Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"On Thin Ice," 7 p.m., Lifetime. Diane Keaton throws herself into this real-life story with a fierce energy. She creates raw emotions. Keaton plays a widow who can't support her two sons. She juggles jobs and when one son gets sick, she can't afford his medicine — much less a specialist. Then a friend hooks her up as a drug dealer. Coming up are some savage mood swings; Keaton's performance is sometimes repetitious but packs a powerful punch.
"Average Joe" debut, 9 p.m., NBC. In its quest for the lowest common denominator, NBC has finally gone beyond "Fear Factor." This series starts with a mansion and sunny-looking Melana Scantlin. She was a Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader and was Miss Missouri in the Miss Teen USA pageant. Now she expects to choose from among handsome hunks. Instead, she meets guys who are presented as geeks, nerds and losers. Some are nice-enough looking with decent social skills. Some have beer bellies. This show, however, is intent on a beauty-and-the-beast tale. The whole thing seems cruel to Scantlin, to the guys and to TV viewers.
Of Note
"Yes, Dear," 7 p.m., CBS. Greg gamely takes his son to an amusement park, despite hating roller coasters.
"Skin," 8 p.m., Fox. Things are going badly for Goldman (Ron Silver), the porn king. The district attorney is still trying to tie him to drug traffic and even his medical donation brings him grief.
"Everwood," 8 p.m., WB. Here's a change-of-pace episode. James Earl Jones, Beau Bridges and Kirsten Nelson play injured coal miners. As doctors rush to help them, flashbacks tell their stories.
"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. Chris Elliott had some great moments at the end of last season as Amy's malicious brother. Now he's back and moving in with the newlyweds.
"Two and a Half Men," 8:30 p.m., CBS. Alan's estranged wife is unhappy to hear that their son spends time in the presence of a half-naked surfer girl.
"CSI: Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. Three people are dead after a hurricane rips through Miami. Now cops must decide if it was really the weather that killed them.
