Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Forrest Gump" (1994), 7 p.m., ABC. On the eve of the Academy Awards, past Oscar-winning movies are being shown here and on cable. This is one of the best of the winners, artful and entertaining. Gump is a slow-witted, good-hearted chap who keeps bumping into historic events. The result is a charming fable that took Oscars for best picture, actor (Tom Hanks), director (Robert Zemeckis) and more.

Of Note

"Driving Miss Daisy" (3 p.m., 1989), "Kramer vs. Kramer" (5 p.m., 1979) and "Rain Man" (7 p.m., 1988); Turner Classic Movies. A day of Oscar-winning movies peaks with these terrific ones. "Daisy" is a warm drama-comedy with Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman perfect as an elderly Southerner and her chauffeur. "Kramer" and "Rain Man" remind us that Dustin Hoffman is his generation's best actor.

"The Tracy Morgan Show," 7 p.m., NBC. Tracy cuts a shaky deal, requiring his son to tutor the building superintendent's son.

"Whoopi," 7:30 p.m., NBC. In a rerun, Mavis is wrongly accused of shoplifting. Then entertainment reporters want to do a special about her downfall.

Independent Spirit awards, 8 p.m., Bravo. Here's an edited version of awards for the best movies made outside the big studios. "Lost in Translation," which is also up for Oscars tomorrow, is nominated, so are "In America," "American Splendor," "Shattered Glass" and "Raising Victor Vargas."

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. This rerun catches the point when Frasier and his dad both coveted Frasier's former baby sitter, played by Wendie Malick of "Just Shoot Me."

"The District," 9 p.m., CBS. A playground kidnapping causes a crisis. By the time Mannion gets there, his ex-wife (played by Jean Smart) has been shot.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. This rerun has Jennifer Aniston hosting. The musical guest is the Black Eyed Peas.