Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE
"Mr. Bean's Holiday" (2007), 4:30 p.m.; and "Ganja Queen," 6 p.m.; both HBO. Here are two immensely mismatched films, sharing nothing except tourism. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a vacation; sight gags soon pile up. Some people consider this movie too silly, but we found it hilarious. That's followed by a chilling documentary. Schapelle Corby, a 27-year-old Australian, arrived in Bali for a surfing vacation. In her board case, officers found 10 pounds of marijuana; there was no sign she knew about it, but she faced the death penalty. The film follows the case and Corby's bizarre family. Compelling and disturbing, "Ganja Queen" may stop you from ever crossing a border.
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE
"Nashville Star," 8 p.m., NBC. After a shaky week of pop music, "Star" can return to country tonight. Guest star Blake Shelton sings "Home." Also, contestants get surprises from home.
OF NOTE
"The Bachelorette," 7 and 8 p.m., ABC. First, Deanna Pappas has overnight dates with the final three guys, then drops one. In the second hour, guys talk about her and each other.
"Bones," 7 p.m., Fox. In the rerun of a good Halloween episode, Brennan's unhappy probing a murder in her costume.
"Weeds," 8 p.m., Showtime. There's some scattered humor tonight, plus serious moments, as Nancy's mother-in-law teeters toward death.
"Mean Girls" (2004), 9 p.m., and "Middleman," midnight; both ABC Family. Many people haven't found the dandy "Middleman" series yet, so now it's tucked behind a good Lindsay Lohan movie, written by Tina Fey. Then tonight's "Middleman" involves angry Mexican wrestlers. Really.
"History Detectives" and "War of the World," 9 and 10 p.m., PBS. First is the "Detectives" season-opener; then Harvard professor Niall Ferguson begins a revisionist, three-week look at World War II.
"Secret Diary of a Call Girl," 9:30 p.m., Showtime. Belle, who works by the hour, is hired for an evening. As usual, this has beautiful pictures, a terrific star (Billie Piper) and an oddly empty story.