Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Someday Fox might kill this show with overexposure. For now, however, viewers can't get enough. That's especially true of this third "Idol" series, with so many great female voices in the final dozen, including Hawai'i talents Jasmine Trias and Camile Velasco. This expanded episode includes all 12 contestants. On Wednesday, one will be dumped.

Of Note

"Whoopi," 7 p.m., NBC. The son of a Republican official stirs up bitterness from Mavis and learns protest songs in Farsi from Nasim.

"Happy Family," 7:30 p.m., NBC. The brothers uncover each other's secrets. Meanwhile, the family wonders why Sara has secret meetings with a woman.

"I'm With Her," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Mark Valley, the handsome star of the departed "Keen Eddie," plays an actor working with Alex (Teri Polo). Patrick is worried because the pair used to date.

"According to Jim," 8 p.m., ABC. Jennifer Coolidge returns as Jim's sister.

"Frasier," 8 p.m., NBC. When Frasier tries to undo a crime he committed, things get worse.

"Scrubs," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Credit this comedy with trying something unusual. This episode looks at variable life-and-death scenarios, depending on where a butterfly lands.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. In a rerun, a man has been killed after he was represented as an example for changing gays' orientation.

"Judging Amy," 9 p.m., CBS. Patty Duke plays a woman in an early stage of Alzheimer's disease.

"The Shield," 10 p.m., FX. In last week's taut season-opener, Vic and other cops worried about hiding the money they had stolen from an Armenian gang. Now the pressure heightens — the gang strikes back, and Vic needs some of the money to stop a gun dealer.