Mike Hughes on TV

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.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “American Idol,”
8-10 p.m., Fox.

Eleven-plus years after Kelly Clarkson
was its first winner, “Idol” returns to that mood.

The winner, like Clarkson, will be a
young Southerner, nimbly leaping between music styles. She'll also
end the five-year string of guys – bland ones, sometimes –
winning.

Candice Glover, 23, is from an island
off South Carolina; she reflects its Gullah traditions one moment,
sings stylish jazz the next. Kree Harrison, who turns 23 Friday, is
from small-town Texas; she leans to country, but with a tinge of
blues and rock.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “The Office,”
9-10:15 p.m., NBC, with retrospective at 8.

After nine seasons of clever, quiet
comedy, “The Office” says farewell. We don't expect any
aftershocks, just a gathering of amiably odd characters.

The occasion is a wedding, months after
a documentary finally aired. NBC says we can expect a few past
characters – Kelly (Mindy Karling), Ryan (B.J. Novak) – but not
Michael (Steve Carell), the origina boss. There will be some pranks
and some solved mysteries.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Elementary”
season finale, 9:01-11 p.m., CBS.

All season, we've known that Sherlock
Holmes is a broken soul. Recovering (barely) from drug addiction, he
has a dead lover (Irene Adler) and a live nemesis (Moriarty).

Now he learns that she's alive; Adler
is played by Natalie Dormer, who is Margaery in “Game of Thrones”
and was Anne Boleyn in “The Tudors.” We see flashbacks of his
descent into addiction … and we see that Moriarty is here, looking
to kill Sherlock and Joan Watson.

Other choices include:

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 8 and
8:31 p.m., CBS. The final week of the official TV season starts with
two episodes of the best comedy. First is a new one, the season
finale; Leonard's success and overseas job offer brings jealousy to
Sheldon and confusion to Penny. Then a funny rerun has Wolowitz
returning home, without the astronaut-hero's welcome he expects.

– “Risky Business” (1983),
8-10:30 p.m., Independent Film Channel. Three decades ago, Tom Cruise
was a young unknown, starring as a teen whose life turns perverse one
weekend. The result is a delight.

– “Three Amigos” (1986), 8-10
p.m., TV Guide. Mistaken for real cowboys, three actors – Steve
Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short – must save a Mexican village,
in fun comedy..

– “Beauty and th Beast”
season-finale, 9 p.m., CW. Vincent (the “beast”) isn't the only
troubled soul. Tonight, we learn more about the family of Catherine
(the beauty).

– “Grey's Anatomy” season-finale,
9 p.m., ABC. With a storm sweeping through Seattle, the emergency
room is packed. For many people – including one of the doctors –
it's a life-and-death situation.

– “Scandal” season-finale, 10:02
p.m., ABC. The identity of the mole has almost been uncovered,
putting Olivia's team in trouble. In the White House, Cyrus is
shattered by the latest crisis.

– “Hannibal,”10:15 p.m., NBC. A
gory killer seems interested in attracting Hannibal Lecter's
attention … and then in killing him. Meanwhile, a troubled Will
turns to romance with Dr. Alana Bloom.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “American Idol,”
8-9 p.m., Fox.

A year stuffed with talented women ends
appropriately, with two superb singers.

Kree Harrison is from Texas, with bits
of country and blues wrapping through a voice that can go in many
directions. In many years, she'd be the obvious winner; this year she
faces Candice Glover.

Glover grew up on a South Carolina
island, with its Gullah music culture, but at times she seem
inhabited by a jazz great or a gospel powerhouse. Now they sing and
viewers vote.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Modern
Family,” 9 p.m., ABC.

A week before its season-finale,
“Family” skillfully juggles three varied stories.

The weakest has 5-year-old Lily at a
gymnastics meet, stirring the dormant competitor in Mitchell. The
middle one has Phil learning that a recreation vehicle can bring out
the extremes in a family.

And the best starts with a search for
Manny's backpack. We soon learn that his mom is great at
breaking-and-entering, awful at Pictionary and the wrong person to
hear his poetry reading.

