Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Happy Family" debut, 7:30 p.m., NBC. John Larroquette and Christine Baranski have one of those families everyone envies. He's a dentist in a practice with their older son. Their daughter thrives in business and their younger son nears graduation from junior college. What could go wrong? Everything, it seems. Tonight, things crumble in funny ways. Much of this is overwrought. Reining things in, however, is the deft, dry touch of the two stars. Jumping in two weeks early, "Happy Family" helps get the TV season off to a happy start.

"Whoopi" debut, 7 p.m., NBC. On most levels, this is your standard situation comedy. Mavis (Whoopi Goldberg) owns a shabby hotel. She is a former singing star with a conservative brother. From there, "Whoopi" adds two fresh characters: Her handyman (Omid Djalili) may have worked on Iranian missiles, her brother's girlfriend (Elizabeth Regen) is young, white and talks jive. Regen wears thin quickly and Djalili might eventually do the same. For now, however, he has the fresh voice that television needs.

Of Note

"Rita," 2 & 5 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. Hollywood didn't have to alter Margarita Cansino, a Brooklyn-born beauty of Spanish descent. Still, it changed her name (to Rita Hayworth), modified her look and image. On-screen, she triumphed. Off-screen, she married men who were as overbearing as her dad. One (Orson Welles) had talent; one (Prince Aly Khan) had money. Another (band singer Dick Haymes) gave her much personal attention. This well-made documentary traces her life, including the pain of her final years, fogged by Alzheimer's disease.

"Gilmore Girls," 7 p.m., WB. Here is the first of the two episodes that introduced Jess' dad (Rob Estes). They set up a possible spinoff series, which WB rejected.

"The O.C.," 8 p.m., Fox. When his in-laws visit, Sandy (Peter Gallagher) sees how different he is from them.

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. In this rerun, Julia (Felicity Huffman) convinces Frasier to try some late-night revenge. Meanwhile, Niles tries a gun and Roz looks for work at another station.

"MI-5," 6 & 10 p.m., A&E. An Algerian spy works with the government and the terrorists, leaving both sides worrying. Like many episodes in this terrific series, this one ends powerfully.

"Tactical to Practical" debut, 6 & 10 p.m., History Channel. The Humvees that rolled through gulf war oil fields spawned the Hummer, in which rich Americans use lots of oil, getting 12 miles a gallon. Consider that an irony of converting warfare to civilian use. This documentary has interesting moments.

"NYPD Blue," 9 p.m., ABC. In the rerun of a well-made hour, Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) returns to question a witness who's key to Connie's custody case.