TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Friday Night
Lights,” 8 p.m., NBC.
Even if you've skipped this show so
far, catch the season's final two weeks. They offer great television
– deeply layered characters, played by actors who are subtle,
natural and talented.
Next week is the bitter football game
between West Dillon and East Dillon; families are torn.
Tami Taylor is the principal at West;
her husband Eric coaches at just-reopened East, with few players and
little hope. Now Tami's job wobbles after she counseled Becky, who
then had an abortion.
Meanwhile, teens are tugged toward
crime: Vince wants to avenge his cousin's murder; Tim is doing
chop-shop work alone, while his brother focuses on his new baby.
There are huge changes for each of them tonight – life-altering
moments, still done with subtlety and nuance.
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “The Pillars of
the Earth,” 10 p.m., Starz.
Last week's grim, gray opener set
things in motion. Over the next six weeks and seven hours, Ken
Follett's epic, Medieval-age novel will continue.
Two earnest men – a monk named Philip
and a builder named Tom – are creating a giant cathedral. They face
the evil William (still seeking an earldom) and Deacon Waleran; and
they fight for favor from the shaky King Stephen.
In this male-ruled world, a few women
emerge. Maud (daughter of the late King Henry) has an army, fighting
for the throne. Aliena (daughter of the former earl) leaps into the
fleece business, trying to finance her brother's bid to be a knight.
After last week's so-so start, “Pillars” gains ground.
Other choices include:
– “House,” 8 p.m., Fox. In a
rerun of a good episode, the patient is a member of a community that
follows Renaissance ideals. That leads to surprises and philosophical
arguments.
– “JFK” (1991), 8-11 p.m., AMC.
Yes, Oliver Stone's conspiracy theories about the John Kennedy's
assassination are a stretch. Still, Stone wrote and directed this so
brilliantly; Kevin Costner gets great support from Kevin Bacon, Tommy
Lee Jones, John Candy, Sissy Spacek and more.
– “27 Dresses” (2008), 8-11 p.m.,
FX. A pleasant woman (Katherine Heigl) has a closet full of
bridesmaid dresses, but no wedding prospects. Now the guy she loves
is marrying her sister. The result is terribly contrived, but
survives partly on Heigl's charm.
– “Let the Good Times Roll” (8
p.m.) and “Elvis on Tour” (10 p.m.), Turner Classic Movies. Rock
movies usually contrive a lame plot to hang the songs on. These 1973
dilma skip that and gives us lots of concert footage.The second has
some fairly good moments from Elvis Presley; the first one has
dynamic ones from Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, the
Shirelles and more.
– “The Good Guys,” 9 p.m., Fox.
In a rerun of Monday's episode, Dan – who looks way to much like a
cop – goes undercover to catch someone he failed to get years ago.
– “Medium,” 9 p.m., CBS. This
rerun is from early in the season, when Allison was still recovering
from brain surgery and had odd symbols floating through her visions
– “Forrest Gump” (1994), TBS; or
“Stone Cold” (2005), Hallmark, 9 p.m. More pieces of a great
movie night: “Gump” is Tom Hanks' Oscar-winning fable; “Stone”
is a strong Tom Selleck mystery.,
– “Flashpoint,” 10 p.m., CBS. In
a case of mistaken identity, drug dealers have taken Sgt. Parker
(Enrico Colantoni) hostage. Now the team tries to rescue him.