TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Dirt" debut, 8 p.m., FX; repeats at 9. Here's the start of another series in the FX tradition. Like virtually all FX dramas — from "The Shield" to "Thief" — this one is superbly written, directed and acted. Like many of them, it has little variety or contrast to its characters. Most of them are cynical and self-centered. They don't reach the extremes of Fox's "Nip/Tuck," but they are clearly on the way. At the core is Lucy Spiller (Courteney Cox), the editor of two fashion magazines. We admire the fact that she's smart, confident and Courteney Cox-beautiful. We dislike the fact that she's a nasty human being. Then there's Don Konkey (Ian Hart). He has a crumbling mind and few ethics, but he's a master at getting the right photo of a celebrity. There's also Holt McLaren (Josh Stewart), the talented and underemployed boyfriend of a recovering star. He can be bought. Others have similar traits. Individually, each is fascinating; together, they could use some variety. Still, a show this well-made is worth sticking with.

"Big Day," 8 and 8:30 p.m., ABC. This show is great fun as a hectic wedding day unfolds. In tonight's first episode, a neighboring party brings chaos. Kids pelt the staff with paint guns; also, a rogue clown steals the wedding dress. In the second, the bride and groom fire the minister ... while her mom considers rehiring the wedding planner.

OF NOTE

Orange Bowl, 3:15 p.m., Fox, with preview at 2:30. It's Louisville and Wake Forest, in Miami.

"Spider-Man 2," 5 p.m., FX. This fun adventure draws an audience, which may or may not stay for "Dirt."

"World's Funniest Home Videos," 7 p.m., ABC. This all-purpose show is the latest one dropped into the early-Tuesday abyss.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 8 p.m., NBC. A young Pakistani woman was secretly dating an Italian man whose family disapproved. Was she killed for racial reasons or for something more personal?

"My Boys," 8 p.m., TBS. After changing plans and wrapping up its first mini-season last week, this show now settles into reruns. If you missed it the first time, catch it now; new episodes are planned.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Brian Dennehy plays an elderly criminal who is ready to confess. It turns out that his crimes are much deeper than anyone could imagine.

"Boston Legal," 9 p.m., ABC. Ivan (Tom Selleck) is back in this rerun, divorcing his current young wife and wanting to get out of his post-nuptial agreement. Opposing him in court is Shirley (Candice Bergen), one of his long-ago ex-wives.