Posted on: Friday, April 22, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes, Gannett News Service
and Derek Paiva, Advertiser Staff Writer

Tonight's Must-See

"Maid in Manhattan" (2002), 7 p.m., Fox. With all the "who's-she-marrying-now?" talk, people forget something: In the right role, Jennifer Lopez is a solid and likable actress. Now comes a good example, a mild confection that survives on sheer star power. A hard-working mom (Lopez) is a maid at a posh hotel. There, an upper-class socialite (Ralph Fiennes) mistakes her for a rich person. Don't expect surprises or detours. Do expect an attractive film. Director Wayne Wang ("The Joy Luck Club") has an ideal cast, including Fiennes, Lopez and (as her son), Tyler Garcia Posey.

Of Note

"Enterprise," 4 p.m., UPN. As next month's series finale nears, this show borrows an offbeat plot idea from the original "Star Trek." Archer (Scott Bakula) has turned evil. Now he's looting an old starship, filled with bodies of people wearing uniforms from the original "Trek" era, which is the future for Archer.

"Ali," 5 and 7:30 p.m., TNT. Michael Mann ("Miami Vice") directed Will Smith in this portrait of controversial boxing great Muhammad Ali. Smith, who got an Oscar nomination, is backed by Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jon Voight and Mykelti Williamson.

"Joan of Arcadia," 7 p.m., CBS. In the season finale, Joan faces someone she considers dangerous.

"Mommie Dearest" (1981), 7:45 p.m., HBO Family. What this twisted, dysfunctional celeb family drama/thriller is doing on HBO Family's schedule is probably just beyond our comprehension. That aside however, Faye Dunaway as actress/diva Joan Crawford rocks in a classic performance of ham-fisted, beyond-over-the-top intensity.

"Living With Fran," 8:30 p.m., WB. Fran is reluctant to go to a high school reunion with her much-younger boyfriend.

"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. Charlie (David Krumholtz) uses numbers and logic to figure out where a dirty bomb will be planted.