Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"America's Funniest Home Videos," 7 p.m., ABC. While big-money, big-concept shows come and go, this simple little one goes on and on. Tonight it shows the top 20 videos in its history and awards a $250,000 prize.
"Fairly Odd Parents," 5 p.m., Nickelodeon. Big and broad, this cartoon tends to be quite funny. This episode, which includes an "American Idol" take-off, has dandy moments. Norm the Genie has a scheme to become Timmy's fairy godparent. He creates evil clone Timmy to drive away the current ones. The Fairy World decides — logically or not — that the new godparent should be determined by a singing contest. Diana DiGarmo, a previous "Idol" runner-up, does one song here.
OF NOTE
"X2: X-Men United" (2003), 7 p.m., Fox. As the third "X-Men" movie opens, Fox is promoting it fervently. Here it offers the second one, in which the opposing leaders (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen) temporarily link. Stewart's side is full of beautiful people, including Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijn.
"Dr. Phil: A Primetime Special: Escaping Danger," 7 p.m., CBS. This hour focuses on a single family. Phil McGraw counsels a woman who has two kids and, allegedly, an abusive husband.
"Close to Home," 8 p.m., CBS. Was a man killed because he was a pedophile or because he was trying to expose abuse?
"Conviction," 8 and 9 p.m., NBC. This two-part story wraps up the season. When a woman is killed after leaving a bar, the bouncer is a prime suspect. Also, a shootout at the courthouse puts the assistant district attorneys in jeopardy.
"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. Two women were killed separately and their bodies left in their cars.