Posted on: Thursday, December 30, 2004

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. A young man has collapsed. His girlfriend fears it was because of raucous sex. Dr. House suspects it was because of illegal drugs.

They're both wrong in a story that holds us to the end. We also get fresh glimpses of House, wonderfully played by Hugh Laurie.

Chomping Vicodin painkillers, he avoids patients and works at the clinic only when forced to. This is one of TV's great characters.

"Gilmore Girls," 7 p.m., WB. This show bucks TV traditions with its portrayal of Rory and Paris at Yale. They're studious and serious, resisting goofy parties. Now that brings humor in two ways:

Rory is supposed to give a high school student a tour of the college. She wants to show the library. The teen wants to see some action.

And Paris tries speed dating, despite her acerbic nature. When one guy asks if she got her name because her parents traveled a lot, she snaps: "You're named Jack. Did your parents fix cars a lot?"

There's also a so-so story about Luke's funk, plus a clever final twist involving Rory's grandfather.

Of Note

"All of Us," 4 p.m., UPN. This is a bit timely, focusing on unsportsmanlike basketball fans.

"Christmas in Rockefeller Center," 7 p.m., NBC. Mostly, NBC sees this as a music special. There are songs by Jessica Simpson and her husband Nick Lachey, plus Clay Aiken, Hilary Duff, Vanessa Williams, Kenny Chesney and Chris Isaak. Somewhere in there, the Rockettes dance and the tree is lit.

"The Real Gilligan's Island," 7 p.m., TBS. From "Survivor" to "Lost" to "Cast Away," people love the drama of being stranded on an island. Now comes this offbeat attempt to spin the "Gilligan" comedy into a reality show. There are two groups, each designed to mimic the original show. The skippers really are boat men, the professors really are college profs; one millionaire has $2 million and the other is reportedly worth $500 million. All are on a blazing-hot island off Mexico, along with others, including Rachel Hunter and Nicole Eggert as Ginger-type movie stars. Each group is supposed to work together to tackle challenges, with the better one being rewarded.

"According to Jim," 8 p.m., ABC. Jim is stressed, partly because of a temporary ban on sex and partly because of an annoying would-be client, played by Tom Arnold.

"Rodney," 8:30 p.m., ABC. After buying an expensive mattress, Rodney keeps thinking of the sexy woman who sold it to him.

"NYPD Blue," 9 p.m., ABC. Jones faces charges, in the shooting death of Michael's father.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Tracing a rapist, the cops must work with a psychiatrist and her schizophrenic patient. They're played by talented actresses Mary Stuart Masterson and Amanda Plummer, respectively.