Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. The final eight semifinalists, including 17-year-old Maryknoll High School student Jasmine Trias (so far mostly absent from the cameras). Viewers will vote two of them into the finals. And 24 people still have a chance next week: Four of those rejects will be nudged ahead — one each by the three judges and one by the viewers — to wrap up the final 12.

"Nova: Life and Death in the War Zone," 8 p.m., PBS. Amid the mixed results of the Iraq war, this documentary says, there's been one towering success: Medical units have performed brilliantly. In addition to saving Americans, they've been helping Iraqi soldiers and civilians. This documentary's grisly details are sometimes tough to watch. Overall, however, it's an encouraging portrait of humanity and technology at work.