Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Gracie's Choice," 6, 8 p.m., Lifetime. First we meet Rowena, a mom on the edge with five kids. She keeps moving, keeps scheming, keeps living at a dizzying speed. As played (superbly) by Anne Heche, she's frantic and frazzled, ready to deceive everyone, including herself. Stick around, however, because this film soon goes deeper. It isn't really about Rowena, her drug addiction, or her disapproving mom, played by Dianne Ladd. Instead, it's a rich portrait of Rowena's teenage daughter, who is played with subtle skill by newcomer Kristen Bell. There are times, psychologists tell us, when children become the adults, filling a void. That's what happens in this story.

Of Note

"Save the Last Dance" (2001), 6, 10:20 p.m., TBS. Thomas Carter's direction turned a teen romance into a strong drama. Julia Stiles plays a suburban ballerina who moves into the city after her mother's death. She finds the fresh rhythms of a hip-hop dancer (Sean Patrick Thomas).

"House of Dreams," 7 p.m., A&E. Last week we met the 16 people who will build a house together, but only one of them will win it. We also saw competitiveness flash early: One woman wanted to win the house so she could give it to a needy mom and her kids. Others in the game decided she was too much competition and voted her out.

"Fear Factor," 7 p.m., NBC. A battle begins, pitting couples. The winners get $1 million.

"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. Debra gives Ally some housekeeping chores. Marie — Debra's mother-in-law and Ally's grandmother — does not approve.

"Surreal Life," 8 p.m., WB. A rerun of Sunday's opener. It's fun to watch mismatched housemates Tammy Faye Bakker Messner (the evangelist) and Rob Van Winkle (former rapper Vanilla Ice).

"CSI Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. Investigators work with a mentally challenged man who saw a murder.