Posted on: Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must See
"Olympics," 6 to10 p.m., NBC. Prime-time coverage tonight includes the finals of the women's 400m hurdles and 200m in track and field, women's springboard diving, women's triathlon, and the finals for Greco-Roman super-heavyweight wrestling. Additional Olympics coverage throughout the day on NBC-affiliated networks Bravo, CNBC and MSNBC. Late-night coverage from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on NBC. "Tyrants on Trial," 5 and 9 p.m., History Channel. What happens when a dictator faces judgment? This documentary, keyed to Saddam Hussein's trial, views the extremes. Some faced instant retribution. For example, Julius Caesar and Benito Mussolini were slain quickly. Others eluded punishment. Dictators such as Pol Pot, Augusto Pinochet and Jean-Claude Duvalier found relative comfort in exile. Of Note
"My Wife and Kids," 7 p.m., ABC. This one-hour rerun flashes lots of clips as Michael and Jay (Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin) reminisce during a brief time with no kids at home. "Al Roker Investigates: Faulty Forensics," 7 p.m., Court TV. Roker checks out problems at the Houston Police crime lab that resulted in a DNA division shutdown. "Family Guy," 7 p.m., Fox. Four consecutive reruns air of this cartoon, which is in its second childhood. After being canceled by Fox, it found fresh popularity on cable and on DVD. Now, new episodes are being made for next summer. "The Hidden Art of Hollywood," 8 p.m., PBS. This documentary looks at the production designers who often give movies their rich and realistic look. "Great Performances: All-Star Piano Extravaganza," 9 p.m., PBS. Pianists are often thought of as solitary performers. Tonight's concert, however, assembles combinations of from two to eight pianists. They include Emanuel Ax, James Levine (better known as a conductor) and 20-year-old Chinese prodigy Lang Lang. The concert also includes such noted performers as violinists Sarah Chang and Gidon Kremer. "Rescue Me," 10 p.m., FX. Last week, Tommy (Denis Leary) seemed on the verge of self-destruction as he talked to a dead fire victim and almost brutalized his estranged wife's boyfriend, Roger. Tonight, the wife leaves Roger, but Tommy soon has more trouble.