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

Some 20,000 zebras roam Botswana, in a
perpetual search for food and (especially) water. They average 2,500
miles a year, confronting elephants, meerkats and the occasional
predator.

This film is beautiful visually and
mixed emotionally. There's warmth, as parents stick with a lame foal;
there's horror, as the dominant male commits murder, rather than
accept a step-child.

Other choices include:

– “Alice in Wonderland” (2010)
and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), 6 and 8:30 p.m.,
ABC Family. This double-feature has one of Hollywood's greatest
combinations – director Tim Burton, actor Johnny Depp and composer
Danny Elfman. “Alice” is merely very good; “Charlie” is
wonderful.

– “2 Broke Girls,” 8 and 8:30
p.m., CBS. The first transplanted rerun finds friends helping, to
fill a massive cupcake order. The second gives Max a rare glimpse of
the high-flying life; she wins tickets to an awards show and ends up
on a private jet with Caroline and rapper 2 Chainz.

– “The Middle,” 8 p.m., ABC. Dave
Foley is back as the school counselor, trying to learn why Brick
dreads middle school. Meanwhile, his mom gets special privileges
because people see her dental-assistant lab coat and assume she's a
doctor; there are, of course, major repercussions.

– “Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit,” 9 p.m., NBC. An unconscious woman has been found in a river
near the mayor's house. Police soon find surprises about her life.

– “How to Live With Your Parents
(For the Rest of Your Life),” 9:31 p.m., ABC. Determined to not
live with her parents forever, Polly decides go back to school.
Meanwhile, her ex-husband is inspired by her mom to follow his dreams
… which involve a zombie survival fantasy camp.

– “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,”
10 p.m., CBS. As the team probes a string of murders, one person,
working undercover, is in danger. Also, Black Sabbath does its new
single, “End of the Beginning.”

– “Chicago Fire,” 10 p.m., NBC.
Voight (Jason Beghe) is out of prison, running the intelligence unit
and seemingly as crooked as ever. Now circumstance force Casey to
work with him.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “So You Think You
Can Dance” debut, 8 p.m., Fox.

While other reality shows keep spinning
in new judges – some good, many not – “Dance” has been steady
and sturdy, possibly TV's best summer show.

Nigel Lythgoe, a former dancer, has
been producer and head judge from the start. Cat Deeley has been the
host since the second season; Mary Murphy has only missed two years
as judge.

Now the 10^th season starts,
with guests in the third judge chair. Auditions start tonight and
then at 9 p.m. Wednesday, just after the “American Idol”
finalists have their last chance to get votes.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “The Mindy
Project,” 9:30 p.m., Fox.

This smart and amiable comedy ends its
first season with potential changes.

With her boyfriend Casey heading on a
church mission to Haiti, Mindy (Mindy Kaling) decides to go there
too. A farewell party – complete with Casey's ex-wife (Chloe
Sevigny) – becomes an event.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “The
Constitution,” 9 p.., PBS (check local listings).

After four sweaty months of wrangling,
the founding fathers finished a constitution that didn't address
freedoms. That would be worked out later, they promised; the Bill of
Rights followed.

Those 10 amendments have stirred
endless debate. Peter Sagal talks to a tough biker who carries the
Constitution with him … and the teen who fought to remove a prayer
from her high school wall … and to a church zealot who protests at
military funerals … and to lawyers and historians and such.

He also shows footage of Clarence
Gideon, whose case established the right to an attorney. Forced to
defend himself in 1961, he originally drew a five-year sentence for
stealing an estimated $50.

-Other choices include:

– “Leap Year” (2010), 8-10 p.m.,
CW. Irish tradition, we're told, says if a woman proposes on Feb. 29,
the man can't refuse. Now Anna (Amy Adams) tries to race to Dublin in
time, finding detours and interesting people along he way. Yes, the
idea is absurd and the result is predictable; still, it becomes
mildly likable because of the sheer charm of Adams and the settings.

– “The Voice,” 8 and 9 p.m., NBC.
First is a one-hour recap of the performances in Monday's two-hour
episode. Then the field is trimmed from 12 to 10.

