Posted on: Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. Dr. House, brilliantly played by Hugh Laurie, keeps provoking his patients. Tonight, one of them gets a restraining order, keeping the doctor 50 feet from his bed. House persists. This is another strong episode, for a series that balances humor, drama and character observations.

"Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood" debut, 3 and 7 p.m.; and "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), 4:30 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. Here's the channel that takes the Academy Awards seriously. For the next 31 days, it will stuff its lineup with Oscar-winners, but first it airs a terrific documentary. Irving Thalberg was a sickly and well-read kid who met his grandmother's neighbor, a movie mogul. He was fascinated. By 21 he was a studio production chief. Thalberg savored writers and actors while tolerating directors. He emerged with classics including "Mutiny," an Oscar-winner for best picture.

Of Note

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Here's the final auditions showing tryouts in Orlando, Fla., and San Francisco. Tomorrow, we see the sifting begin in Hollywood.

"Gilmore Girls," 7 p.m., WB. As this dandy show heads toward its 100th episode, tonight brings a key plot twist: A car accident links Lorelai's estranged parents.

"My Wife and Kids," 7 p.m., ABC. Michael tries to figure out precisely how much to spend on his wife for "Sweetheart's Day."

"The George Lopez Show," 7:30 p.m., ABC. George's sister wants to meet the mother who put her up for adoption.

"The Color of Friendship" (2000), 8 p.m., Disney Channel. Black History Month gets off to a good start with this well-made movie, based on true events in 1977. Carl Lumbly plays U.S. Rep. Ron Dellums, hosting an exchange student from South Africa. The white girl is startled that a prominent American is black.

"Committed," 8:30 p.m., NBC. Nate learns a lesson that people have been finding lately in movies and novels: Don't begin babbling your life story until you're certain the person is a therapist.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. This rerun has Maggie Grace (now playing Shannon in "Lost") as a young TV star who is killed.