Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"Back to You," 7 p.m., Fox. This was one of the first shows shut down by the writers' strike. Still, there's good news: This rerun is hilarious. Chuck (Kelsey Grammer) has learned he has a daughter. Her mom, Kelly (Patricia Heaton), is his colleague at work, and thoroughly distrustful of him. Now Chuck tries to show his responsibility by caring for a goldfish. That leads to some hilarious sight gags.
"Phenomenon" finale, 7 p.m., NBC. Last week, Criss Angel and Uri Geller switched plans, advancing four people (not three) to this finale. One will be named the world's best mentalist. Guy Bavli grew up in Israel, where he was a soldier and a fan of Geller. Eran Raven lives in Tampa; Mike Super is from small-town Pennsylvania. There's also Angela Funovits, who was the only woman in the 10-person field. She's a medical student and a former Miss Teen Cleveland.
OF NOTE
"Rise of the Videogame" debut, 6 p.m., Discovery Channel. Remember when Pong was a big deal? This documentary series starts back in the 1970s.
"Meet the Parents" (2000), 6 and 8:30 p.m., ABC Family. Ben Stiller plays a hapless chap who meets his girlfriend's imposing dad. Since he's played by Robert De Niro — and has a lie detector — this becomes difficult and funny.
"Pushing Daisies," 7 p.m., ABC. There's been a scratch-and-sniff book explosion — is that a common problem? — killing the assistant to a scent expert. Paul Reubens of Pee-wee Herman fame guests.
" 'Til Death," 7:30 p.m., Fox. Here's a modestly funny rerun. Eddie (played by Brad Garrett, who's almost 6-foot-9) is nudged onto a basketball team. He doesn't want to admit he's a terrible player.
"Deal or No Deal," 8 p.m., NBC. This expanded edition has Thanksgiving features. The lowest five prizes are replaced by "turkeys" — cranberry sauce, gravy, etc.
"Great Performances: The Israel Philharmonic 70th Anniversary Gala Concert," 9 p.m., PBS. The Palestine Orchestra, as it was known then, saved Jewish musicians from the Holocaust. It went on to world fame, with Zubin Mehta in charge since 1977. Here, he brings back violinist Pinchas Zukerman (an Israeli native) and pianist Daniel Barenboim. The talent is immense; the selections — Bruch's first violin concerto, Ravel's "La Valse," Brahms' first piano concerto — are extremely slow to engage casual listeners.
"CSI: NY," 9 p.m., CBS. A bridegroom has been killed and then wrapped like a present.
"Dirty Sexy Money," 9 p.m., ABC. Nick was told that working for the rich Darling family wouldn't change his home life. Now he must miss Thanksgiving dinner; also, there's a plan for the sexy Karen Darling to seduce him.