Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. Last week's season opener struck a brutal blow. The quiet newcomer (Parminder Nagra) delivered the phone message that Kovac had been killed in the Congo. Now Carter heads to Africa to retrieve the body. He meets frustrated bureaucrats and a beautiful Red Cross worker. Gradually, he learns the story — shown to us in compelling flashbacks — of what happened. Beautifully filmed and sharply written, this will be remembered as a classic "ER."

Of Note

"Threat Matrix," 7 p.m., ABC. Marina Sirtis (who played Troi on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") plays a chemical-weapons expert from Iraq. When she escapes, the agency fears a major attack.

"Friends," 7 p.m., NBC. Ross is trying to seem calm about his true love, Rachel, dating Joey; tonight, he drinks and crumbles. Meanwhile, Phoebe's brother says he just can't handle the triplets any more.

"Scrubs," 7:30 p.m., NBC. In the season opener, Elliott (Sarah Chalke) bumps into a former boyfriend Sean and decides she's stagnating. She creates a drastic makeover of her look and her life.

"Will & Grace," 8 p.m., NBC. Leo's ex (Mira Sorvino) visits. That leads to an uncomfortable dinner party that turns worse when it's learned that she's the one female who has had sex with Will.

"Coupling," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Susan invites Steve to her place for dinner. Naturally, this sparks a discussion on whether "dinner" implies "dinner and sex."

"The Blues: Godfathers and Sons," 9 p.m., PBS. Back in the 1950s and '60s, two Polish-immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, recognized the power of Chicago blues. Their Chess Records became a powerful force. Tonight's film offers vintage clips of Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson and more. Hip-hop stars Chuck D and Common organize a recording project at the old studios, with Lonnie Brooks, Otis Rush and Koko Taylor.