TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Forrest Gump" (1994), 6 p.m., A&E; or "Holes" (2003), 8 p.m. ABC Family. Something special can happen when a show takes a half-step from reality, becoming a fable. That's happened neatly with some superb movies ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Matilda") or TV series ("Pushing Daisies"). They slide into a slightly different reality with a magical feel. "Forrest Gump" is the most successful example. Inside its odd reality — a simple-minded man who becomes enmeshed in modern history — it had a gifted director (Robert Zemeckis), star (Tom Hanks) and supporting cast. The result ranges from humor to emotion. Another strong example is "Holes." Again, the story is odd — in a juvenile detention camp, boys simply dig holes all day. It's fun along the way, yet it makes its own kind of sense in the end. And it's perfectly directed by Andrew Davis, better known for such intense films as "The Fugitive."

"PU-239," 6 p.m., HBO. In modern Moscow, we're told, the economy has collapsed. Low-level crooks scramble, high-level ones bask in wealth and the common man doesn't have a chance. One such man wanders into the situation with a unique asset. He's been abandoned by the nuclear facility that he risked his life to save. Dying of radiation poisoning, he makes a desperate step to finance his family: He steals weapons-grade plutonium and tries to sell it to the highest bidder. What follows is a darkly depressing tale, superbly played by Paddy Considine, Oscar Isaac, Radha Mitchell and more. This is a brutal story, but you have to admire the rich detail of its characters and emotions.

OF NOTE

"The Rivalry," 8 a.m., HBO; 7 a.m. football, ABC. If you haven't yet seen HBO's superb documentary about the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, DVR it this morning before settling in for this year's game. This had been expected to be one of the great confrontations, with Ohio State ranked No. 1 and both teams undefeated in the Big Ten conference. Alas, both teams lost last Saturday; the conference title is still at stake, but a small amount of the fun is missing.

"Bionic Woman" (7 p.m.) and "Chuck" (8 p.m.), both NBC. Here are quick reruns of this week's episodes. In the first, Jaime is on a mission with Antonio (Isaiah Washington), then overhears something that makes her distrust him. In the second, Chuck feels he's torn between his beautiful fake-girlfriend Sarah and a beauty who could become his real girlfriend.

"Without a Trace," 7 p.m., CBS. This rerun steps into the odd world of competitive eating.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 8 p.m., CBS. In a rerun, the team probes the murder of a blackjack dealer.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Rushing to catch an unstable killer, Stabler is seriously injured.

"Mad TV," 10:30 p.m., Fox. Tentative plans call for bringing back some previous stars to celebrate the show's 300th episode.