Posted on: Friday, April 8, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama," 8 and 9:20 p.m., Disney Channel. The "Kim Possible" cartoon has been a delight. On one level is Buffyesque humor, as a teen saves the world in time for the prom; on the other is stylish animation. Both are evident here. A handsome stranger has arrived and the beautiful Kim is smitten. Her pal Ron Stoppable fumes. Now Kim's dad has been kidnapped. Can Ron set aside his jealousy and help them? It's a fun plunge, complete with music. Jesse McCartney sings "Get Your Shine On" and "Why Don't You Kiss Her?" Christy Carlson Romano — who plays Kim and starred in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast" — sings "Could It Be?"

"Malcolm in the Middle," 7:30 p.m., Fox. At 15, Hayden Panettiere has been a pleasant surprise. She tackles serious roles ("Lies My Mother Told Me," "Tiger Cruise") one moment, goofy ones the next. This rerun offers one of her goofier bits as the wild-haired Jessica. She schemes and manipulates the brothers, with funny results.

Of Note

"Joan of Arcadia," 7 p.m., CBS. Joan goes on a spring cleaning spree, leading to a chance to help someone.

"8 Simple Rules," 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. In the first episode, Cate has Ed (Alan Arkin) over when everyone else is away. In the second, she and Bridget switch brains, after watching that happen in "Freaky Friday."

"The Bernie Mac Show," 7 p.m., Fox. In the season's final new episode, Bernie urges his cousin to make new friends. As usual, that goes badly for them.

"What I Like About You," 7 p.m., WB. Fran Drescher arrives with some advice about dating a younger guy. Yes, there's a reason for that: It promotes the "Living With Fran" that follows.

"Living With Fran" debut, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., WB. Here is a big, broad comedy in the "Nanny" style. Fran Drescher plays a mom in her 40s, whose live-in boyfriend (Ryan McPartlin) is a handsome hunk in his 20s. In the first episode — quite loud, sometimes funny — her son discovers the relationship when he leaves college. In the second, her young boyfriend's parents (Marilu Henner and John Schneider) disapprove of the relationship.

"Reba," 8 p.m., WB. Reba has a good chance to win the grandmothers' beauty pageant. Is this one of the plus sides of teen pregnancy?

"Third Watch," 8 p.m., NBC. After a long layoff, this show returns with general troubles. Yokas worries about her daughter, Cruz is disturbed by news from her doctor and Bosco frets about being teamed with Monroe, who spied for the Internal Affairs unit.

"Law & Order: Trial by Jury," 9 p.m., NBC. For two years, Carey Lowell played Jamie Ross on "Law & Order." Now the same character is a judge, on a difficult case involving a bank shooting — by a bank clerk, not a robber.