Gannett News Service

Must-see

The Jury debut, 8 and 9 p.m., Channels 19, 45.

Here is a rarity - a dead-serious drama series in the summer. Each episode spends most of the time in the jury room with people arguing about a case. We get brief flashbacks to the testimony they've heard. Later, after the verdict, we see what really happened.

These are complex stories with no happy endings, no matter who wins. In one, kids fired a gun during a New Year's celebration and killed a neighbor. In another, a man is on trial after his girlfriend is found dead in their hotel suite. There is complex writing and subtle acting - just what we expect from producers Tom Fontana (Homicide, Oz) and Barry Levinson (Rain Man). Levinson also plays the judge and directs some episodes in a show.

Last Comic Standing, 8-10 p.m., Channels 5, 22.

Tonight, we see two comedy scouts hold cross-country auditions. They choose 40 stand-up comedians to compete in New York. We hear snippets of good material; things get better in Wednesday's second round, filled with funny lines.

Worth watching

5 Days to Midnight, rerun of opener at 7 p.m., then new a new episode at 9 p.m., Sci Fi Channel. If you missed Monday's opener you can catch up now. Tim Hutton plays a physics professor who finds a briefcase filled with details of his own death - five days from now. The concept may sound odd but 5 Days has smart writing and terrific acting.

NBA FInals, 9 p.m. Channels 9, 2 with pre-game show at 8:30. The Detroit Pistons shocked the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. Can they do it again?

Summerland, 9 p.m., Channels 64, 26. In last week's debut we met Ava (Lori Loughlin), a single and stylish Californian who suddenly had kids to take care of after her sister's death. Tonight, she's attracted to a guy (C. Thomas Howell), but worries because he's the father of someone her niece is attracted to.

Blow Out debut, 9 p.m., Bravo. This reality series will feel a lot like The Restaurant, which is from the same producers. Again, we meet a handsome and charismatic business owner who wants to open a second spot in a high-end location. The hiring and the drastic renovations must be done in a hurry. This one centers on Jonathan Antin, who runs a hair salon in the Melrose area of Los Angeles. He's starting a salon in Beverly Hills where he grew up. It's a fairly interesting tale, filled with attractive, high-energy people.

The Sopranos, 11 p.m., HBO. If you missed the season finale Sunday, here's a second chance to catch this repeat.