TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"How I Met Your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men," 7:30 and 8 p.m., CBS. CBS closed last season with a flurry of surprises. Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, says that was the producers' idea. "They said, 'Look, we want to make a lot of noise at the end of the season. We want to do cliffhangers.' " Now we can see them again. CBS will rerun the cliffhangers all week, leading into the new season. In "Mother," Ted tries a grand gesture to impress Robin. The surprise comes elsewhere and doesn't seem true to the characters. In "Men," Charlie and Mia are ready to marry in Las Vegas. Then things spin around wildly.

OF LOCAL NOTE

"9/11 Remembered: Five Years Past," 9 p.m., KHON. Emme Tomimbang updates her post-9/11 special, 2002's "Hawai'i to New York." Tomimbang tracked Hawai'i connections in the wake of the World Trade Center attack in the original. The special's current version updates us. One of the segments focused on Rescue 3, a fire and collapse unit in the Bronx, that lost eight men during the recovery process. In the update, retired unit commander Capt. Ralph Tiso revisits Ground Zero, reflects on rebuilding the memorial and shares reaction to Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" movie. The special tells the stories of eight Hawai'i residents who lost their lives on 9/11: Heather Ho, Rich Y.C. Lee, Maile Hale, Christine Snyder, Georgine Corrigan, and Patricia Maile Pitchford Colodner.

OF NOTE

Sept. 11 coverage, all day, network news shows and cable news channels. The fifth anniversary of the attacks will dominate attention. CNN, for instance, plans to spend much of the day on the subject starting at 6 a.m.; "Today" (7-10 a.m. on NBC) will include Matt Lauer interviewing President Bush.

"Monday Night Football," 1 p.m., ESPN. The regular season of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" opens with a double-header. The Minnesota Vikings visit the Washington Redskins. Then, at about 4:15 p.m., the San Diego Chargers visit the Oakland Raiders.

"Miracle of Stairway B," 5 p.m., History Channel. This rerun views the survival of 16 people inside the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

"The Path to 9/11" conclusion, 7 p.m., ABC. This mini-series begins with the bombing of the USS Cole. FBI Agent John O'Neill (Harvey Keitel) is sent to Yemen, where he clashes with an ambassador (Patricia Heaton). O'Neill's story is particularly involving.

"Dateline," 7 p.m., NBC. Jane Pauley updates her documentary, viewing passengers' efforts to take over Flight 93.

"Prison Break," 7 p.m., Fox. Michael and Link weren't on their own for long. Tonight, Bellick and Geary catch up with them.

"Countdown to Ground Zero," 7, 11 p.m. to midnight, History Channel. Documentary rerun traces the events of Sept. 11.

"Vanished," 8 p.m., Fox. Kelton finds a clue that may explain Sara's disappearance.

"America Rebuilds II: Return to Ground Zero," 9 p.m., PBS. This documentary views rebuilding efforts at the World Trade Center site. Parts of the hour slog through details, but there are strong moments. One comes when teens — in New York for a class trip — meet a man whose son was killed on Sept. 11.

"Primetime," 9 p.m., ABC. Following its mini-series, ABC has Charles Gibson viewing current security issues. He'll talk to 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean, former security adviser Richard Clarke and others.

"CSI: Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. Searching for the men who killed Marisol, Horatio learns secrets about her.

Wayne Harada also contributed to today's Tube Notes.