Posted on: Monday, January 24, 2005

Tube Notes

Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Everybody Loves Raymond," 8 p.m., CBS. For a mini moment, "Raymond" might seem like it's in a rut. Then an episode like this one offers a dandy detour. Frank and Marie have been steady and stagnant for decades. Now they've seen a retirement community they actually want to move to. The others doubt the plan but don't want to stop it. For Robert, it's a chance to buy his parents' home, cheap; for Debra, it could mean — at last — a life without her mother-in-law. This is a rerun of a terrific episode, with a strong follow-up on the way. In its final season, "Raymond" remains in top form.

Of Note

"Dirty War," 7 p.m., HBO. In London, we see three sides at work. Terrorists smuggle the ingredients for a high-radiation bomb. Officials try to stop them; firefighters go about their day, unaware of the growing crisis. The British accents may hinder Americans from engaging at first, however, as the crisis grows, the power of the events starts to blast through.

"Fear Factor," 7 p.m., NBC. Here's the fourth round of a seven-week couples competition with a $1 million prize waiting.

"Las Vegas," 8 p.m., NBC. A beautiful former colleague of Ed visits the casino; that causes trouble for Danny and Mike, who must protect her. Meanwhile, Jay Mohr plays a would-be groom who's abandoned at the altar.

"The Bachelorette," 8 p.m., ABC. A street basketball game — to decide who gets a date with Jen — turns rough.

"24," 8 p.m., Fox. Last week's episode ended with Jack in midcrisis, as usual. He had helped find the warehouse where terrorists held his girlfriend and her father, the secretary of defense. Unable to get soldiers there in time, the president has decided to simply blow the place up. (Please don't apply questions of logic; it doesn't help.) Enraged, Jack plans to storm the warehouse alone.

"Medium," 9 p.m., NBC. The main story — with Allison dreaming of being chased through an airport by a wolf — is woefully overwrought. The side story, however, has some moving moments: Her 6-year-old daughter may be seeing dead people, too.