Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Reba," 8 p.m., WB. As rerun season settles in it might be time to discover the above-average Friday comedies on WB. This episode centers on an unemployed Reba (Reba McEntire) finally realizing she has kids — and a grandkid — to support. She begins a job search, setting up future episodes.

Of Note

"What I Like About You," 7 p.m., WB. The comedy lineup starts with this pleasant show starring Amanda Bynes, the 17-year-old star of the current movie "What a Girl Wants." She plays Holly, an enthusiastic-but-clumsy teen who has moved in with her more-urbane sister (Jennie Garth). Tonight, Holly tries to impress a guy who's an animal-rights activist.

"SHREK," (2001), 7:15 p.m., HBO Family. This delightfully fractured parody of fairy tales was one of the highest-grossing films of 2001. A wonder of digital animation, it was also one of the most cleverly written films of that year. An irritable loner of an ogre (voiced in a thick Scottish brogue by Mike Meyers) sets out with a jabbering donkey sidekick (voiced by Eddie Murphy) to rescue a princess held captive by a narcissistic lord. That's the basic story. But hidden between the lines were enough pop culture gags, folk-tale swipes and adult (though kiddie-friendly) innuendo to garner the film a much-deserved Best Animated Feature Oscar. Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow also lend voices.

"Final Destination" (2000), 7 p.m., Fox. This was the movie-directing debut of James Wong — one of the best "X-Files" producer-writers. A teenager envisions a plane crash and gets off the plane before takeoff. So do some others. The plane does crash, but they still aren't out of danger.

"Hack," 8 p.m., CBS. Mike is tempted to make easy money driving a limo for a suspicious club.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Shortly after the police start investigating a rape, the victim is taken away by federal agents.