TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Wide Angle: The People's Court," 9 p.m., and "P.O.V.: Stand Silent Nation," 10 p.m.; both PBS. As it began its modern approach, China wobbled. It had few laws and few lawyers. Over a quarter-century, "Wide Angle" says, 400 law schools have been started. Still, it's a tenuous process. In civil cases, courts have little power. Half their rulings are simply ignored. In criminal cases, they have mega-power. One lawyer says he wasn't informed until after his client was executed. Americans might scoff at these judiciary newcomers — until they see the "P.O.V." film. In South Dakota, the Pine Ridge reservation has harsh land, 85 percent unemployment and a marker noting the Wounded Knee massacre. One crop that works is industrial hemp. But the government has lumped it in with marijuana — a point experts dispute — and banned its harvest. "P.O.V." follows a painful, painstaking ride through a legal system that — like the one in China is a work in progress.

OF NOTE

"The Staircase Murders" (2007), 6 p.m., Lifetime. Treat Williams stars in the true story of a best-selling novelist whose wife dies in a fall down a staircase. Like many true-life stories, this lacks the clever twists and surprises of fiction. Still, it's a fascinating story. And we're reminded again that Williams — who stars in TNT's "Heartland" — is an actor of great subtlety and skill.

"America's Got Talent," 7 p.m., NBC. Wary of low viewership before a holiday, NBC simply reruns its New York auditions.

"The Unit," 8 p.m., CBS. Jonas (Dennis Haysbert) has lots of skills. Here, he's captaining a South Korean submarine, attempting to reach a defector.

"Shaq's Big Challenge," 8 p.m., ABC. In last week's opener, Shaquille O'Neal tried to steer six steeply overweight kids toward a healthy life. It was harder than he'd expected; some kids simply lied to him. Now he gets tough, with lots of help from experts. There are disturbing moments here, as bad habits push one kid toward a medical crisis.

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. Dr. House is at a crisis point in this rerun, in danger of jail time for drug abuse. He refuses to apologize to Tritter, the cop who pursued him; while he's being distracted, his staff can't find a cure for a firefighter.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. In a rerun loosely reflecting real events, a young mother commits suicide after being accused by a TV personality of staging the kidnapping of her child.