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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 9, 2008

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Harrison Ford

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Miley Cyrus

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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEES

"Masterpiece: God on Trial," 10 p.m., PBS. Legend has it that Auschwitz prisoners, their faith shattered, held a rabbinical court, accusing God of abandoning them.

That has never been confirmed, but now it's been turned into stunning fiction. Brilliantly crafted, "God on Trial" is the year's best TV show.

Frank Boyce's script is both pointed and balanced, with stunning riffs pro and con. But that's just the start.

Given a stunning cast (Rupert Graves, Dominic Cooper, Stellan Skarsgard, etc.), Andy DeEmmony has directed it theater-style. His camera keeps roving; everyone stays involved. The result is truly memorable.

"Blade Runner: The Final Cut," 6:59 p.m., Sci Fi. The original version (in 1982) needed no improvement. Smart and sleek, it's a futuristic tale of an ex-cop (Harrison Ford) chasing replicants.

Still, director Ridley Scott keeps tinkering. This version added new special effects.

OF NOTE

"Nature: Clever Monkeys," 7 p.m., PBS. Roaming from the Amazon to Africa and China, this well-made documentary finds that monkeys have human traits — for good or bad. They lie, scheme, kidnap; they also care for each other and even use a sort of jungle pharmacy.

"The Simpsons," 7:30 and 8 p.m., Fox. First is a rerun of the season-opener, with Homer as a bounty hunter and Marge as a baker. Then a new episode has memories of their courtship.

"Desperate Housewives," 8 p.m., ABC. Secrets are revealed — about Katherine, about Tom and Lynette's son and about Edie's creepy husband, Dave.

"Hannah Montana," 8 p.m., Disney Channel. A new episode raises a question: What happens if Miley is driving, using the license of her alter ego, Hannah?

"Summer Heights High" debut, 8:30 p.m., HBO. Here's a pretend documentary ("Office" style), set in a public high school in Australia. Chris Lilley wrote this uneven but interesting comedy and plays the lead characters — Jonah, a bully with bursts of illogic; Mr. G, an effete theater director; and Ja'mie, a hilarious exchange student from a private school.

"The Unit," 9 p.m., CBS. Jonas' daughter has been kidnapped in Iraq. Now the unit heads there to rescue her.