Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Nashville Star," 9 p.m., USA Network. Last week's opener was encouraging. This show is an "American Idol" clone, but it does it well. The production values are slick and the three judges — singer Charlie Robison, writer Robert Oermann and record executive Tracy Gershon — are smart. They've chosen a terrific lineup of 12 finalists. Jamey Garner is a handsome hunk; Miranda Lambert is a Meg Ryan-style cutie; Brandi Gibson and Buddy Jewell are plus-size performers with great voices. John Arthur Martinez mixes some Tejano touches, and Tasha Valentine —Êborn in Hawai'i — has a Patsy Cline style. The others — Anne Louise Blythe, Amy Chappell, Travis Howard, Kristen Kissling, Brandon Silveira, Prentiss Varnon — are also impressive. This week, we see them share a Nashville house. Then each performs a country song and one is eliminated. Clint Black — who mentors the contestants and will produce the winner's album — is the guest judge.
Of Note
"Frequency" (2000), 7 p.m., ABC. A young cop (Jim Caviezel) learns that he can communicate with his dad (Dennis Quaid). This surprises him, what with his dad being dead for the past 30 years. Now each benefits from information fed by the other.
"Touched By an Angel," 7 p.m., CBS. A night of new CBS episodes starts here with a teen's obsession with violent video games.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 8 p.m., NBC. A plastic surgeon is suspected of murder.
"The District," 8 p.m., CBS. The character Craig T. Nelson plays is based on Jack Maple, a real-life police reformer. His wife, Brigid O'Connor Maple, wrote this episode. Potholes cause complaints between the police and public-works staff.
"Anna's Dream" (2002), 8 p.m., Pax TV. Here's a well-written movie about a teen gymnast (Lindsay Felton) whose life is detoured by a paralyzing injury.
"The Agency," 9 p.m., CBS. The wives of American soldiers in Afghanistan are being killed.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. When a man is accused of molesting his daughter, it leads to violent repercussions.
