During this ultra-competitive sweeps month, the networks don't think much of their best Friday-night series: CBS is presenting an "In the Heat of the Night" made-for-TV movie instead of "Picket Fences," and NBC is showing a two-hour "Soap Opera Awards" special instead of "Homicide: Life on the ** Street."
So what's left to watch tonight? Only one thing, and "X-Files" marks the spot.
* "M.A.N.T.I.S." (8 p.m.-9 p.m., Channel 45) -- Tonight's guest villain is played by Curtis Armstrong, who previously played the good guy second banana on "Moonlighting." Oh, well -- even good bananas go bad after you let them sit for too long. Fox.
* "The 1995 Soap Opera Awards" (9 p.m.-11 p.m., Channel 11) -- These aren't Emmys, just awards handed out by Soap Opera Digest. Winners are determined by a readers' poll. NBC.
* "In the Heat of the Night: By Duty Bound" (9 p.m.-11 p.m., Channel 13) -- Corbin Bernsen guest stars as a very bad guy.-- AND, based on the promos, where Mr. Bernsen contorts his facial expression into a frozen leer, "By Duty Bound" is bound to include some very bad acting. Carroll O'Connor stars. CBS.
* "The X-Files" (9 p.m.-10 p.m., Channel 45) -- Part 2 of 2. Megan Leitch continues her guest appearance, begun last week, as the prodigal daughter returning: Almost two decades after being abducted by a flying saucer, Mulder's baby sister, Samantha (Ms. Leitch), appears to show up -- in adult form. Fox.
* "20/20" (10 p.m.-11 p.m., Channel 2) -- On tonight's "20/20," an investigation is launched that proves that some used-car salesmen are intentionally deceptive and will do or say almost anything to sell an automobile. Gosh. ABC.
Cable
* "American Graffiti" (8:05 p.m.-10:05 p.m., TBS) -- Two good youth comedies are presented tonight, beginning with this '70s classic about the '50s . . .
* "Heathers" (10:05 p.m.-midnight, TBS) -- . . . Followed by this '80s classic about the '80s.