TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Earth: The Biography," 3 p.m., National Geographic Channel. The start of this three-night, five-hour series shimmers with stunning pictures. The first hour shows volcanoes, the second shows ice. Iain Stewart, a Scottish geologist, takes us close to the festering lava and — via a man-made cave — inside a glacier. There's a point to all this. He shows how both forces had a profound effect in shaping the planet and controlling its temperature and its chemicals.

"Big Brother" opener, 7 p.m., CBS; then the "2008 Miss Universe Pageant," 8 p.m., NBC. If you feel network TV should be live and real, here's a full night of it. "Big Brother," which had an extra edition to fill the strike void, starts its summer run. Tonight, Julie Chen introduces the 10 housemates. Then the 2008 Miss Universe pageant airs from Vietnam. Jerry Springer and Melanie Brown (Mel B of the Spice Girls) host.

OF NOTE

"Picture This," 8 and 10 p.m., ABC Family. Ashley Tisdale plays an unpopular girl who lands a date with the hottest guy in school. Now she has two powerful forces — her own dad and his ex-girlfriend — to overcome.

"Masterpiece Theatre: Foyle's War: Plan of Attack," 8 p.m., PBS. We last saw Foyle as a small-town police chief during World War II. He resigned under pressure and insisted he won't return. Now two deaths stun him. In typical Foyle fashion, this film is slow and sleepy, but intelligent and well made.

"Generation Kill" debut, 8:50 p.m., HBO. You'll have to stick with this miniseries. Based on a Rolling Stone reporter's account, it follows a Marine team early in the Iraq War. At first, the characters are hard to tell apart or to care about. As you get to know them, their offbeat styles become interesting.

"In Plain Sight," 10 p.m., USA Network. In a fairly good episode, a doctor is stunned by what is required to be with his teen daughter in the witness protection program: He must give up his practice, his specialty, much of what he's worked for.