Posted on: Thursday, October 7, 2004

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Joey," 7 p.m., NBC. In its first month, this comedy has been sharp and fun. Tonight, we visit Joey's work and home. His auditions are going badly. Now he meets the actor who has been belittling him. At home, his sister is going into full mother mode because her grown son is sick. Since that's happening at Joey's apartment, he decides to go to her place — with quick complications.

Of Note

"Survivor: Vanuatu," 7 p.m., CBS. It's time for a fourth person to be voted off.

"Blue Collar TV," 7 p.m., WB. Tonight's theme is music.

"Drew Carey's Green Screen Show," 7:30 p.m., WB. Carey's clever friends provided lots of fun on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Now comes a variation: They do their sketches in front of an empty screen. Afterward, graphics people try to add to the humor by inserting visuals.

"Will & Grace," 7:30 p.m., NBC. Now that Jack's working at a gay TV network, he's having trouble. Meanwhile, Grace dislikes her new neighbor.

"The Apprentice," 8 p.m., NBC. The teams see which ones can sell the most on QVC, the cable shopping channel.

"Life As We Know It" debut, 8 p.m., ABC. A decade ago, ABC canceled "My So-Called Life," a brilliant drama that viewed life through the eyes of a teen girl. Now it tries this show about three teen boys played by Sean Faris, Jon Foster and Chris Lowell. Sadly, none of them is interesting. Their thoughts —about sex mostly — are one-dimensional and dull. Some terrific actresses are in support, including Missy Peregrym as the school beauty, Kelly Osbourne (Ozzy's daughter) as someone harassed because of her weight, Marguerite Moreau as a teacher and Lisa Darr as a mom. They play interesting characters, stranded in the empty universe of some uninteresting guys.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. After a thunderstorm, some discoveries — including a body and human bones — lead to an investigation.

"Wide Angle," 9 p.m., PBS. While the rest of the Middle East wobbles, Saudi Arabia has always been considered the dependable one; it has 20 percent of the world's oil and a stable government. Still, this documentary shows that it's a shaky place, as it nudges toward democracy. There are 4,000 princes and a patriarchal world in which few women have careers. It also has poverty and emerging terrorism.

"Without a Trace," 9 p.m., CBS. A nurse has disappeared after getting a flat tire late at night.

"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. Now that Kem has returned to Africa, Carter is despondent. Meanwhile, Neela must deal with her parents who are angry that she turned down a coveted residency. And the newest doctor, played by Shane West of "Once and Again," is criticized for his punk appearance.