TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"American Experience: New Orleans," 9 p.m., PBS. For generations, this documentary says, New Orleans has been a gumbo of mismatched parts. It had the breezy French culture overlaid with sterner ones. It had a vibrant black society, blasted with fierce racism after the Civil War. It had a geography that couldn't support its growing population. And, amid pain and poverty, it created the most vibrant form of American music. All of this came into focus after Hurricane Katrina, when the gap seemed enormous between the privileged and the rest. Instead of rushing this portrait, PBS waited. Stephen Ives has crafted a good one, balancing broad pictures, personal glimpses and subtle, soulful music.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," 9 p.m., NBC. Last week's episode reminded us that no one writes dialogue as well as Aaron Sorkin, the genius behind "West Wing," "Sports Night" and now "Studio 60." Last week, some wonderful twists left Danny (Bradley Whitford) with his perfect woman (Amanda Peet), the bright, beautiful and profoundly pregnant network entertainment president. Meanwhile, Matt (Matthew Perry) saw his relationship with Harriet (Sarah Paulson) crumble even further. Tonight, we flash back to catch Matt and Harriet when they met. With terrific actors and a great writer, this should be fun.

OF NOTE

"Lincoln Heights," 7 p.m., ABC Family. Eddie and Jenn find an abandoned baby. Meanwhile, Eddie is still fretting about his daughter's relationship.

"24," 7 p.m., Fox. Here are two fresh episodes, back-to-back, at a pivotal time. Morris has been kidnapped and is supposed to be delivered to Fayed, who plans to force him to engineer a nuclear explosion. All of that comes as President Wayne Palmer resists pressure for a hard-edge approach to American Muslims. And Jack's psyche is in shambles. He doesn't yet know that his father killed his brother.

"How I Met Your Mother," 7 p.m., CBS. In flashbacks, Ted and Robin reflect on the events that caused him to miss an important flight.

"Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke," 7 p.m., Lifetime. The third of four new Nora Roberts movies has Alicia Witt as an arson investigator whose boyfriends keep dying in fires. This is not, she assumes, a coincidence.

"Two and a Half Men," 8 p.m., CBS. Allison Janney ("The West Wing") plays the Internet love of Alan — who is stretching the truth about himself.

"Heroes," 8 p.m., NBC. Last week, Hiro found a hesitant bonding with his disapproving father. Now he's in Las Vegas, resuming his search for the magical sword. Meanwhile, we've now learned that Nathan is the biological father of Claire, the cheerleader. Tonight, life gets more complicated for her and her biological adoptive mother.

"Rules of Engagement," 8:30 p.m., CBS. After a terrific debut last week, the show has a surprisingly non-clever episode, talking mostly about sex. The same thing happened to "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and it bounced back quickly; let's assume that will happen again.

"CSI: Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. Lured by the escaped Clavo Cruz, Horatio and Delko are trapped in a shoot-out.