Posted on: Friday, March 11, 2005
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Stars on Ice: Imagination," 7 p.m., A&E. At first, this special strains too hard to draw a young audience. It has modern music that sounds great but is tough to skate to. It has gimmicks; Alexei Yagudin spends too much time suspended in the air instead of skating. Don't worry, the show eventually lets its gifted performers glide to simple melodies. There are good solo moments from Olympic champs Sarah Hughes (who hosts) and Yagudin, plus Yuka Sato and Todd Eldredge. There are also great performances from duos. "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," 9 p.m., NBC. Lorraine Bracco ("The Sopranos") has a great guest stint in this series' third episode. She plays a lawyer with a tough, blue-collar attitude. Now she's leading a movement against a convicted child-rapist. Coming are plot twists that are unlikely but fascinating. "Gladiator" (2000), 6 p.m., TNT. Stunning on the big screen, this Oscar-winner is also fairly good on TV. Russell Crowe stars as an honest Roman soldier who is surrounded by corrupt schemers. "NCIS," 7 p.m., CBS. There's no "Joan of Arcadia" tonight. Instead, we get this rerun in which an officer seems to have spontaneously burst into flames after surgery. "The Bernie Mac Show," 7 and 7:30 p.m., Fox. In the first episode, Bernie gives his nephew advice on dealing with a girlfriend with negative results. In the second, a rerun, buying in bulk causes trouble. "8 Simple Rules," 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. Both reruns focus on David Spade's character, C.J. In the first, he's a substitute teacher in Rory's class. In the second, he tutors the principal's girlfriend (Pamela Anderson) for a high school equivalency test. "Buffalo Dreams," 8, 10 p.m., Disney Channel. On a sprawling reservation two teens form a hesitant friendship. One is rejecting his Navajo roots. The other is a Caucasian kid obsessed with mountain biking. Troubles and controversy follow. The story is set in New Mexico. The movie was filmed in the Salt Lake City area, including Antelope Island State Park. "Numb3rs," 8 p.m., CBS. Counterfeiters have taken an artist hostage.
Of Note
