Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"According to Jim," 7 & 8 p.m., ABC. While revamping "8 Simple Rules," ABC temporarily tosses in two new episodes of this pleasant show. Both have Jim (Jim Belushi) struggling to do right by his young daughters, Gracie and Ruby.

"Independent Lens," 10 p.m., PBS. With his "foto-novelas," director Carlos Avila merges art forms. The original, print versions are sort of a Latino blend of graphic novels and pulp fiction; now he tries to capture that style on film. Here are two such films. In the first, a young, penniless dad encounters a drug dealer's cash and a collection of plastic saints; in the second, an old man dreams of the flight that killed his wife. Both are richly emotional. The second is way too predictable, but the first has some fascinating surprises and detours.

Of Note

"Whoopi," 7 p.m., NBC. One member of the Ebony Blackbirds, Mavis' old singing trio, has died. At the funeral, the third person (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph) arrives, looking flashy and ambitious.

"I'm With Her," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Accompanying his movie-star girlfriend to a movie junket, Patrick sees what other boyfriends are like.

"Einstein's Wife," 9 p.m., PBS. This film considers the view that Albert Einstein's first wife played a substantial role in developing his theory of relativity.

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. In a late change, NBC is inserting this funny episode in which Frasier winds up speaking in Klingon at his son's Bar Mitzvah. Meanwhile, Daphne fumes when she learns Niles and Lilith once had a night of passion.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Two deaths — a newborn baby and a young mother — lead the investigation into some tough areas.

"NYPD Blue," 9 p.m., ABC. Diane Russell, the character played so well by Kim Delaney, makes a brief return. She helps track a serial rapist.