Mike Hughes on TV

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “So You Think You
Can Dance” (Fox) or “The Voice” (NBC), 8-10 p.m.

Two strong reality shows – one near
the start of its season, one near the end – collide.

“Dance,” possibly the best of the
summer shows, is still in its auditions. “Voice” has its top 10,
with the big moments coming: At 8 p.m., it reruns their Monday
performances; at 9, two of them will be ousted.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Dancing With
the Stars” finale, 9-11 p.m., ABC.

The show's 16^th winner,
announced tonight, could follow “Stars” traditions.

Maybe Jacoby Jones will become the
fourth football star to win (after Emmit Smith, Hines Ward and Donald
Driver).Or maybe Alexandra Raisman will be th fourth Olympian to win,
after Kristi Yamaguchi, Apolo Anton Ohno and Shawn Johnson.

Then again, Zendaya, 16, could become
the youngest winner; Kellie Pickler could be the first one from
country music. We'll see tonight, after lots of music and dance
numbers.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “The Ghost
Army,” 8 p.m., PBS (check local listings).

One day in 1945, two French cyclists
pedaled into the wrong area – and saw four U.S. soldiers picking up
a tank. Grasping for an explanation, someone told them: “The
Americans are very strong.”

They had seen grand deception –
90-pound inflatables, impersonating four-ton tanks. It was the work
of a unit that used fake equipment, sound effects and radio signals
to confound sharp German scouts.

Many of the 1,100 men in the unit were
artists, some headed to the top. (Bill Blass wa an Indiana kid,
reading Vogue in the foxhole.) Before finding individual fame, they
created battle-winning surprises.

Other choices include:

– “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012), 7
p.m., HBO. In every detail, “Moonrise” creates a wondrously
off-center tone. That ripples through the offbeat, Oscar nominated
script of Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola and Anderson's stylish
direction. Kids star, with Bill Murray and Bruce Willis in support.

– “'The Bachelor's' Funniest
Moments,” 8-9 p.m., ABC. Most “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette”
people arrive by limousine, but we see exceptions here. Hopefuls
reach the mansion by horse and motorcycle; one is on a skateboard,
holding the back of the limo. Then there are inelegant moments: A
back-flip fails, a stairway entrance crumbles, some sprightly
bed-bouncing ends when the bed breaks.

– “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 8 p.m.,
CBS. In a rerun, a woman from Deeks' past is targeted, after finding
a stolen-car ring. The team tries to protect her and Kensi goes
undercover at the car shop.

– “NCIS,” 9 and 10 p.m., CBS. The
first rerun has Ziva wondering why her father, the head of the Mossad
in Israel, is in town. The second eyes the fierce aftermath.

– “Constitution USA,” 9 p.m., PBS
(check local listings). It took take almost a century to get the idea
of equality into the Constitution. Here, Peter Sagal ponders the
debates that have energed.

– “Frontline,” 10 p.m., PBS
(check local listings). In the five years since the financial
meltdown, Wall Street's rule-breakers have eluded prison. This hour
ponders why.

– :Grimm,” 10:01 p.m., NBC. In real
life, Portland, Oregon, rarely has trouble with engraged citizenry.
In this episode, however, there's a flurry of rage-fueled attacks;
also, the undead are troublesome.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “American
Masters,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS (check local listings).

Mel Brooks has no delusions of
sainthood. He grew up, he says in this breezy film, as “an
arrogant, obnoxious little (bleep)head.” He's always been the
loudest guy in the room, seizing attention.

He's also immensely talented. Brooks
wrote classic TV for Sid Caesar, then classic movies and musicals.
Filled with clips and laughs, this film captures the first 86 years
of a loud and funny life.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Dancing With
the Stars” performance finale, 8-10:01 p.m., ABC.

Athletes have thrived on this show. The
first 15 winners have included three Olympic champions and three pro
football stars; now they make up half the final four.

