Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"The District," 8 p.m., CBS. This hour pays quiet tribute to the late Lynne Thigpen, an actress who could do it all. To kids, she was the chief on "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" To New York theatergoers, she was a pro who won two Obie awards and a Tony. To "The District" fans she was Ella Farmer, the first honest soul Mannion (Craig T. Nelson) found when taking over a troubled police department. Thigpen's death at age 54 on March 12 impacts the show. Tonight, Mannion is stunned by news of Ella's death — and by the fact that he's been fired. Now he searches for her missing son.

Of Note

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1967), 5 and 9:55 p.m., AMC. For all its excesses, this cowboy film starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach in the title roles is a classic. There's stunning work by director Sergio Leone and composer Ennio Morricone. Here is the debut of a restored version.

"The Green Mile" (1999), 7 p.m., ABC. Tom Hanks plays a decent soul who supervised death row in 1935 Louisiana. Michael Clarke Duncan is a giant and gentle inmate. This film skillfully mixed humanity and fantasy. Its only problem is that it's too slow. Even for this bloated time slot, it must be trimmed.

"Hunter," 7 p.m., NBC. When charges are dropped in a murder case, the victim's father is ready to take justice into his own hands.

"Law & Order," 8 p.m., NBC. This rerun has Lucie Arnaz as a cosmetics boss with suspicious stock deals.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. This rerun begins 72 hours before a killer will be executed. Did he also commit a second murder? Officials rush to find out, trying to give the victim's parents some closure.