KEY POINTS:
7.30pm, TV3
THE SIMPSONS
The US version of Ricky Gervais' hit British comedy The Office follows right after this, so it's only fitting the original's creator and star gets to put his mark on an American TV institution.
Gervais writes and stars in tonight's episode in which Homer enters
a contest to win a plasma TV. Instead he wins a trip to a TV studio where he gets involved in a Trading Spouses-style reality show.
He swaps Marge for Verity, the no-nonsense wife of Charles Heathbar (voiced by Gervais), a David Brent-like character.
Homer's new "wife" is appalled by the household she has inherited and runs it with an iron fist. Meanwhile, downtrodden Charles falls in love with Marge. And this episode wouldn't have the Ricky Gervais stamp on it without him singing a soppy love song, which Charles pens to woo Marge.
This episode, which drew a huge audience in Britain, got mixed reviews.
8PM, TV2
SCRUBS
Poor old JD gets shoved sideways as Turk and Carla take over his bedroom and the Janitor tries to get rid of him for a day. And we doubt Cox will let him cry on his shoulder.
8PM, TV3
THE OFFICE
It's hard to imagine how the Americans will pull off a worthy version of the BBC's cringe-worthy office comedy. But with Steve Carell taking over from Ricky Gervais, and Dunder Mifflin replacing Wernham Hogg, it's bound to be worth its Emmy Award.
8.30PM, PRIME
WORK OUT
Pray for a sight of a celebrity's bottom in this reality show about the dramas of an exclusive Beverly Hills gym, as the owner builds the business and satisfies her A-list clientele.
9.30PM, MAORI TV
BASTION POINT: THE UNTOLD STORY
Revisit a dramatic chapter in New Zealand's race relations history: the confrontation between Ngati Whatua of Orakei and the NZ government and police in 1977 at Auckland's Bastion Point.
9.50PM, TV ONE
GREEN WING
Fans of Smack the Pony will find plenty of chuckles in this British comedy from the same writing team. Tonight, Guy becomes jealous when Jake takes Caroline on a date, and Joanna's plan to use her dwarf cousin to scare Alan backfires.
MOVIES
[rated out of 5]
8.30PM, TV2
TEARS OF THE SUN
Herald rating: * * *
Bruce Willis stars in this worthwhile action drama as Special-Ops commander Lieutenant A.K. Waters, who is sent on a seemingly routine mission into the Nigeria jungle to retrieve a doctor. He and his men witness the brutality of the Nigerian rebel army first-hand, and place their lives at risk by agreeing to escort villagers on a perilous trek through the jungle. (2003)
8.30PM, SKY MOVIES 1
BRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Herald rating: * * *
Martin Henderson and Aishwarya Rai star in a refreshing Bollywood musical version of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. Look out for Naveen Andrews from Lost. (2004)
6.40PM, RIALTO SKY DIGITAL
SMALL FACES
Herald rating: * * * *
No, not an overdue biopic about the height-challenged 1960s pop group, more about a group of youngsters growing up in Glasgow in 1968. Thirteen-year-old Lex (Iain Robertson) is caught up in a gang feud when he fires a slug gun at the leader of a rival gang. Character-driven, slice-of-life viewing, it was overshadowed by Trainspotting when first released. (1996)