TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. It's the second night of auditions and now Dallas has its turn. Yes, that's promising. The South has always given "Idol" its best results; besides, Texas offers the promise of country singers, maybe someone else in the Carrie-Kellie-Bucky mold. We'll see.

"The Jewish Americans," 9 p.m., PBS. In the 20th century, Jews began to make a steep impact on their new country. This episode, the midsection of a three-week series, catches the extremes. Individually, Hank Greenberg starred in baseball, Louis Brandeis was on the Supreme Court, Gertrude Berg had one of TV's first situation comedies. Collectively, Jews molded the Tin Pan Alley songwriting in New York, the stand-up comedy in the Catskill resorts and the glowing optimism of the Hollywood movies. As they grew in power, however, they also faced new waves of bigotry. Henry Ford wrote anti-Semitic essays. An Atlanta factory boss was convicted on sparse memory. One Supreme Court justice simply left the room when Brandeis talked. But the larger bigotry was overseas. Henry Morganthau, the treasury secretary, was one of Franklin Roosevelt's top advisers; as he received proof of the Holocaust, this well-made documentary said, he was able to get Roosevelt to take some action.

OF NOTE

"Crowned," 7 p.m., CW/KHON digital 93. The mother-daughter beauty contestants divert briefly to help Habitat for Humanity.

"Pioneers of Television: Variety," 8 p.m., PBS. How much has television changed? During the prolonged writers' strike, networks could put on variety shows, with stand-up comedy and music; no one has tried. This documentary reminds us of the days when variety ruled — from the big-tent approach of Ed Sullivan to the comedy emphasis of Sid Caesar, Carol Burnett and the Smothers Brothers. It's a pleasantly bland hour, with comments by Tim Conway, Tommy Smothers, Jonathan Winters and more.

"Gossip Girl," 8 p.m., CW/KHON digital 93. After a couple of pivotal episodes, this show retreats to a rerun of its pilot film. It's interesting but overwrought, as a teenager's return stirs soap-opera waves in a private high school.

"Comanche Moon," 8 p.m., CBS. Here's the final piece of this three-part story — the last of four Larry McMurtry tales about two Texas Rangers. Gus McCrae has a reunion with Clara, the sweet soul he lost; Woodrow is losing contact with Maggie and their son. As these stories continue, a Comanche leader plans a counter-attack. The result is an adequate conclusion to a story that had (in "Lonesome Dove") moments of brilliance.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," 8 p.m., NBC. When an obstetrician is killed, police assume it is work-related. Then family secrets emerge.

"Law & Order," 9 p.m., NBC. Killing someone over a pair of pants? That seems to happen in this so-so episode. Several forces want to retrieve the same pair; now the dry-cleaning company's lawyer has been killed. Complications grow.

"Cashmere Mafia," 9 p.m., ABC. Last week's episode had some endearing moments involving Caitlin (Bonnie Somerville). After years of failed relationships with guys, she's suddenly drawn to a beautiful lesbian (played by Lourdes Benedicto). She's also been kind of public about it. Tonight, photos of them reach the Internet.