Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"House" debut, 8 p.m., Fox. Dr. Gregory House doesn't really like patients. He does, however, love solving medical mysteries. Despite his prickly manner, he has a friend (Robert Sean Leonard) and three talented assistants (Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer). At times, "House" is just another "CSI" type. The camera seems to prowl inside the body. At other times, however, this is a brilliant drama, with one of TV's great character actors. Hugh Laurie, best known for such British comedy gems as "Blackadder" and "Jeeves and Wooster" plays House. Now he sheds the British accent and the humor. Or does he? Stick around tonight and next week. The more you know the doctor, the more you'll appreciate his subtle wit. Amid life-and-death issues, there's a fun show.

Of Note

Vibe Awards, 4 p.m., UPN (KIKU). This show is stuffed with performances, including Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Kevin Lyttle. Tyra Banks and LL Cool J host.

"Nova: Great Escape," 8 p.m., PBS. When 76 prisoners of war fled a German camp in 1945, it was a remarkable achievement. Their tunnel went 30 feet down, then across. They propped it up constantly to keep sand from caving in. This remarkable feat was fictionalized in the movie "The Great Escape." Now we get the true story, with a few of the men — in their 80s and 90s — visiting the site.

"The Amazing Race," 8 p.m., CBS. With two Emmys as TV's best reality show, this is ready to start its sixth global race.

"Rodney," 8:30 p.m., ABC. This likable new comedy comes up with an episode filled with funny flashbacks. When Rodney's truck is ruined, he recalls how it brought him together with his wife, played by Jennifer Aspen.

"Scrubs," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Here's the second half of the story, with J.D. falling for a beautiful lawyer (Julianna Margulies) who's notorious for malpractice suits.

"Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" 9 p.m., PBS. By some accounts, Wal-Mart is a force for good. It averages 100 million customers a week and stymies inflation. By others, it is destroying the economy, doing $25 billion a year in imports. Hedrick Smith visits an Ohio factory that has closed and the Chinese one that replaced it.

"Independent Lens: Afghanistan Unveiled," 10 p.m., PBS. Fourteen young women were trained in TV journalism and given cameras. They head into the country to let women tell their stories. Some — in remote villages where poverty gnaws and women are treated as nonpeople — are wrenching.