TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Mr. Meaty," 5:30 p.m., Nickelodeon. This silly show has a droll wit that is charming and clever. We're in the vague world of some unmotivated fast-food workers. These guys happen to be sock puppets. Now come two little Halloween tales that fit them perfectly. In the first, they feel they should become vampires in order to avoid having rules. In the second, they meet a femme fatale (or sock fatale) who may be hiding something. Both feel like episodes of the annual "Simpsons" Halloween special. And that's a high compliment.

"Battlestar Galactica," 6 and 8 p.m., Sci-Fi Channel. A self-appointed tribunal is secretly delivering death to people who collaborated with the Cylons. This hour is tough, taut and intelligent. It reminds us that "Galactica" delivers great drama.

OF NOTE

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," 7 p.m., ABC. Linus, waiting for the Great Pumpkin — has nowhere to go. To round out the hour, ABC throws in a cartoon in which Linus is running for school office.

"Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. Jim (David Conrad) is supposed to let his wife deal with the ghosts. Alas, she's away and he's trying to help a beautiful spirit.

"Vanished," return, 7 p.m., Fox. During the show's long baseball break, it was demoted to this weak time slot. Tonight, it follows up on its cliffhanger and asks if FBI Agent Kelton is dead.

"Masters of Horror," 7 p.m., Showtime. Sean Patrick Flannery stars, with lots of gore, great visuals and an unsatisfying finish.

"Men in Trees," 8 p.m., ABC. Marin finds another complication in Alaska — her first earthquake.