TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Pioneers of Television: Game Shows," 8 p.m., PBS. The final show of this so-so, four-part series is the best, partly because of its timing. It interviewed Merv Griffin before his death and taped Bob Barker in action before his retirement. It caught the memories of Monty Hall, Betty White, producer-creator Bob Stewart and many hosts. They recall the days when getting people into the studio audience was difficult. Barker was being billed below "free donuts" on a marquee. Then came the explosion of interest in the 1950s and the scandal that ended it. A revival followed, with an emphasis on fun and gamesmanship.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SKIP

"Moment of Truth," 8 p.m., Fox. We haven't seen a full episode yet, but we've seen enough to know this could be the most vile show in TV history. Contestants are hooked up to a lie-detector machine and then are asked questions on the air. If they answer all 21 honestly they win $500,000 — and, if the sampling I saw is typical, leave their friends and family shattered.

OF NOTE

"Never Been Kissed" (1999), 6 and 8:30 p.m., ABC Family. Drew Barrymore brings warmth and semi-believability to the notion of a 25-year-old copy editor who pretends to be a high school student.

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. The fourth round of auditions reach Charleston, S.C.

"Power of 10" (CBS), "Crowned" (CW/KHON digital 93), "Deal or No Deal" (NBC) and "Wife Swap" (ABC), all 7 p.m. This is the moment you feared when the writers' strike began: All five big commercial networks have a reality or game show.

"The Jewish Americans," 9 p.m., PBS. After generations of triumph, this documentary says, Jews faced fresh complications in the second half of the 20th century. Internally, there were debates over Israel and over women's roles. Externally, the bond between blacks and Jews — strong during the civil-rights era — began to fray.

"The Augie Show Special" 8 p.m. Comic Augie T., along with family and others, offers an hour of parody.

"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. When a white boy and a black girl are killed in a park, police sift racial suspicions.

"Head Case" season opener, 8 p.m., Starz/KHON digital 655. Alexandra Wentworth plays a self-centered therapist to the stars in this darkly funny series, with actors playing variations of themselves. There are subtle bits by Ione Skye and by Jeff Goldberg, perplexed by his therapist's nonprofessionalism.

"Hollywood Residential" debut. 8:30 p.m., Starz/KHON digital 655. Adam Paul plays the host of a fix-it show, jealous of his sexy new co-host (Lindsey Stoddart). Too much of this seems like sub-par "Office." In this opener, however, Paula Abdul does a noble job of satirizing herself. That makes this worth catching.