Gannett News Service

Must-see

American Idol, 8 p.m., Channels 19, 45.

In a change of plans, Fox has expanded the audition portions from three hours to five.

That means more time for truly awful tryouts (interspersed with good ones) and insults. The auditions continue today and Wednesday before the show starts to focus on the singers with talent.

Traffic, 9 p.m., USA Network; concludes Wednesday.

If you missed Monday's opener you can still jump in. This is strong drama, rough and raw.

Tonight, a maverick Drug Enforcement Agency agent (Elias Koteas) battles bandits in Afghanistan. Teaming with a drug runner, he's searching for a $20 million heroin stash.

Back home, his wife (Mary McCormack) learns that he's missing and may have turned corrupt. Their teen son meets a girl who's intense, intriguing and dangerous.

Meanwhile, a young MBA (Balthazar Getty) links with an evil importer. And a Russian immigrant seeks revenge for the death of his wife and child. On Wednesday, all of this will tie together fiercely.

Other shows worth watching

Shelter Dogs, 7:30 p.m., Cinemax. This warm documentary follows Sue Sternberg, the owner of a rural animal shelter. There are upbeat moments as she links dog and owner. More often, however, there is deep heartbreak.

8 Simple Rules, 8 p.m., Channels 9, 2. David Spade, now a series regular, is an odd influence on Rory, who has stolen a school's mascot.

The Tracy Morgan Show, 8 p.m., Channels 5, 22. Tracy Morgan, which is heading to Saturday night, has an episode in which Tracy scrambles to get Snoop Dogg tickets for his son. Biz Markie and Snoop Dogg guest star.

I'm With Her, 8:30 p.m., Channels 9, 2. Alex (Teri Polo) frets about whether she'll get an Oscar nomination.

24, 9 p.m., Channels 19, 45. Dangerous alliances continue. Jack's life depends on Nina, the double spy who killed his wife. Meanwhile, the president must bring back his scheming ex-wife.

Keen Eddie, 9 p.m., Bravo. Here's an excellent episode that wasn't aired during the show's brief Fox run. Ron Moody (who played Fagin the pickpocket expert in the Oliver movie) now plays (appropriately) a brilliant old pickpocket. Worried that his son has gone too far, he links with the cops. Meanwhile, Eddie's police partner reluctantly joins a support group for the sex-obsessed.

Line of Fire, 10 p.m., Channels 9, 2. On the FBI side, Jennifer learns her son has been taken hostage by a gunman. On the mob side, Malloy learns that his cousin, Tiffany, has been beaten at his brothel.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 10 p.m., Channels 5, 22. In a rerun, police think a psychiatrist may have been beaten by one of her patients.