Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"A Bug's Life" (1998), 7 p.m., ABC. For many viewers the move of "A Wonderful World of Disney" to Saturdays has been a delight. It offers fun, family films when people need them the most. Here's a prime example. "A Bug's Life," is a computer-animated film blessed with a witty script. A marauding gang of grasshoppers is terrorizing the ants. One timid soul (Dave Foley) must get help and impress his love interest (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Alas, the only help he can find is from a scruffy circus troupe.

Of Note

"Desperado" (1995), 5 p.m., and "The Mask of Zorro" (1998), 7 p.m., TNT. Here's an Antonio Banderas double feature, putting him first opposite Salma Hayek and then Catherine Zeta-Jones. "Desperado" is stuffed with beautifully filmed action and violence. The second is also violent but adds some humor, plus the terrific supporting work of Anthony Hopkins as the old Zorro, looking for a replacement.

"The Player" (1992), 6 and 8:30 p.m., Bravo. From its wonderful beginning to its offbeat ending, this Robert Altman film is a delightful look at the movie business. Tim Robbins stars with more than 60 movie people playing themselves.

"Star Search," 7 p.m., CBS. It's Week No. 2 of this talent contest.

"The Apprentice," 7 & 8 p.m., NBC. Reruns of the second and third hours. At 7 p.m. the teams design an ad campaign; at 8 p.m. they test their negotiating skills.

"Monk," 9 p.m., ABC. In a rerun, someone was murdered during a play. A nervous Monk joins the cast in order to solve the crime.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Josie Bissett ("Melrose Place") plays a beating victim in this rerun. The complicated case has defense lawyers, played by Shirley Jones, Mariette Hartley and Beverly D'Angelo.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Elijah Wood hosts this rerun with music from Jet.