Mike Hughes on TV

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Human Target,”
8 p.m., Fox.

This is a rarity – a show that got
much better after its debut. The early episodes seemed empty, but
last week's was good and tonight's is excellent.

It starts at a subway stop, with Chance
going eye-to-eye with a former colleague – someone as quietly
unshakable as he is. Then it flashes back to an assassination
attempt, earlier that night.

Sure, this never quite tells us why
officials weren't have been warned sooner. Still, it's skillfully
written and played. Emmanuelle Vaugier and Autumn Reeser are good as
Chance's old lover and new co-worker; Lennie James (“Jericho”) is
superb as his ultimate foe.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: Irish shows, 8
p.m.

NBC's “Mercy” sends its heroine on
a St. Patrick's Day drinking binge. Other networks also have St.
Pat's Day plans.

The Disney Channel airs “Luck of the
Irish” (2001), an enjoyable movie about a teen who watches his mom
shrink (literally) into her leprechaun state. Some PBS stations have
pledge-drive Irish concerts. And Syfy has a theme night.

One “Ghost Hunters” (a rerun at 8
p.m.) visits the Lisheen Ruins in Ireland; another (a new hour at 9)
probes an Irish bar in New York. Then comes an offbeat “Destination
Truth.”

Its first half-hour – visiting
Masada, where Jewish rebels faced a siege – the team probes
leprechaun sightings in Ireland. The searchers treat this lightly,
making it a mildly pleasant hour.

Other choices include:

– “America's Next Top Model,”
8-9:30 p.m., CW. As in previous years, this show gives its models a
quick shock treatment: For their first photo shoot, they'll be nude.

– “Scrubs” season-finale, 8 p.m.,
ABC. Somehow, this show has lasted nine seasons. It wraps up this one
by rewarding the residents – true love for Drew, a true calling for
Cole and inspiration for Lucy.

– “The Middle,” 8:30 p.m., ABC.
In a fairly good rerun, Sue hustles to sell cheese and sausage.
That's supposed to get her a spot in a field trip to the state
capital.

– “Modern Family,” 9 p.m., ABC.
Minnie Driver plays Claire's old friend, in this rerun. In a life
that's the opposite of Claire's, she has a big-money job and an
international sex life.

– “American Idol,” 9 p.m., Fox.
It's time to cut one person from the final 12.

– “High Society,” 9:30 p.m., CW.
To inject some extra conflict, this so-so show must illustrate how
much it bends “reality.” In Paris on business, Tinsley Mortimer
goes out with her London-based boyfriend. Alas, he's soon grumbling
to someone about “what we agreed on” concerning camera angles and
conversation subjects.

– “Ugly Betty,” 10:01 p.m., ABC.
Justin loves his acting class and its eccentric teacher (Carol Kane).
And when his Aunt Betty visits, she falls for a playwright.

– “Ugly Americans” debut, 10:30
p.m., Comedy Central. Maybe everyone who moves to New York feels like
the only normal person, amid bedlam and chaos. Now that's illustrated
by this animated comedy about a decent do-gooder, surrounded by
creatures and anti-immigration zealots.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Justified”
debut, 10 p.m., FX.

For decades, Hollywood has tried to
capture the droll brilliance of author Elmore Leonard. It succeeded
sometimes (“Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight,” “Karen Sisco,”
“Maximum Bob”), failed other times.

Now it succeeds brilliantly. Smart,
sharp and intense, this may be the best new show this season.

Timothy Olyphant (“Deadwood”) plays
Raylan Givens, a U.S. marshal with few words and fewer fears. After a
shooting in Florida – justified, officials said reluctantly –
he's sent to Kentucky.

That's his home turf, home of his
ex-loves, his bad-news dad and his worse-news colleague (Walton
Goggins of “The Shield”). What follows, based on a Leonard story,
is written so sharply and played so perfectly that it can only be
called Elmore-esque.

