Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"National Geographic: Dawn of the Maya," 8 p.m., PBS. Here is National Geographic at its best with moments of jaw-dropping splendor. Until recently, historians thought the Mayans flourished only from about 300 to 800 A.D. Deep in the Guatemalan jungles, however, researchers are finding signs of prosperity, centuries earlier. The ancient city of El Mirador has a massive pyramid and might have once held 100,000 people. Sixty miles away in San Bartolo, a researcher stumbled across the earliest Mayan mural ever found. And in ancient Cival, archeologist Francisco Estrada-Belli tells of a temple pyramid with a massive mask on its wall: "It's almost as if someone made this yesterday ... we're looking at this just as people did over 2,000 years ago." The documentary mixes in re-enactments, landscapes and more. It's a splendid hour.

Of Note

"My Wife and Kids," 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. Both episodes focus on Michael's older kids. In the first, his daughter wants to be a model; in the second, a rerun, his son makes a surprising decision about his car.

"American Idol," 7:55 p.m., Fox. On many Wednesdays, the "results" show seems too long at 30 minutes. This one, in a gimmick, goes to 65 minutes. Near the end, we'll learn which of the four women has been ousted.

"The West Wing," 8 p.m., NBC. Donna (Janel Moloney) gets the focus tonight. She's on a fact-finding mission to the Gaza Strip while recalling her involvement with a dashing photojournalist. Then a bomb changes everything.

"King of Queens," 8 p.m., CBS. Doug's father-in-law wants him to join the shuffleboard tournament.

"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8:30 p.m., CBS. In a terrific rerun, Robert can't make a key decision (quitting the police force) without conferring with everyone.

"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. A caviar salesman is found dead the morning after his wedding.