Posted on: Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Tube Notes

Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must See

Olympics, 6 p.m., NBC. Once in each Olympics, competitors can settle back and entertain.

In winters, the winning figure skaters have a gala; free of scowling judges, they're at their best. Tonight, gymnasts do the same.

There's still competition, though. We're at the finals for the decathlon, with someone being considered the world's greatest athlete. Men will get gold medals in the 1500-meter run and springboard diving; women go gold in 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter run, pole vault and beach volleyball.

"P.O.V.: Speedo," 10 p.m., PBS. Ed Speedo Jager carries an unflinching obsession with driving in demolition derbies.

As this documentary opens, the rest of his life is crumbling. He battles with other drivers and with officials. He spends all of his free time on cars; his wife has had him sleeping on the couch for a decade.

Still, Speedo displays nobility. He throws himself into life with a fierce and fascinating passion.

Of Note

"Inside North Korea" (5 and 9 p.m.) and "The Real Dr. Evil" (6:30 and 10:30 p.m.), History Channel. Stark and harsh, these documentaries paint a disturbing picture of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. His nation wobbles economically, they say, often unable to provide electricity. Still, he's frittered a fortune on palaces, movie studios and a nuclear program. People tell of behavior that can be brutal or bizarre. One South Korean actress describes being kidnapped and held as Kim's guest for years „ just to lure her husband, whom Kim forced to direct epic North Korean movies.

"Navy NCIS," 7 p.m., CBS. A former Navy SEAL, convicted of killing his wife and her lover, has escaped. Gibbs searches for him.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 7 p.m., ABC. While a soldier's wife and kids are on vacation, the crew fixes up their home.

"According to Jim," 8 p.m., ABC. Andy (Larry Joe Campbell) is tired of doing Jim's bidding.

"Amazing Race," 9 p.m., CBS. Last week, cousins Charla and Mirna were eliminated. As Charla, a dwarf, talked proudly of getting that far, host Phil Keoghan began to get choked up. Now there are five duos left, heading to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. They include the bowling moms, the married parents, the twins and two way-too-cute couples.

"Nip/Tuck," 10 p.m., FX. Kimber seeks advice from Sean about a business endeavor, and a male patient wants breasts.