TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Thief" debut, 8 p.m., FX; repeats at 9. At home in New Orleans, Nick (the superb Andre Braugher) is a middle-class guy with a wife and step-daughter (Mae Whitman). In other cities, he's a master thief. Tonight's opener begins as a job in San Francisco starts to unravel. Soon the crisis is in Nick's back yard — literally. This is a complex, multi-week story, but it's worth sticking with. It's smartly written and tautly acted, with Malik Yoba, Yancey Arias, Linda Hamilton and more.

"Teachers" debut, 8:30 p.m., NBC. There's an odd sense of detachment in this fairly funny comedy. Jeff (Justin Bartha) claims to be disinterested in teaching. He lusts after Alice (Sarah Alexander, who was wonderful in the British "Coupling"), who loves the job. Jeff diverts himself with two pals and a sexy, hard-drinking sub. Much of this is amusing yet none of it pulls us into the characters.

OF NOTE

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Voters have changed their tastes this year, dumping young, sweet-looking guys early. Last week, Kevin Covais was ousted. Joining him in the bottom three were Lisa Tucker (for the second straight week) and Bucky Covington.

"According to Jim," 7 p.m., ABC. Linda Hamilton (the "Terminator" star) does double duty tonight. She's in "Thief" at 8 p.m. and in this rerun playing Jim's former college girlfriend.

"Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King," conclusion, 7 p.m., Sci Fi Channel; repeats at 9, 11 p.m. In Monday's opener (which repeats at 5 p.m.), the beefy blacksmith made love to the queen of Iceland and promised to find her again. He was diverted to another kingdom, where he killed the dragon and found the gold. Now evil forces have a way to erase his memory. It's a long, dark story; we should have guessed that, since this is a folk tale that inspired Wagner operas.

"Hope & Faith," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Regis Philbin returns as Handsome Hal. He's lost his used-car business and his wife has thrown him out. Faith (Kelly Ripa, Philbin's talk-show partner) invites him to stay at her sister's home.

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. After taking a few weeks off for the expanded "Idol," this terrific show returns. This is the second episode in which a guy has been hospitalized after vigorous sex. Are they trying to tell us something?

"Sons & Daughters," 8 and 8:30 p.m., ABC. In the first episode, Cameron feels responsible for his mom being hospitalized. In the second, his 40th birthday comes at a rough time.

"Boston Legal," 9 p.m., ABC. Alan suddenly has a syndrome that causes him to spout nonsense.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Chris Bridges, a rap star more well known by the name Ludacris, guest stars as a questionable colleague of Fin's son.

TONIGHT ON KHNL NEWS 8

Tonight on KHNL News 8, Walter Makaula profiles Hawaii's Most Wanted. Will your tip bring another crook to justice? Tune in at 6 and 10 p.m.