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

This promising season skidded last week
when Lilly Scott – one of the show's most distinctive people –
was voted out. So were Todrick Hall, Katelyn Epperly and Alex
Lambert, leaving a field that was suddenly much weaker.

Now the remaining 12 tackle Rolling
Stones tunes. Then viewers vote, starting the process of trimming one
person each Wednesday.

Other choices include:

– “NCIS,” 8 p.m., CBS. A Navy
diver has been killed while seeking sunken treasure. The NCIS guys
link with the Coast Guard.

– “When Harry Met Sally” (1989,
E) or “Monsters vs. Aliens” (2009, HBO), 8-10 p.m., cable. Here
are a couple of immensely popular films. Grown-ups love the wit of
“Harry”; kids and grown-ups find pure fun in the animated
“Aliens.”

– “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 9 p.m.,
CBS. A Marine has been killed in a drive-by shooting. Now his
brother may be the next target.

– “Lost,” 9 p.m., ABC. Last
week's episode (rerunning at 8 p.m.) focused on Ben Linus. Tonight,
Locke gives Sawyer a tough assignment.

– “FlashForward: What Did You See?”
10 p.m., ABC. On Thursday, “FlashForward” finally returns with
the second half of the season. This is a complicated show to watch
from week to week, much less with a four-month break. This hour tries
to remind us of the basics: For 2 minutes and 17 seconds, the world
blacked out, while people had visions of six months in the future.

– “The Good Wife,” 10 p.m., CBS.
An emergency courtroom has been set up in a hospital room, where
Alicia and Will argue with a tough insurance-company lawyer (Martha
Plimpton).

– “Parenthood,” 10 p.m., NBC.
Last week, Adam (Peter Krause) finally accepted the idea that his son
has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. Now their choices become
rushed when he's thrown out of his school. Meanwhile, one of Adam's
sisters (Erika Christensen) worries that she's missing her daughter's
childhood. Another sister (Lauren Graham) hits bottom: Last week, she
almost got a good job, but didn't; now she breaks up with Jim and has
car trouble.

– “Southland,” 10 p.m., TNT. On
his first solo assignment, Ben tries to find a missing girl.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Trauma,” 9
p.m., NBC.

These paramedics have faced fierce,
action-adventure medical emergencies. Still, nothing matches the
trouble Rabbit (Cliff Curtis) feels when he's under suspension.

He fidgets and fumes, but resists the
therapy sessions required for his return. Meanwhile, his usual
partner (Aimee Garcia) is paired with a guy who has none of Rabbit's
strengths or weaknesses.

That's entwined with silliness about a
curse, plus some quick medical crises. With only five new episodes
left this season, “Trauma” is evolving into a fairly good show.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Damages,”
10 p.m., FX.

Last week's strong episode was filled
with discoveries about the Tobins, whose late patriarch Louis stole
billions, Bernie Madoff style.

Tom learned that the hidden money is
funneled through Louis' late mistress' daughter … who may be
unaware of the scheme. Ellen learned that Carol Tobin may have
assisted her dad's suicide.

Tonight's episode brings a fresh
problem – Carol is missing. Also, Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson) is
back, setting up his new foundation.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Secret Diary
of a Call Girl,” 10-11 p.m., Showtime.

A week before “Nurse Jackie”
returns, this stylish-but-erratic show ends its second season.

Billie Piper is excellent as Hannah,
who writes about her life as a high-priced prostitute called Belle.
Now she's complicated her life by falling for her publisher Duncan.

Tonight, in back-to-back episodes,
problems bubble over at the wedding of Hannah's hooker friend Bambi.
There are forced moments and a fairly good finish; then … well,
wait for “Nurse Jackie.”

Other choices include:

– “20/20,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. This
special views the tangled history of “The Bachelor.” We re-meet a
few people who have founds some fame (Dr. Travis Stork, Melissa
Rycroft, Bob Guiney), romance (Charlie O'Connell) and – rarest of
all – marriage (Ryan and Trista Sutter). Also, there's Brad Womack,
who dumped both women at the finale; he's re-united with one of them,
DeAnna Pappas.

