to pay an unfair parking-ramp fee.

"Just Cause," 8 p.m., Pax. This above-average series centers on a young crusader who got a law degree in prison after her husband framed her. In tonight's rerun, she learns that he's behind an insurance scam.

"Smallville," 8 p.m., WB. The two fathers get the focus tonight. Lex Luthor's dad (John Glover) has been shot; Clark Kent's dad (John Schneider) is the prime suspect.