Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Scrubs" season opener, 8:25 p.m., NBC. This comedy desperately needed someone to tip the balance. Carla and Turk are married now. J.D. and Elliott have split far apart. Just in time, the show adds (temporarily) a ditzy psychiatrist played by Heather Graham. She seems to be in her own fog. J.D. hasn't even noticed that she is beautiful and available. Elliot, in a funk of loneliness, hasn't noticed that she's a potential friend. This episode is wildly erratic with some moments of over-the-top silliness. Still, there are spurts of strong humor, giving the season a promising start.

Republican convention, 4 p.m. on ABC, CBS and NBC, 8 p.m. on PBS and throughout the day on cable news channels. On the second night of the convention, the big networks finally show up. Aiming for mass appeal, Republicans have talks by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Laura Bush.

"Father of the Pride," 8 p.m., NBC. There's every reason to want this show to succeed. It has rich animation and a unique setting in the Las Vegas animal compound of Siegfried & Roy. It has moments of bizarre humor, tonight with a sweet panda (Lisa Kudrow) scheming to get a sex life. What it doesn't have, however, is a consistently good script. There are funny moments, possibly enough to keep viewers mildly entertained.

Of Note

"Last Comic Standing," 7 p.m., NBC. After yesterday's season opener, here is another episode. Comedians from the first and second seasons compete.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," 7 p.m., ABC. This reruns the episode involving kids who lost both of their parents within 16 days. The crew turned up to drastically remodel their home.

"Terminator" (1984), 7, 11 p.m., AMC. At the same time that Schwarzenegger speaks to the Republican convention, he'll be doing his best to kill Linda Hamilton and thwart humans in this excellent James Cameron film.

"MTV Video Music Awards," 7:30 p.m., MTV. (Preview show at 6 p.m. and post-show at 10:30 p.m.) Expect lots of flash and fun in this rerun. Oh and there's also music. Performers include Usher, Kanye West, Nelly, Alicia Keys, Jessica Simpson and more.

"Amazing Race," 9 p.m., CBS. This reality show airs an hour earlier than usual to leave room for the convention. Tonight, the racers reach Calcutta.

"Nip/Tuck," 10 p.m., FX. Christian is enamored by a blind woman (Rebecca Gayheart) while Sean rebuffs Julia's attempts at reconciliation.