If you're a TV fan with fond memories of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Your Show of Shows" or "Caesar's Hour," or if you appreciate quality humor or homages to TV's past, then "Mad About You" is a show you must see tonight. Not only is it very charming and very, very, funny, it returns to TV a character who hasn't been seen in decades: Carl Reiner as Alan Brady, Rob Petrie's petulant boss on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
* "Mad About You" (8 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Channel 11) -- There's something here for everybody. For lovers of this series, there are scenes in which Paul Reiser, whose documentary filmmaker is trying to snare Alan Brady as a narrator about a film on TV history, gets to trade lines, glares and other bits of business with Mr. Reiner, who once held his own against the great Sid Caesar. Mr. Reiser, in turn, holds his own against Mr. Reiner, in several hilarious scenes -- while Helen Hunt, as Jamie, gets to do a variation on Mary Tyler Moore's sobbing "Oh, Rob!" and does it beautifully.
This one's a keeper -- and stay tuned for the closing credits, which involve an ottoman. NBC.
* "Martin" (8 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Channel 45) -- It's becoming increasingly clear that I'm in the distinct minority in not seeing anything particularly nostalgic about the '70s.
Here we go again, this time with Martin donning a wig, and racing to and fro, along with such blast-from-the-past guests as Pam Grier, Whitman Mayo and Antonio Fargas. Fox.
* "Friends" (8:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel 11) -- And speaking of guest shots, there are plenty of others tonight, as sitcoms celebrate sweeps month in an energetic way. Tonight's guest list on "Friends" include Jon Lovitz, who's already clocked guest-star turns this season on "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Seinfeld." NBC.
* "Seinfeld" (9 p.m.-10 p.m., Channel 11) -- Meanwhile, tonight on "Seinfeld," the guest list includes Wendie Malick of "Dream On." NBC.
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* "12 Angry Men" (8 p.m.-10 p.m., TNT) -- Try to see this movie without thinking once about O. J. Simpson. I dare you.