Posted on: Monday, September 20, 2004

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Listen Up" debut, 7:30 p.m., CBS. In real life, Tony Kornheiser is a former sports writer who wrote columns about his family. Now that's tweaked into a situation comedy.

Jason Alexander stars as Tony Kleinman, with Wendy Makkena as his wife and Malcolm-Jamal Warner as his partner on a sports talk show. Tony has little luck with his teenagers — a clueless son (Will Rothhaar) and intense daughter (Daniella Monet). Some of tonight's scenes with Monet are wonderful. Overall, "Listen Up" is barely above average. In a weak comedy year, however, it's the best new sitcom this side of "Joey."

Of Note

"The Benefactor," 12:36 a.m. (delayed due to "Monday Night Football"), ABC. In last week's opener, Mark Cuban arbitrarily ousted three of the 16 people. Now he splits the rest into three groups with the same task: Draw up his schedule, but don't waste his time.

Football, 6:30 p.m., ABC.The Minnesota Vikings are at the Philadelphia Eagles.

"7th Heaven," 7 p.m., WB. Last week, the parents raced to sort of ambush Simon and his new girlfriend. They planned to invite themselves to the young couple's table at an elegant restaurant. Tonight, we see how it goes.

"Las Vegas," 8 p.m., NBC. Jon Lovitz's character, a sad sack last season, is back. Also, the hotel adds an area for topless sunbathing.

"Everwood," 8 p.m., WB. Last week, we finally learned why Ephram was pouting; he had done poorly during his summer at Juilliard and might not be a piano prodigy after all. Now, he tries to smooth out his relationship with Amy. Meanwhile, the new doctor (Scott Wolf) makes the other docs nervous.

"Two and a Half Men" season-opener, 8:30 p.m., CBS. This neatly offbeat comedy comes up with a great notion tonight: Charlie, the macho guy, is in a secret support group with Sean Penn, Elvis Costello and Harry Dean Stanton. The overall plot is so-so, but there are some hilarious moment with those three playing themselves.

"LAX," 9 p.m., NBC. This show didn't exhaust all the possible crises last week, after all. Tonight, among other things, a living person emerges from a coffin that came from overseas.