There's Alexandra Raisman, who
captained the gold-medal Olympic gymnastics team; and Jacoby Jones,
whose record-tying kick return sparked a Super Bowl win. They join
country singer Kellie Pickler and teen singer-dancer-actress Zendaya.
On Tuesday, we'll know the winner.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “The Big C”
series finale, 10 p.m., Showtime.

Last week, Cathy (the terrific Laura
Linney) pushed the notion of going to a hospice. She didn't want her
son to think of their home as the place his mother died of cancer.

Now she's lingering. What if she passes
the number of hospice days her insurance allows? Stick around for a
closing hour that nimbly leaps from deep drama to moments of quirky
comedy.

Other choices include:

– “The Voice,” 8-10:01 p.m., NBC.
The final 10 perform; on Tuesday, two will be ousted.

– “2 Broke Girls,” 8 p.m., CBS.
Nudged ahead an hour, “Girls” reruns an episode that has
hilarious moments from Andy Dick, as a quirky street performer.

– :”Raising Hope,” 8 p.m., Fox.
Adding some summertime fun, Fox is bunching four comedies – three
reruns and “Goodwin Games” – on Mondays. That starts with a
funny episode that introduced Sabrina's mom (Melanie Griffith) and
late grandmother (Tippi Hedren, Griffith's real-life mom).

– “The Goodwin Games” debut, 8:30
p.m., Fox. These siblings – a surgeon, an ex-con and a “mean
girl” – share little except a dad who is quirky and dead. Now his
will forces them in fresh directions.

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 9 p.m.,
CBS. With “2 Broke Girls” nudging up an hour, CBS fills the gap
with a rerun of TV's best comedy. Tonight brings a Halloween party at
the comic-book shop.

– “Mike & Molly”
season-finale, 9:30 p.m., CBS. Mike frets about a torndado and a
Renaissance fair.

--”Hawaii Five-0” season-finale, 10
p.m., CBS. The team helps the CIA hunt for a deadly terrorist.

– “Reckoning” season-finale, 10
p.m., Sundance. Last week's hour ended suddenly and sensationally. A
step-brother seemed to mock Daniel's 19 years on Death Row;then
Daniel choked him and the closing credits rolled. Now we see the
result; we also see that many people in this town remain convinced
that Daniel killed his girlfriend. It's a so-so finish to what has
been a very good first season.

– “Motive” debut, 10:01 p.m.,
ABC, This Canadian drama shows us who did a crime, then follow cops
tryig ti figure out why it happened. After tonight, it moves to its
regular spot on Thursdays.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Billboard Music
Awards,” 8-11 p.m., ABC.

Tracy Morgan hosts a night stuffed with
performances. They range from young stars (Justin Bieber, Taylor
Swift, Selena Gomez) to Prince, who is getting the Icon Award.

Other performers include Christina
Aguilra, Bruno Mars, Pitbull, Miguel, Kacey Musgraves, The Band Perry
and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Tim McGraw's
Superstar Summer Night,” 9-11 p.m. Sunday,CBS.

This is a night of musical overload.
ABC and CBS have overlapping specials, with some performers –
Taylor Swift, Pitbull, The Band Perry – in both.

McGraw hosts this one, working with his
wife (Faith Hill) plus lots of other country people – Keith Urban,
Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum and Florida
Georgia Line. Viewrs who aren't interested in Nashville can catch
John Fogerty, Ne-Yo and Pitbull.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Life Below
Zero” debut, 10 p.m., National Geographic

“I don't think I'd do well in a
cubicle,” one man says. “My office is 100 million acres of
wilderness.”

He's one of a handful of fascinating
people we meet above the Arctic Circle. Most are transplants to a
world where the temperature can reach 70 below zero; one woman
fidgets during medical recuperation in Fairbanks, eager to return
“home” to her life of being alone.

We also meet a native. Her husband, not
born there, is fairly fearless on the ice. She's more cautious; her
mother, her brother and her brother's girlfriend all died plunging
through the deceptive surface.

