Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEES
"iCarly," 5 p.m., Nickelodeon. In most episodes, "iCarly" is a pleasant comedy, with likable teens and broad humor. For examples, catch the marathon from 1 to 5:30 p.m. This new episode adds a bonus — a sly satire of empty-headed TV programmers. One such dolt has been told that kids like the no-budget show Carly and Sam do on the Internet. He soon hires them and changes everything, even adding a dinosaur and a mugging child star. This is broad satire, but accurate. CBS turned a quirky British show into the quirklessly bland "Viva Laughlin." Besides, the "iCarly" stars (Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdy) remain bright and likable. They nudge us through any slow spots.
"Numb3rs," 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. Here's a two-parter, being rerun in one gulp. A teacher (Kim Dickens), 30, is on the run with her 17-year-old lover. When they get to Los Angeles, things are deadly.
OF NOTE
"Can You Duet," 5 and 6 p.m., CMT. The first hour trims the field to three duos. The second chooses a winner.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981, 6 p.m.) and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984, 8:30 p.m.), USA Network. Here's a double feature of great adventure filmmaking by Steven Spielberg, with Harrison Ford starring. The first is a classic. The second (like the fourth one, which is now in theaters) is lots of fun.
"Hollywood Homicide" (2003), 7 p.m., Fox. Ford can't have a classic every time. Here, he plays a jaded cop, selling real estate on the side. Josh Harnett is his idealistic colleague. The result is cookie-cutter, but fairly entertaining.
"Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. The assistant to a late professor takes credit for all their discoveries. The professor's ghost is not pleased.
"According to Jim," 8 and 8:30 p.m., ABC. In the first rerun, Jim plans a doll-themed party, then learns that isn't what Gracie wants. In the second, a tribunal handles disputes between kids — and then grown-ups.