Posted on: Friday, June 10, 2005

Tube notes

Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Into the West" debut, 5 p.m., TNT; repeats at 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday. The sprawling and serious "Into the West" is hugely ambitious. It looks at the frontier years through generations of two families — one Lakota Indians, the other white settlers. They merge when the idealistic Jacob Wheeler (Matthew Settle) falls for Thunder Heart Woman (Tonantzin Carmelo). Two attractive and talented actors create characters to believe in. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, "Into the West" — 12 hours over six weeks — will meet some resistance because of its violence and its frequent need for subtitles. Try to overlook that and enjoy its visual and emotional palette. Strong characters are set against stunning landscapes.

"The Fairly OddParents: School's Out! The Musical," 5 p.m., Nickelodeon. "OddParents" is a true delight, a cartoon filled with quirky wit. And this hour is a prime example. It has zesty songs and a witty plot with adults appalled that kids might have fun in the summer. Their solution is to send them all to Flappy Bob's Happy Peppy Learnatorium.

Of Note

"Go Figure," 8, 10 p.m., Disney Channel. To truly enjoy this movie, you must accept the notion that a slender figure-skater needs to be on a hockey team, so she can get a scholarship and instruction from an expert. Once you accept this — and a few other stretches — you'll enjoy some witty moments and the likable Jordan Hinson in the lead.

"Hope & Faith," 8 p.m., ABC. The sisters find a surprise in the trunk of their car — an elderly woman (Rue McClanahan) who escaped from her retirement home.

"JAG," 8 p.m., CBS. A Navy man has been in prison for 22 years. Now Harm re-opens the case.

"Law & Order: Trial by Jury," 9 p.m., NBC. For the third time in recent months, NBC has scheduled the episode in which police pump 41 bullets into a suspect (rap star Treach). It's a good hour, sparked by Peter Coyote's portrayal of an opportunistic lawyer.