Other choices include:

– “The Cleveland Show,” 7-10
p.m., and more, Fox. Here are hour-long editions of three of the
cartoons. First, it's Cleveland at a low-rider convention … at 8
p.m., “The Simpsons” has Homer heading to Iceland to retrieve his
share of a lottery win … at 9, Stewie's time-machine goes crazy.

– “Call the Midwife”
season-finale, 8 p.m., PBS (check local listings). There are signs of
joy now: Chummy is back … Fred's daughter and grandchild are
visiting ... Jenny has a potential romance. Still, a rebuilding
project in the neighborhood endangers the convent itself.

– “Masterpiece Theatre,” 9 p.m.,
PBS (check local listings). The first season of the splendid “Mr.
Selfridge” concludes with tragedy striking on the day that polar
explorer Ernest Shackleton is visiting the store. Another celebrity
may visit; also, Harry and his wife see a shocking play.

– “Celebrity Apprentice” finale,
9-11 p.m.,NBC. The big guys have prevailed. Penn Jillette (6-foot-7)
and Trace Adkins (6-6), both massive, are the finalists; each
organizes a charity event.

– “North America” debut, 9-11
p.m., Discovery. A seven-hour documentary series begins with some of
the continents most impressive inhabitants – whales, wolves, bears
and mountain lions.

– “The Borgias,” 10 p.m.,
Showtime. The pope's children are asserting themselves now. Lucrezia
has her son back, now that the man who banned him (her father-in-law)
was secretly killed by her bodyguard. And in a strong episode, Cesare
startles his dad wth a surge of military and political power.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Saturday Night
Live,” 10 and 11:29 p.m., NBC.

First is a rerun of last week's
episode, with Kristen Wiig hosting and Vampire Weekend as music
guest. Then a good (if erratic) season concludes with Ben Affleck
hosting and Kanye West as music guest.

That could bring some strong moments:
Affleck may now be a member of the “five-timer club” of hosts,
usually a big deal. Also, it's the final regular gig for Seth Meyers
and Bill Hader. After brilliant years as head writer and “Weekend
Update” anchor, Meyers will take NBC's late-night slot in February,
when Jimmy Fallon moves up to Jay Leno's spot.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Law &Order:
Specal Victims Unit,” 9 p.m., NBC.

There's no “Smash” tonight; that
show has its two-hour finale May 26. But there's an “SVU” rerun
that flips things around: Olivia, the cop, wants help from Bayard
Ellis, the defense attorney.

A new crime makes her feel there may
have been extenuating circumstances involving a convict (Mike Tyson)
on Death Row. She wants Ellis (Andre Braugher) to intervene.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Doctor Who”
season-finale, 8 p.m., BBC America.

This show was old – ancient, by TV
standards – before its stars were born. It's 50; Matt Smith and
Jenna-Louise Coleman are 30 and 27.

Smith is the 11^th person to
play The Doctor. Under the writer-producer Steven Moffat, he's
triumphed.

With his friends being kidnapped, The
Doctor heads to the fields of Trenzalore. Mysteries will be solved …
possibly including the ultimate one – the real name of The Doctor.

Other choices include:

– “Finding Normal,” 7, 9 and 11
p.m., GMC (formerly Gospel Music Channel). A big-city, big-money
doctor (Candace Cameron Bure) tries to zip through Normal, a North
Carolina town of 332. Arrested for speeding, she's sentenced to
community service; don't be surprised if lives transform.

– “Elementary,” 8 p.m., CBS. In a
rerun, the body of a hotel manager is found in the laundry machine.
Sherlock Holmes suspects foul play.

– “Grimm,” 8 p.m., NBC. Who knew
that the academic-team world turns violent? This rerun centers on the
murder of a young decathlete.

– “Orphan Black,” 9 p.m., BBC
America. With a richly detailed plot and a superb star, this show has
been a solid surprise. Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) is a small-time crook
who suddenly learned she's a result of a cloning experiment. Tonight,
her actions endanger the others.

