TONIGHT'S MUST-SEES

"American Idol," 7 p.m., Fox. Too often, the "Idol" auditions can be more circus than interesting competition. Now that phase is over; we see the survivors in Hollywood, where the real pressure begins. Fox promises to spend an extra week on that phase, to give us more time to build feelings toward the contestants; that starts with hour-long episodes tonight and Wednesday.

"Nova: The Spy Factory," 8 p.m.; "Frontline: My Father, My Brother and Me," 9 p.m.; "Independent Lens: Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene," 10 p.m., PBS. Here is a true PBS tapestry -documentaries that differ hugely in tone and subject. "Nova" borrows heavily from the "Shadow Factory" book by James Bramford, who shows up often in this hour. It faults the National Security Agency first for underachieving; long before the Sept. 11 attacks, it had tracked the key people to the U.S., but failed to tell the FBI. Then it attacks the flip side — the post-Sept. 11 knack for listening in everyone's conversations. "Frontline" follows with a gently low-key hour. Dave Iverson, a "Frontline" and public-radio veteran, learned he has Parkinson's disease — just as his dad and brother had. He talks about new findings linking genetics (indirectly) to the ailment. He talks to others struggling with Parkinson's, including actor Michael J. Fox and commentator Michael Kinsley; and he views the stem-cell controversies that may have slowed research. The real gem, however, is on "Independent Lens." Don Cheadle portrayed Pete Greene in the 2007 movie "Talk to Me"; now he narrates a fascinating documentary about the real-life guy. A former heroin addict, robber and convict, he became known as "Petey Greene the talking machine." He talked on the prison PA system, talked to people in bars; in an era before rap music, he tucked verbal bombshells into a lyric, rhythmic delivery. He became a radio and cable-TV star in the Washington, D.C., area, then was included in the early days of BET. This hour flows with great clips and memories.

OF NOTE

"X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006), 5:30 p.m., FX. This third "X-Men" movie has the heroes learning that a pill could make them normal. The classy cast includes Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman.

"NCIS," 7 p.m., CBS. In a rerun, an apparent suicide on an aircraft carrier may be a sign of a bigger plot.

"A Season For Miracles" (1999), 7 p.m., Hallmark Channel. Here's another chance to see an exceptionally good film that debuted under the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" banner. As two children face trouble, their aunt (Carla Gugino) takes them on the run. They end up in a little town that has a special warmth.

"Leverage," 8 p.m., TNT. A financier has been accused of cheating charities. Since he's addicted to porn, gambling, nicotine and more, the crew sets up a phony rehab center; the experience shakes Nate.

"The Mentalist," 8 p.m., CBS. Three National Guard veterans have been killed. Now Patrick Jane must go undercover, to see if the killer is from their unit.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Here's a tough-assignment for Dr. Huang (B.D. Wong): A kidnapping case's prime suspect (Dabney Coleman) has Alzheimer's disease, making information elusive.

"Without a Trace," 9:01 p.m., CBS. Women have been abducted from their homes in the daylight.