Posted on: Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Rescue Me," 10 p.m., FX. After last week's terrific opener, tonight's episode is deeper, darker and even better. Lt. Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) is a firefighter whose marriage has crumbled. Tonight, he wants to sabotage his wife's new lover. Also, his chief (wonderfully played by Jack McGee) begins raging about a news story saying there are gay firemen. Both situations spin wildly out of control in stories that continue next week. "Rescue Me" has it all — humor, deep characters and an ability to stop us cold with moments of intense tragedy.

Of Note

"Next Action Star," 7 p.m., NBC. Here is the finale, picking the people who will star in an Aug. 11 movie on NBC.

Democratic National Convention, 8 p.m., PBS (tape delayed), and C-SPAN; 4 p.m. on ABC, CBS and NBC; throughout the day on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News Channel. The big networks will jump in at 4 p.m., when Sen. John Edwards gives his acceptance speech as the vice-presidential candidate.

"Law & Order," 8 p.m., NBC. A city hall shooting leaves one official dead and another wounded.

"The Simple Life," 8 p.m., Fox. In Texas, Paris and Nicole try to help a 14-year-old with his homework and take jobs at a beauty salon.

"Two and a Half Men," 8:30 p.m., CBS. Charlie's mother (Holland Taylor) has a new boyfriend. He happens to be the father of a woman Charlie has been ducking.

"My Wife and Kids," 8 p.m., ABC. This one-hour rerun has Michael and Jay approaching their 15th anniversary — while she wonders if he even cares.

"The Drew Carey Show," 9 and 9:30 p.m., ABC. In the first episode, Drew ends up in the middle of an argument between gay lovers; in the second, he bungles an attempt to motivate Mimi's lazy boyfriend.