– “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” 9
p.m., HBO. Here's the hall's annual induction ceremony. There are
performances by Heart, Rush, Public Enemy and Randy Newman (the
newest inductees, along with the late Albert King and Donna Summer),
plus Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Foo Fighters.

– “Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade” (1989), 9-11 p.m., Spike. After a great start and an OK
middle,the original Indiana Jones trilogy concluded beautifully.
There are great injections from River Phoenix as young Indy and Sean
Connery as his dad.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Raiders of the
Lost Ark” (1981), 7 p.m., Spike.

On a night overstuffed with reality,
cable offers scripted fun. That's led by this classic and its sequel.

George Lucas created “Raiders,”
giving the hero the first name of his boyhood dog (Indiana). Tom
Selleck was cast, but a TV deal intervened; Lucas ended up with
people from his “Star Wars” films – actor Harrison Ford, writer
Lawrence Kasdan, composer John Williams. Steven Spielberg directed,
making “Raiders” a wonderful swirl of action, adventure and
occasional humor.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Shark Tank”
season-finale, 8 and 9 p.m., ABC.

The first hour shows how different
entrepreneurs can be. One man is a self-described geek, doing
made-to-order furniture; two women use their Army and West Point
backgrounds to inspire jewelry. Other proposals range from a luggage
pick-up service to re-imagining scones.

Then the second hour adds a whimsical
bit: Dr. Doofenshmirtz – the villain from the “Phineas and Ferb”
cartoon – pushes his latest evil invention.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Great
Performances,” 9 p.m., PBS (check local listings).

Maybe this is appropriate: CBS has just
canceled “Vegas,” set in 1960s Las Vegas. Now – in exactly the
same time slot – PBS inserts an opera set in 1960 Vegas.

Verdi's “Rigoletto,” based on a
Victor Hugo play, was set four centuries ago; now it has a new time
and place. Director Michael Mayer (a Tony-winner for “Spring
Awakening”) gives it a wonderfully brash, early-Vegas look;
Rigoletto is a comedian whose sweet daughter is loved by a casino
singer.

Other choices include:

– “Home Alone” (1990) and “Home
Alone 2” (1992), 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., ABC Family. The same lad
(Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally abandoned twice – yes, his
parents are sheepish – and out-thinks some dim crooks. The sequel
is OK; the original neatly mixes big sight gags and small bits of
emotion.

– Real-life overload, all night, NBC,
CBS and ABC. There are still six days left in the TV season, but you
can't prove that by these networks; none has a scripted show. NBC has
two hours of “Dateline” and one of “Rock Center”; ABC has two
“Shark Tank” and “20/20.” Even CBS – the steadiest Friday
force – has two hours of “Undercover Boss” and (in the “Blue
Bloods” spot) one of “48 Hours.”

– “Nikita” season-finale, 8 p.m.,
CW. Amanda's scheme could force Nikita to choose between saving
Michael or saving herself.

– “Bones,” 9 p.m., Fox. While
turning Mondays into a summertime comedy night, Fox slides”Bones”
reruns to Fridays. Tonight, a corpse is stuck in glue.

– “Da Vinci's Diaries,” 9 p.m.,
Starz, repeats at 10:05. This richly crafted drama keeps sticking
Leonardo da Vinci into the brashest dramas of the Renaissance era.
Now comes a dilly – confronting Vlad III … who was later called
Vlad the Impaler and inspired the legend of Dracula.

– “Indiana Jones and the Temple of
Doom” (1982), 9:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Spike.This sequel is only
half as good as “Raiders” – which still makes it a zesty bit of
entertainment.

– “Merlin,” 10 p.m., Syfy. A
wounded druid turns out to be Kara, Mordred's former love. Soon, he's
helping her … and she tries to kill Arthur. Now Mordred could
become an enemy of the crown.