Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"The Departed" (2006), 6 p.m., HBO. Cops and robbers have rarely seemed as complex or as fascinating as they are here. Two tough Boston guys work opposite ends: One (Matt Damon) pretends to be an honest cop; the other (Leonard DiCaprio) pretends to be a crook. Deceptions pile up, boosted by a great cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin. "Departed" gets too clever at times, with too many twists. Still, it's a great movie. It won an Academy Award for best picture, plus ones for director Martin Scorsese, the script (adapted from a Japanese film) and the editing.
"Bunnytown" debut, 11 a.m., Disney Channel. Think of this as a "Laugh-In" for pre-schoolers. It zips between songs and sketches — usually by bunny puppets, occasionally by people. One clown sketch misfires, but the music is surprisingly good and the whole thing is great fun.
OF NOTE
"CSI: NY," 7 p.m., CBS. A United Nations dinner had a French Revolution theme; someone made it way too realistic, poisoning a guest. Now Mac must clear diplomatic hurdles before investigating.
"Bionic Woman," 7 p.m., NBC. Someone has a list of secret agents. Jaime has to get it back; she's working with Tom (Jordan Bridges), the guy she was attracted to while going undercover at a college.
"The Bourne Identity" (2002), 8 p.m., USA Network. Here's another strong movie, this one with Matt Damon as an amnesiac eluding killers. With a VCR and "Departed," you have a Damon double feature.
"Criminal Minds," 8 p.m., CBS. Three women are held captive and told they must decide which one will be killed.
"Chuck," 8 p.m., NBC. While on a mission at his old college, Chuck learns about his own past and why he was thrown out of the school.
"A&E Rocks: Bon Jovi," 8 p.m., A&E. The Bon Jovi rock band has freshened its career by adding a Nashville flavor to its "Lost Highway" album. For this special, it plans to do the entire album.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. There's apparently been a copycat killing. Cops study a comic strip that glorified the original killer, who is now in jail.