Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must See

"A Minute With Stan Hooper" debut, 7:30 p.m., Fox. Stan (Norm Macdonald) delivers folksy, real-people chats during a TV newsmagazine. Until now, he's done it in New York City, far from the real people. Now he and his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) move to small-town Wisconsin. In the TV tradition, they find that small town folks are daft. There are flaws here: Townspeople shout for no apparent reason. The live-telecast finale is thoroughly unbelievable. Still, OStan Hooper" ripples with familiar fun.

"American Masters: James Brown: Soul Survivor," 9:30 p.m., PBS. James Brown had steep boyhood obstacles. He was 4 when his mother left. He was 15, a high-school dropout and thief when he went to prison. Then he became a sensational singer. This documentary, using passages from Brown's autobiography read by Clarke Peters, captures a passionate, talented and sometimes troubled man.

Of note

"That '70s Show," 7 p.m., Fox. The season begins with lives in chaos. Eric is going to college with Donna, but his dad has heart trouble and his sister married Fez then honeymooned without him. Meanwhile, Jackie's prepared to choose between Hyde and Kelso. Most of this is delivered in a big, broad way, and it veers between broad laughs and mere silliness.

"Great Performances," 8 p.m., PBS. The Los Angeles Philharmonic premieres in its new home the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It includes talented young singers Josh Groban and Audra McDonald, plus actors Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

"Four Weddings and a Funeral" (1994), 8 p.m., ABC Family. Hugh Grant stars in this amiable comedy playing a likable chap with a commitment problem.

"The West Wing," 8 p.m., NBC. Egos get pumped up when Josh gets a favorable newspaper portrait and Will gets a job offer from the new vice president. Tempers fly, too: Leo's mad at C.J., and the president is mad at Amy.

"The Bachelor," 8 p.m., ABC. The show finally lost its villain last week when Lee-Ann, the scary schemer, was ousted. Only four are left and now the bachelor visits each of their parents' homes; then he trims the field to three.

"The O.C.," 8 p.m., Fox. After pausing for baseball, this above-average show settles into its new night and picks up where it left off. Marissa, the beautiful girl next door, has had a drug overdose. Aftershocks from that may complicate things for Ryan, the abandoned teen who has moved in with his lawyer's family.

"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. Borrowing the headlines again the cops investigate a deadly rock-concert fire.