TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. Dr. House remains adamant. He doesn't need his brilliant aides; he'll start with 40 hopefuls then fire some of them. There are wonderful glimpses of the candidates, some of them gone in a blink. Meanwhile, House starts seeing (fantasizing about) his old aides. Tied in is the tough case of a jet pilot who wants her presence hidden from everyone. That gives us the extreme House — caustic, caring, deceptive, funny, sometimes tragic and always brilliant.

"The War" finale, 8 p.m., PBS. There are raw and brutal moments here, as soldiers discover the death camps. We see the horror in the pictures and on the face of Ray Leopold, a Jewish soldier who has felt the agony for 60 years. Alongside that is heroism and joy. A former POW recalls the magic of phoning his parents ... who had been officially informed of his death. A great series concludes.

OF NOTE

"Five Days" debut, 5 p.m., HBO; continues for four more Tuesdays. Here is intense drama, unfolding at a casual, British pace. We slowly meet ordinary people before a missing-persons crisis begins and doubts and tensions build. There are some familiar stars here, including David Oyelowo (fresh from HBO's "As You Like It") as a worried husband, Edward Woodward as a grandfather and Hugh Bonneville and Janet McTeer as key cops.

"Queer Eye For the Straight Guy," 6 p.m., Bravo. There's a thin line between clever kitsch and mere shambles. Tonight, this usually witty show crosses that line with an overloud, overwrought pageant that pits some of their clients.

"The Singing Bee," 7 p.m., NBC. Tentative plans call for reversing shows tonight. "Singing Bee" goes first with "Biggest Loser" at 7:30.

"Cavemen," 7 p.m., ABC. The cavemen from the Geico commercials get their own series. The first pilot film was one-note; we haven't seen this new version. One guys fears that his new girlfriend, a Homo sapien, is ashamed of him; then again, he's hesitant to introduce her to his Neanderthal pals.

"Carpoolers," 7:30 p.m., ABC. Four guys who ride to work together start meddling in each other's lives. In tonight's moderately good pilot, a playboy dentist (Jerry O'Connell) stirs up a guy whose wife (Faith Ford) out-earns him.

"The Unit," 8 p.m., CBS. Here's the second half of a strong story that has Jonas on the run, trying to learn who framed him. He needs Kim to provide some risky help.

"Boston Legal," 9 p.m., ABC. Alan (James Spader) has trouble with women tonight. The firm's newest lawyer (Saffron Burrows) is someone he has a past with; meanwhile, a judge (Gail O'Grady) wants to have his baby.