Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
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TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEES
"Freaky Friday" (2003), 7 p.m., ABC. Many moms are convinced their teen daughters know nothing about living their lives. Most of those teens figure their moms are clueless. So what if they simply transposed? What if each slipped into the other's body? That notion was at the core of a terrific 1977 movie, starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster. It was remade here with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The result has (twice) given Disney a classic comedy.
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" conclusion, 5 p.m., Nickelodeon. As this season-ending movie begins, the Earth is near extinction. Firelord Ozai, leader of the Fire Nation, is ready to attack. The only person who can stop him is Aang, the new Avatar. But he's not ready, not fully trained. Also, he's been told by the monks to avoid violence. There are more complications from Aang's friends and from Ozai's world. Some of this seems like sheer time-filling; some is rather silly. (Why does Ozai's daughter seem like a spoiled suburbanite?) All of that is redeemed when the final battles (on three fronts) begin. This is animated action at its biggest, filled with flash, fire and fury.
OF NOTE
"My Name is Earl," 7 and 7:30 p.m., NBC. Both reruns are from Earl's jail days. In the first, he's supposed to write a "scared straight" play, complete with a "green" theme. In the second, Frank breaks out and searches for his money.
"NCIS," 7 p.m., CBS. Ducky finds this autopsy surprising: The victim, supposedly frozen to death, returns to consciousness.
"Brokeback Mountain" (2005), 5 and 8 p.m., Bravo. Here are two opportunities to view this brilliant movie. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are superb as cowboys in love. There were well-deserved Oscars for director Ang Lee, composer Gustavo Santaolalla and the subtly eloquent script by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana.
"The Unit," 8 p.m., CBS. The unit tries to rescue two people pinned down in Paraguay.
"Law & Order," 8 p.m., NBC. A novelist has been killed. Her husband accuses a cult, but getting a conviction would be difficult — especially with a frightened jury.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 9 p.m., NBC. Getting into a prestigious preschool is getting dangerous. Three parents of kids on the waiting list have been killed.
"Saturday Night Live," 10:29 p.m., NBC. Christopher Walken hosts, with music from Panic at the Disco.