TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Friday Night Lights," 8 p.m., NBC. Rippling with quiet passion, this has become one of TV's best dramas. Tonight's hour starts with the mismatch of the low-key Landry and his dream girl, Tyra. After he accidentally killed her attacker she convinced him to dump the body. Now their relationship reaches extremes. Beyond that is the seething state of Dillon High football since Coach Taylor left. The opening game brings chaos. There are powerful moments here involving both running backs and the past and present quarterbacks. With spare eloquence, "Friday Night Lights" offers strong drama.

"Women's Murder Club," 8 p.m., ABC. Three people have been killed in a subway but which one was the real target? "Murder Club" gives us a well-told mystery while weaving in some personal stories and romances for its characters. That's something rare — a "Grey's Anatomy" touch.

OF NOTE

"The Next Great American Band" debut, 7 p.m., Fox. "American Idol" bans instruments, discourages original songs and bars anyone older than 28. Now the same producers let bands compete with fewer rules. The sampling we saw had a few klunkers, plus terrific bands of many types — pop, country, gospel, more. That even includes pre-teen (perhaps) hard-rockers and a bluegrass rendition of "Like a Virgin." This could be fun.

"Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. When she tries to help a stalking victim Melinda ends up in danger.

"E.T." (1982), 7:30 p.m., ABC Family; or "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), 9 p.m., Disney Channel. Choose between two grand adventures for all ages. We consider the Harry Potter film to be pretty good and "E.T." to be one of the all-time greats. Either one, however, brings fun.

"Moonlight," 8 p.m., CBS. Wouldn't you hate it if you were a vampire, stuck in the desert, under the blazing sun? Mick seems unhappy about it, too.

"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. A serial killer keeps leaving Bible verses and re-creating biblical deaths. Charlie analyzes the verses.

"Las Vegas," 9 p.m., NBC. Cooper (Tom Selleck) has barely taken over as casino owner and there's a problem: He disappears shortly after someone is killed in his office.

"Men in Trees," 9 p.m., ABC. Last week, Marin got lost in the woods during a storm. Tonight she ... well, gets lost in the woods. Maybe she should reconsider her hiking habits.