Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Ellen DeGeneres at the Jan. 10 Critics' Choice awards show Associated Press

"Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now," 6 p.m., HBO. Between her failed CBS series and her successful syndicated talk show, DeGeneres returned to her standup roots. That produced this hour, first aired last year, which reminds us that few people can match her witty observances of life's small quirks.

Of Note

"8 Simple Rules," 7 p.m., ABC. David Spade guests as the nephew of Cate (Katey Sagal). Returning from the Army, he owes money to her dad (James Garner).

"Whoopi," 7:30 p.m., NBC. In this new episode, Rita (Elizabeth Regen) signs Mavis (Whoopi Goldberg) up for a class to overcome her fear of flying.

"I'm With Her," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Patrick is teaching a child star on the set of movie star Alex (who he's dating).

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. Frasier had a particularly bad date. Now he's afraid she'll sue him for a kitchen mishap, so he scrambles to appease her.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. When two Arab-American women are killed the evidence points to a racist war veteran.

"Line of Fire," 9 p.m., ABC. The FBI digs into reports of police corruption.