TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. A week before the finals things get serious tonight, and with an hourlong show tomorrow. Last week, viewers were stunned to see Chris Daughtry — a superb rocker with a richly expressive voice — voted out. He'd had one bad week, choosing poorly from among Elvis Presley songs. On "Idol" that can be enough. Three people remain. There's Taylor Hicks, who always makes smart choices; Katharine McPhee, who hasn't quite tapped her immense talent; and Elliott Yamin, one of life's underdogs. Soon, one will be the American idol.

"Frontline: Can You Afford to Retire?" 9 p.m., PBS. In 1974, one researcher found, companies made 89 percent of all retirement contributions. By 2000, that was barely 51 percent. Now many workers use 401(k) plans with weak results. "This is a crisis in the making," one expert says. For some people that crisis is already here. Hedrick Smith finds vivid examples in this compelling documentary.

OF NOTE

"Celebrity Debut," 7 p.m., ABC. Here's an idea that worked in the "Before They Were Stars" specials. Brian Austin Green hosts as he shows us people — John Travolta, Halle Berry, Kate Winslet, Andre Agassi, etc. — in their pre-fame days.

"NCIS," 7 p.m., CBS. Gibbs is recovering but suffers memory loss. Meanwhile, there are reports that terrorists will bomb the Navy.

"Will & Grace," 7 and 7:30 p.m., NBC. Two days before the series finale, here are funny reruns with major guest stars. Matt Damon plays a straight guy who wants to deceptively join the gay-men's chorus. Kevin Bacon plays himself with Jack as his new assistant.

"Scrubs," 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. The two-part season-finale has J.D. falling for a urologist.

"Boston Legal," 8 p.m., ABC. The two-hour season finale whisks the lawyers to their Los Angeles office. There, Denny (William Shatner) meets his counterpoint (Robert Wagner). Alan (James Spader) defends a celebrity (Jeri Ryan) who is on trial for a shooting. Back in Boston Ed Begley Jr. plays a professor charged with soliciting a prostitute.

"The Unit," 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. Here are the season's final new episodes. In the first, a bomb in Atlanta may be nuclear. In the second the unit tries to seize a war criminal in Serbia.

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. A 16-year-old Hurricane Katrina survivor has crumbling health. House — who was once in a band with her father — gets involved.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Brittany Snow ("American Dreams") plays a young woman who goes off her psychiatric medication and then hits 10 people with her car.

TONIGHT ON KHNL NEWS 8

At 10 p.m.: Are your kids hooked on video games? Parents know about movie and TV ratings, but are video games going too far with sex and violence? Learn how to shop smart and safely in our special report, "Video Games: Buyer Beware."