Posted on: Thursday, May 5, 2005

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002), 7 p.m., ABC. In real life, Nia Vardalos grew up in a Greek family and married actor Ian Gomez. She exaggerated that into a popular, one-woman comedy show. Two of its fans were Rita Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks. They produced this as an independent movie. It started on the art-house circuit — then kept soaring, earning more than $356 million at the box office, according to the Internet Movie Database.

"Wedding" is that rare film that crosses over. It's smart and personal enough for the art crowd; funny and romantic enough for the mainstream. Vardalos plays herself; John Corbett plays a fictional version of her boyfriend. Corbett happens to have much more hair and height than Gomez, who plays his friend, Mike. The result is a low-key, low-budget delight. Don't confuse it with the bland CBS series that followed. The original movie is solid fun.

Of Local Note

"Biography Hawai'i: Koji Ariyoshi," 8 p.m., PBS. Koji Ariyoshi was many things in his life. A Japanese-American internee at Manzanar. A World War II military language specialist assigned by the U.S. Army to work as an observer in a communist re-education camp for Japanese POWs. A writer and editor for the Honolulu Record, recording the tense post-war conflicts between unions and Hawai'i's ruling elite. A political activist, he was arrested in August 1951 on charges of being a communist. His life story is one filled with a passion for fighting injustice. It's told here in vivid detail.

Of Note

"Survivor: Palau," 7 p.m., CBS. With the finale just 10 days away, things tighten.

"The O.C.," 7 p.m., Fox. Sandy is starting to realize that his wife has an alcohol problem and that she had a tryst with the handsome editor of her magazine.

"Joey," 7 p.m., NBC. Joey is getting close to a commitment with the smart and sexy Sara (Madchen Amick). There's a problem, though: She's good at saying "I love you" and he's not. Meanwhile, Michael introduces a surprising girlfriend to his mother.

"Will & Grace," 7:30 p.m., NBC. Grace has a near-fatal moment in a jeans boutique — hey, it's possible — and decides to make a will. That leads to soul-searching moments for her, for Will and for his mom (Blythe Danner).

"The Apprentice," 8 p.m., NBC. The three finalists face interviews. Then two are chosen and sent on their final challenge, which continues next week.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. Marg Helgenberger gets to do a love scene with her real-life husband, Alan Rosenberg. Don't expect the bliss to last long; he is promptly brought in as a murder suspect.

"Without a Trace," 9 p.m., CBS. Danny (Enrique Murciano) gets the focus here. His brother, who may have had money troubles, is missing.

"ER," 9 p.m., NBC. Morris (Scott Grimes) has seemed like a loser, but now he's the chief resident. He clashes with Pratt as doctors help victims of an apartment fire. Meanwhile, Lewis is mad at Carter. Weaver tries to help, but just makes things worse.