Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"MLB All-Star Game 2006 - Live from Pittsburgh," 2 p.m., Fox. Here's the All-Star game with the American League trying to extend its dominance. Lately, it's been winning the All-Star games, the World Series and most of the inter-league games. Tonight's game is from Pittsburgh with Joe Buck doing play-by-play and Tim McCarver doing commentary; Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy have pre-game duties.
"Last Comic Standing," 8 p.m., NBC. The previous episode (two weeks ago) had a bizarre situation. With a four-way tie the elimination pitted some of the best comedians — Chris Porter, Michele Balan (for the second straight week), Joey Gay and Bil Dwyer. Gay and Dwyer were ousted. Tonight the toll gets heavier. One comedian is bounced for breaking rules and two others are ousted in the competition; only five remain. Before that a roast lets everyone take shots at colleagues. One of the judges for the roast is Alonzo Bodden, a brilliant roaster (and, later, champion) in 2004.
OF NOTE
"Big Brother 7: All-Stars" (7 p.m.), "Rock Star: Supernova," (8 p.m.) and "48 Hours Mystery" (9 p.m.), CBS. This is the new lineup that will fill CBS with nonfiction on summer Tuesdays. Meanwhile, "NCIS" and "The Unit" were moved to Fridays and "Tuesday Night Book Club" was canceled.
"Fear Factor," 7 p.m., NBC. Here's a family competition including one challenge in which parents drive around obstacles with their kids on top of the van. Please don't try that at home.
"According to Jim," 7 and 7:30 p.m., ABC. In the first rerun, Cheryl wants a spot on a church committee. The problem is that St. Patrick's Day is near and Jim might sabotage her chances. In the second, Nana Visitor ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine") plays a client whom Andy resents and then dates.
"Primetime," 8 p.m., ABC. When a U.S. serviceman vanished, this report says, he pulled an elaborate ruse: He assumed the name (Christopher Buckingham) of someone who had died in infancy and took a title (Earl of Buckingham) that had been dormant since 1687. The lie endured for 23 years.
"Wide Angle: 18 With a Bullet," 9 p.m., PBS. This international series launches its season with Daljit Dhaliwal returning as its host and doing post-documentary interviews. The opener is a chilling look at the San Salvador branch of a gang — simply called "18" — that began in Los Angeles then spread when its members were deported. We quickly develop a fondness for one of the guys, a cheery husband and father of three. In this lifestyle, it's best not to develop fondness.