TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005), 7 p.m., CBS. Back in the 1950s, no one knew if TV news people would make much of a difference. Then CBS' Edward R. Murrow investigated the bullying tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. It was a classic showdown. And it set some high standards that CBS has mainly stuck to. Now George Clooney, the son of a TV newsman, has told the story beautifully. Clooney co-wrote and directed the film and co-stars as Murrow's colleague, Fred Friendly. David Strathairn gives us a steel-eyed Murrow, risking his career while helping his country and his industry.

"Samantha Who?" 7 p.m., ABC. First is the pilot episode, an off-center delight. Then come three more reruns, erratic, but interesting. Samantha (Christina Applegate) wakes up from an auto accident, with little memory. The fun comes as she realizes just how bad she's been and how self-centered her mother (Jean Smart) and her friends are.

OF NOTE

"Flood," 6 p.m., Ion. Here's the third chance this month to see this solidly made British miniseries. The special effects are so-so, as Londoners face flooding of the Thames River. However, there's a smart script and a great cast with Robert Carlyle leading a pack of gifted British actors.

"ET" (1982), 7 and 9:30 p.m., ABC Family. With a sweet soul and stunning visuals, this could be one of the greatest movies ever. Steven Spielberg found all the right steps in the story of a lonely lad who finds an outer-space alien. A 7-year-old Drew Barrymore co-stars.

"Music and Lyrics" (2007), 6 p.m., HBO. Now let's jump ahead a quarter-century in Drew Barrymore's life. She had a supporting role in "ET." Now at 32 she stars with Hugh Grant in this romantic comedy. He's a rock veteran; she's a novice who could become his lyricist. The story is merely OK, but the immense charm of the stars makes it pleasant enough.

"Goodfellas" (1990, A&E), "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004, TBS), "Ghost" (1990, Oxygen), "Shrek" (2001, TNT) or "Broken Trail" (2006, AMC). You can't go wrong tonight. There is, respectively, a Mob classic, a slick thriller, an offbeat romance, some animated fun and an Emmy-winning cowboy miniseries.

"Women's Murder Club," 9 p.m., ABC. One of the women is kidnapped. Also, Lindsay gets tough news from a doctor.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Current plans call for the rerun of a show hosted by John C. Reilly with My Chemical Romance as the musical guest.

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