– “House,” 8 p.m., Fox. After
blacking out during her class trip, a teen has hallucinations.

– “Two and a Half Men,” 9 p.m.,
CBS. In a terrific rerun, Charlie and Alan wake up in the same bed,
with the same woman. This confuses them.

– “Home Rules” debut, 9 p.m.,
HGTV. In a change-of-pace, HGTV has an hour that remodels lives, as
well as homes. It starts with people who bought a giant house 10
years ago, then weren't able to finish many of the rooms. There's no
refrigerator, no master bedroom – but expensive skating lessons and
private school for the oldest of four kids. That brings a fairly
interesting hour.

– “The Big Bang Theory,” 9:30
p.m., CBS. In a funny rerun, Sheldon has a gaming competition with
his nemesis – Wil Wheaton, the actor from “Star Trek: The Next
Generation.”

– “Castle,” 10 p.m., ABC. This
rerun has Alyssa Milano as Castle's ex-love.

– “Be Good Johnny Weir,” 10:30
p.m., Sundance. Last week's episode (rerunning at 10 p.m.) saw Weir
competing in Nagano. Tonight he hopes to return to Japan for the
Grand Prix Final. That sets up next week's finale, focusing on his
effort to return to the Olympics.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Pacific”
debut, 9 p.m., HBO.

It's not easy to tell the sprawling
story of World War II in the Pacific. Moments were built from chaos
and confusion; the enemy disappeared during the day, then swarmed in
the dark.

Still, producers Tom Hanks and Steven
Spielberg have told it well. Tonight, we meet guys at home, then
follow some to Guadalcanal. There are moments of ferocity and moments
when the reality of war suddenly strikes these men. Don't look for
stars; do look for the craftsmanship of great filmmakers.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE:“Celebrity
Apprentice” season-opener, 9-11 p.m., NBC.

There are fascinating celebrities here.
That includes people with passion (Bret Michaels), drive (Holly
Robinson Peete) and quirks (Rod Blagojevich).

Still, there's also an unfairness to
this competition – running a New York restaurant and seeing how
much you can get (including tips and charity donations) in three
hours. One side has a celebrity chef (Curtis Stone), the other has
brash New Yorkers (Cindy Lauper, Carol Leifer) with rich friends. And
it all comes down to big-money donations, which kind of spoils the
game.

ALSO TONIGHT:

– “Minute to Win It” debut, 7 and
8 p.m., NBC. The NBC makeover includes classy shows (“Parenthood,”
“Who Do You Think You Are?”) and fun ones. On the flip side is
this one, the absolute low point. It's a noisy game show, with little
chance for audience involvement.

-- “The Simpsons,” 8 and 8:30 p.m.,
Fox. In the first episode, Bart learns tp pit his parents against
each other. The second is a rerun that puts Marge into mixed martial
arts.

– “The Cutting Edge: Fire &
Ice,” 8 and 10 p.m., ABC Family. This is the fourth movie in a
series that links female figure-skaters with bad-boy types. The new
guy (Brendan Fehr) is a speedskater, banned from his sport; he links
with Alex (Francia Raisa) to skate, fight and (maybe) love.

– “Desperate Housewives,” 9 p.m.,
ABC. Gabrielle and Angie head to New York, in search of Danny and
Ana. They bump into supermodels, bringing some second thoughts for
Gabrielle.

– “Who is Clark Rockefeller?,”
9-11 p.m., Lifetime. If you missed this excellent, true-life movie on
Saturday, catch it now. Eric McCormack is excellent as the smooth
talker who says he's one of the rich Rockefellers. Sherry Stringfield
is perfect as the brainy businesswoman who believes and marries him.

– “Sizing Up Sperm,” 9 p.m.,
National Geographic Channel. With millions of sperm released, how
does one occasionally achieve its goal? This show dresses up people
in white to illustrate the journey. The result is clever, informative
and wonderfully fun.

