Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Merrie Monarch Festival," 6 p.m., KITV. The festival concludes tonight with the hula 'auana (modern-style) competition, and awards ceremony. Broadcast live from Hilo.

"Miss Congeniality" (2000), 7 p.m., CBS. A criminal is lurking somewhere in a beauty pageant. Naturally, the solution is to disguise an FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) as a contestant. A so-so script is overcome by good casting, including neat bits by Michael Caine, Candice Bergen and William Shatner.

"Chris Rock: Never Scared," 7 p.m., HBO. Chris Rock brings an easy blend of intelligence, outrage and boyish charm to this comedy special. He wonders why authorities can find Saddam Hussein in a hole in another country but can't find the person who shot rapper Tupac Shakur in broad daylight in Las Vegas. He also groans that a black C student can't be a Burger King manager, but a white C student became president.

"Pigs for Okinawa," 8 p.m., KIKU. Documentary about seven Hawai'i men who sailed for Okinawa in 1948 to provide food for the starving population. (A musical drama based on the true story will be presented at 7 p.m. April 30 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall; tickets are $19 at the box office. 676-5400, www.ticketmaster.com.)

Of Note

"Head of State" (2003), 5 p.m., HBO. Chris Rock plays an alderman thrust into a presidential election.

"Dateline" (7 p.m.) and "The Apprentice" (8 p.m.), NBC. There's more to be squeezed out of the "Apprentice," NBC feels. First, it reruns Wednesday's "Dateline," a backstage look at the show; then reruns Thursday's finale.

"Cave In" (2003), 8 p.m., Pax. Mimi Rogers plays a mine superintendent whose husband and son are trapped by a cave-in.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. This rerun has Drew Barrymore hosting with Kelis as musical guest.