– “NCIS” season-finale, 8 p.m.,
CBS. The search for the killer of Ziva's dad and Vance's wife has now
boomaranged into an investigation of Gibbs and the agency.

– “NCIS: Los Angeles
season-finale,” 9 p.m., CBS. A desert explosion sparks a new search
for stolen nuclear weapons, juggling partnerships. Callen and Kensi
are overseas, with Sam and Deeks stateside.

– “New Girl” season-finale, 9
p.m., Fox. It's time for Cece's wedding … maybe.

– “Crowd Rules” debut, 9 p.m.,
CNBC. Imagine a nicey-nice “Shark Tank.” Three small-scale
businesses, each sort of charming, plead their case; an expert offers
adv ice and then the studio audience awards $50,000 to one of them.
The result is moderately pleasant.

– “Body of Proof,” 10:01 p.m.,
ABC. A convict has escaped and Megan is called for forensics on a
murder. That raises quick questions: Is the body really dead? Is the
convict really guilty?

– “Grimm,” 10:01 p.m., NBC.
People are found dead for the second time; zombies are suspected.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “2 Broke Girls,”
9 p.m., CBS.

This fun (but erratic) show surprised
viewers by puncturing a dream: The cupcake shop went broke.

Now comes another surprise: Max and
Caroline make a discovery that could revive the business. This is the
season's last new episode, but a pair of funny reruns will air
Wednesday.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “90210”
finale, 9 p.m., CW, with retrospective at 8.

After a run that was half as long –
and maybe three-percent as prominent – as the original “Beverly
Hills, 90210,” this show ends its fifth and final season. It does
so, of course, in mid-crisis.

Last week, Adrianna's big rock-concert
moment ended with an explosion, burning her and Navid. And Annie and
Liam – whom fans want to see together – are moving to separate
continents; rich kids do that sometimes. Now some of that is
resolved, alongside a concert by the Goo Goo Dolls.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Rectify,”
10 p.m., Sundance.

Over its first four hours, this has
clearly been a very good show. Now – at the beginning and end of
this hour – it shows signs of being a great one.

The beginning seems surreal – so much
so that viewers don't know if it's a dream; neither does Daniel. And
the end is abrupt and jolting, the way great drama sometimes is.

Be warned that next week's
season-finale offers no closure. This drama – about a man free
after 19 years on Death Row, but possibly facing a new trial –
requires patience. It's worth it.

Other choices include:

– “The Voice,” 8-10:01 p.m., NBC.
Last week, four people – one from each team – were trimmed. Now
the 12 survivors sing and viewers vote; on Tuesday, two people will
depart.

– “Dancing With the Stars,”
8-10:01 p.m., ABC. Like “American Idol,” this show in in the
midst of a female-dominated year. Last week, Sean Lowe was ousted,
Ingo Rademacher was in the bottom two and Jacoby Jones had trouble.
The women – Kellie Pickler, Aly Raisman, Zendaya Coleman –
thrived.

– “How I Met Your Mother,” 8
p.m., CBS. Two terrific comedy talents – Keegan Michael Key (“Key
and Peele”) and Casey Wilson – complicate wedding eve for Barney
and Robin, in the season-finale.

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 8:30
p.m., CBS. In a funny, transplanted rerun, Amy fumes when Sheldon
hires an attractive assistant.

– “Mike & Molly,” 9:30 p.m.,
CBS. Molly directs the school recital, unaware that a fellow teacher
is hitting on her. Tim Coway has a guest role.

– “Independent Lens,” 10 p.m.,
PBS (check local listings). If this offered a few isolated incidents,
it would still be disturbing; women talk of being raped by their
fellow soldiers, then seeing the military scuttle the matter. It is,
however, much more; “The Invisible War” brings a cascade of women
– officers and enlisted, career soldiers and new – with similar
stories. It's a devastating documentary.

– “The Big C,” 10 p.m., Showtime.
Last week ended with Cathy (Laura Linney), having quit chemotherapy,
asking her husband: “Who are you?” Now she heads to a hospice,
but there's much more – including a great moment near the end of
this hour and a fine finale next week.