Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Our Town," 5 p.m., Showtime. "Our Town" keeps improving with age. Thornton Wilder's play premiered in 1938, as a reflection of small-town life in 1901 New England. Now it shows us how America has changed, for good and bad. The play reminds us that men and women were trapped by unyielding expectations. All of that is presented with the wry intelligence of Wilder and of Paul Newman, as the narrator and bit player. Also perfect for her role is Maggie Lacey as sweet Emily.

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), 7 p.m., NBC. Steven Spielberg beautifully wraps up his action trilogy. River Phoenix is great in the prologue, as a teen Indy. Then comes the main tale, with the perfect combination of Harrison Ford as Indy and Sean Connery as his father.

Of Note

"Platoon" (1986), 5 & 9:20 p.m., AMC. Oliver Stone's powerful film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Charlie Sheen plays a young soldier suddenly immersed in the horrors of Vietnam.

"Anna and the King" (1999), 7 p.m., ABC. Here is the story that was at the core of the musical "The King and I." The songs are gone, but the lush romance remains. In 1862, a young widow (Jodie Foster) travels to Bangkok to teach the children of the king (Chow Yun-Fat of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").

"Switched," 9:30 p.m., ABC Family. Here's a notion that has been tried by two other cable channels: Have a young person swap places with someone who has a very different life. In the opener, a sports buff from Missouri trades with an artist from Oklahoma.

"For Better or for Worse," 10 p.m., TLC. Here is a new series to follow the popular "Trading Spaces." People get one week and $5,000 to plan a wedding for their friends.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Salma Hayek hosts, with Christina Aguilera as the musical guest.