Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

• "Russia: Land of the Tsars" conclusion, 6 and 10 p.m., History Channel. When Peter the Great died in 1725, he designated no heir. For 16 years, his empire wobbled. Then his daughter, Elizabeth, dressed in a soldier's uniform and led a bloodless coup. She was the first of two powerful women to mold the country. The second was Catherine the Great, who ruled for 34 years, bringing Russia into an era of art, philosophy and (for its empress) affairs.

This fascinating documentary spans the two centuries from Elizabeth and Catherine to the fall of Czar Nicholas in 1918.

• "American Juniors" (series premiere), 7 p.m., Fox. From the creators of "American Idol," this show gathers 20 kids (ages 6 to 13) to compete for a spot in a five-member pop group. Simon Cowell won't be part of the proceedings.

In fact, producers have promised that the judges for "Juniors" will be a bit more "polite" when it comes to criticism. But if the trailers, featuring some seriously overeager stage parents, are any indication of how fun this show is, this could be the summer series to beat. In tonight's premiere, the top kids are shown auditioning in Los Angeles, New York and Tennessee.

Of Note

• "Biography," 5 p.m., A&E. On camera, Keanu Reeves plays quiet heroes. Off-camera, this documentary says, he's a quiet enigma. This film doesn't interview Reeves, but does catch many of the people who know him.

• "Dog Eat Dog," 7 and 8 p.m., NBC. Trying to keep itself fresh this summer, NBC will launch three reality shows during the next week. This is the one that also was around last summer. Brooke Bundy hosts, with contestants challenging each other to daring deeds.