Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson," Part 1, 9 p.m., PBS. Boxer Jack Johnson towered above his era. A century ago, he dominated the boxing ring and life. "When African Americans were expected to defer to whites, Johnson battered them to the ground," narrator Keith David says in this compelling Ken Burns documentary. Johnson was the world boxing champion. He flaunted his prowess and his wealth. At a time when blacks were sometimes killed for looking at white women, Johnson openly romanced them. He enraged a world in which the first star boxer (John L. Sullivan) had flatly refused to face a black. Now his story is told by Burns, whose films — from "Civil War" to "Baseball" and "Jazz" — often capture the intersection of race and history. Burns uses all his usual gifts, including still photos, period music, historians and readings. Most startling are the quotes — deeply racist, by modern standards, from the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and writer Jack London. This film also has the blessing of movie footage of the fights. It's a rich story of a troubled man in deeply troubled times.
Of Note
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How'd They Do That?" 7 p.m., ABC. On Sunday, ABC reran the two-hour special, showing the rush to have a home ready for a paralyzed teenager. Here's an hour that views the background to the story.
"Listen Up," 7:30 p.m., CBS. Tony's new neighbors don't invite him to their first party.
"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. Ray's wife and mom team up to get him to clean up his messes.
"24," 8 p.m., Fox. As last week's four-hour opening ended, things looked grim. Jack Bauer seemed to be the only hope in finding his girlfriend Audrey and her father, the secretary of state, both held hostage. He was secretly following a terrorist, hoping to find them. To slow the guy down for a global positioning satellite, Jack held up a service station. (He does that kind of thing.) It was a great idea until swarms of police arrested Jack. Tonight, things are tough, complicated when Audrey recognizes one of her captors.
"The Bachelorette," 8 p.m., ABC. After a couple of group dates, Jen sends seven guys home.
"Medium," 9 p.m., NBC. David Cubitt joins the cast as a detective. At first, he deeply opposes the use of a psychic.
"CSI: Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. On a routine stop, a policeman is killed and a teenager who was riding along with the officer is kidnapped.
"Supernanny" debut, 9 p.m., ABC. Here's the American version of a popular British series. Both feature Jo Frost, who specializes into stepping into families having trouble with their children, much like the nannies on Fox's "Nanny 911."