– “Sons of Tucson” debut, 9:30
p.m., Fox. Scam instincts collide when three brothers hire a slacker
(Tyler Labine) to pretend to be their dad. The result is predictable,
but fun.

– “The Antonio Treatment” debut,
10 and 11 p.m., HGTV. Antonio Ballatore, the latest “Design Star”
winner, may be this show's best addition. He's warm, charismatic –
and has bold design taste. The first hour – designing a room for a
deaf cartoonist – is terrific. The second – boxing-themed workout
rooms for TV personality Mario Lopez – is fairly good; the two men
even spar for a vigorous round

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Who is Clark
Rockefeller?,” 9-11 p.m., Lifetime.

Elegant and brainy, Sandra Boss could
do it all, this film says. She reached Stanford by 16, then went on
to a Harvard MBA and made $2 million a year as a business consultant.

Along the way, she married Clark
Rockefeller, who talked of his family wealth and heritage. And then …
well, then this film – based on a true story – takes wild twists
we won't spoil. It's a bizarre and compelling tale, perfectly played
by Eric McCormack and Sherry Stringfield.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Parenthood,”
8 p.m., NBC.

Here's a rerun of the second episode.
Like the first, it skillfully blends the humor and pain of parenting.

There are big problems among the four
siblings, as one (Peter Krause) comes to grips with his son's
troubles and another (Lauren Graham) scrambles for a job. Still,
there's also fun, including a great scene involving the four siblings
and a mystery marijuana stash.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “The Guard”
debut, 9 and 10 p.m., Ion.

Here's the second original series for
this network. Like the first (“Durham County”), it's a Canadian
show – solid, stern, well-acted and darkly involving.

The setting is a Coast Guard unit and
the first hour starts and ends with high-octane rescue attempts.
Soon, however, the focus is on personal lives.

Some characters and some policies are
tough to grasp. Still, there's Carly, with a troubled past, a lot of
alcohol and an enigmatic new guy. Beautifully played by Zoie Palmer,
she's worth watching.

The strong cast is unknown to American
viewers, with one exception: That's David James Elliott in a brief
and moving scene, as a man struggling with multiple sclerosis.

Other choices include:

– “Desperate Housewives,” 8 and 9
p.m., ABC. In a change, ABC has these reruns. The first has Julie
Benz as a former stripper; the second has Gabrielle moving in with
Tuc and Bob, to avoid chicken pox..

– Movies, 8 p.m., cable. The bad news
is that ABC changed its mind about showing the animated “Over the
Hedge” tonight. The good news is that HBO has an animated delight,
“Monsters vs. Aliens” (2009). Also at 8 are two warm dramas –
Winona Ryder in “Little Women” (1994) on E and Richard Gere and
Debra Winger in “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982) on WE.

– “Dinoshark,” 9-11 p.m., Syfy.
Fresh from his honorary Academy Award, producer Roger Corman offers
his latest movie – his 387^th, by one count. Don't expect
rich, quality drama here; that's not what got Corman his award or his
quirky fans. Instead, you'll get pretty people, blue sky and brief
glimpses of a killer shark. That's Corman as the scientist; at 83, he
still makes cheerily semi-adequate movies.

– “Survivors,” 9 p.m., BBC
America. Superbly directed and acted, this is still too obsessed with
the anti-social side of survival. Last week's episode (rerunning at
8) had angry teens; this one has a shaky cult leader. Even the good
guys have deep flaws; as Anya clings to the secret that she's a
doctor.

– “The Outdoor Room,” 9 p.m.,
HGTV. This interesting episode seems to highlight the strengths and
flaws of designer Jamie Durie. The guy works hard and overflows with
ideas; in this case, he takes his first trip to New Orleans, to get
inspiration for a Southern California home. The problem? He sort of
forgets to confer with the homeowner. After some detours, the result
is worthy.

– “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29
p.m., NBC. Jude Law hosts, with music from Pearl Jam.