Posted on: Saturday, April 2, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

Basketball, 1 p.m., CBS. This has been an amazing NCAA Tournament. It has had soaring moments, swirling surprises and dazzling comebacks. Now the Final Four teams collide in St. Louis. Illinois and Louisville start, North Carolina and Michigan State follow with the winners battling Monday.

"Out of the Woods," 6, 8 and 10 p.m., Hallmark Channel. At 30, a Los Angeles lawyer (Jason London) is coasting comfortably. He has money, good friends and a beautiful girlfriend. Now his mom gives him an assignment: His grandfather (Ed Asner) is blowing his money on a sprawling piece of woods, where he lives without electricity, phone or indoor toilets. The son must serve papers to stop him. The plot doesn't try to surprise us, but it does have neat character portraits. Asner, London and Missy Crider breathe life into some interesting characters.

Of Local Note

"Merrie Monarch Festival," 6 p.m., KITV. The final night of the 42nd annual hula festival features hula 'auana (modern-style dance) group competition and closing awards ceremonies. Broadcast live from Hilo.

Of Note

"Conquest of America," 6 p.m. to midnight, History Channel. If you missed this documentary miniseries on Monday and Tuesday, here is the whole thing in one gulp. We get four separate portraits of Europeans obsessing on North America. The storytelling is so-so, but the reenactments are beautifully filmed.

"LAX," 7 p.m., NBC. After an affair with his wife's divorce lawyer, Roger (Blair Underwood) wants to seem responsible. Things are complicated when he's supposed to keep an eye on a senator's daughter.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 8 p.m., NBC. Maggie Grace is now known for playing Shannon, the self-centered beauty, on "Lost." Prior to that, however, she did this episode, as the young star of a controversial TV show. When she's raped, blame is partly pointed at a radio host (Lewis Black), a community activist (Dana Delany) and her son (teen star Ricky Ullman).

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 9 p.m., NBC. An effort to have someone declared a saint somehow turns deadly.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Topher Grace ("That '70s Show") hosts, with The Killers as the musical guest.