Medium (9pm, CBS) - Allison rents an SUV with a satellite radio which picks up peoples' conversations. People who have committed murder, no doubt.

Law & Order (8pm, NBC) - Two new back-to-back episodes tonight. The first one is about the murder of a rich young woman with a connection to a drug cartel. The second one is about a suspicious drunk driving death and stars Rich Sommer, right (Harry Crane from "Mad Men."). This episode seems to be loosely ripped from the Diane Schuler case in Long Island which happened this past summer.

Monk (9pm, USA) - Monk on a camping trip should be something to behold. I'm immediately reminded of the classic "I hate nature" episode when Monk was a protected witness and forced to stay in a secluded cabin in the woods. If he has to sleep in a tent in this one, God help them all. 

White Collar (10pm, USA) - John Ventimiglia (whiney chef Artie Bucco from "The Sopranos") finally gets to play a real mobster. His characters asks the FBI to help him track down a Bible which was stolen from him. 

Instead of being crowded into obscurity by an overabundance of television crime shows, "Law & Order" has entered its 20th season like gangbusters, with some of its strongest episodes in years. The show is an institution, not only building and maintaining a loyal following over the past 20 years, but doing so despite innumerable cast changes that would have killed lesser shows.

Tonight the venerable crime drama takes on a topic to which it is no stranger: abortion. More specifically, the killing of doctors who perform them. But tonight, the episode (ripped from the headlines, of course) essentially becomes a moral debate which challenges the characters closest to the arrest and prosecution of the killer to reexamine their own beliefs.

We talked to the show's executive producer and head writer Rene Balcer this week about that episode and about other things, including the Lt. Van Buren cancer storyline and NBC's decision to drown viewers with reality shows and Jay Leno in prime time. Balcer, who is also the creator of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," which currently airs on the USA network, told us that tonight's episode "turns conventional wisdom on its head."

Supernanny (8pm, ABC) - In the season six premiere, Jo encourages a couple to work on their relationship when a father dotes on his three biological sons, but doesn't get along with his teenage stepdaughter.

Law & Order (8pm, NBC) - A controversial episode in which a doctor who performs late-term abortions is murdered by a pro-life activist. This isn't the first time "Law & Order" has taken on the topic of abortion or the killing of doctors who perform them, but the moral debate within this episode is not as black and white as you may assume. Richard Thomas guest stars.

Dollhouse (9pm, Fox) - Sierra's introduction to the Dollhouse is revealed when she faces her connection to Rossum Corporation. Keith Carradine stars.

Monk (9pm, USA) - Sharona returns. Need I say more? Okay, okay. Sharona (Bitty Schram) returns to San Francisco to sort out some red tape after her uncle's death, but Monk suspects foul play. Investigating the uncle's death, Monk works with both Sharona and Natalie at the same time. Jack Wagner also guest stars.

White Collar (10pm, USA) - The latest quirky crime drama from USA features a charismatic con man who partners with the FBI to help solve white collar crimes to keep himself out of prison.

Ugly Betty (8pm, ABC) - In tonight's season 4 premiere, Betty (America Ferrera, right) is no longer the dowdy assistant, but now the associate features editor and sporting a much "sleeker" look. She's also clashing with her ex-boyfriend Matt, who is now her boss. Lynn Redgrave and Kristen Johnston guest star in tonight's 2-hour show.

Law & Order (8pm, NBC) - Unless you've been living in a cave in Pakistan, you should definitely recognize the "ripped from the headlines" elements of tonight's show. There's a murder surrounding a family with 10 kids involved in a reality show, plus an emotionally unstable copycat "mother of eight" who would do anything to take the spotlight from them. Watch for a couple of uncharacteristically funny moments between Connie and Mike, when Connie gets suckered into a role on the reality show, and a deliciously crazy kicker at the very end. Jim Gaffigan guest stars.

Monk (9pm, USA) - Natalie plans a surprise birthday party for Mr. Monk while he investigates the strange death of a maintenance man. Virginia Madsen guest stars.

Psych (10pm, USA) - This fall finale could end up being a "very special episode of 'Psych.'" Shawn (James Roday, left) stumbles into the middle of robbery and ends up being shot and taken hostage by a psychopath.

Rescue Ink Unleashed (10pm, NGC) - Some of the guys travel to Philly to look for a dog murderer who hanged a pit bull in a school yard, while the other guys go to Kentucky to rescue a dog from a fighting ring.

Law & Order (8pm, NBC) - "Law & Order" enters its 20th season, as well as a new night and earlier timeslot. Tonight, a law professor is scrutinized when a war veteran is found dead in a university parking garage. Later this season, our beloved L-T, Liet. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson, left) will battle cancer.

Brothers (8pm, Fox) - A brand new show starring former NFL defensive end Michael Strahan as a broke football player who moves back home with this brother, played by Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, his mom, CCH Pounder, and his dad, Carl Weathers. Great cast!

Smallville (8pm, CW) - "Smallville" starts season nine on a different night. Tonight, Jor-El tells Clark to end things with Lois, but the heart wants what it wants. Brian Austin Green joins the cast as a new reporter working with Lois.

Ghost Whisperer (8pm, CBS) - Melinda delivers a tiny little ghost whisperer of her very own in tonight's premiere, which is also directed by Jennifer Love Hewitt. The show then takes a "Desperate Houswives" style leap five years into the future.

Medium (9pm, CBS) - The second half of CBS's Friday Ghost Block features NBC's castoff thriller starring Patricia Arquette. The show's producers say there will be no changes to the show, even though it's skipping to a new network. Tonight's premiere picks up four months after last season's finale, and Allison is out of her coma. But will her powers be the same?

Dollhouse (9pm, Fox) - Season two and Echo's first mission is to marry a British businessman linked to a former FBI agent's open case.

Numb3rs (10pm, CBS) - In tonight's premiere, we'll find out if Amita accepted Charlie's marriage proposal. In other business, the team is protecting a political activist who may be the target of a sniper.

Real Time with Bill Maher (10pm, HBO) - This isn't a season premiere, but one of Bill's guests tonight is former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Don't expect Maher to castigate Spitzer for the cheating, but still, it should be interesting.

The American Bar Association recently tackled the weighty question of which is the best TV show ever made about lawyers. After (allegedly) careful deliberations, their answer was "LA Law."

You know, the slick 80s show where Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin) dressed like a gorilla to romance Grace Van Owen  (Susan Dey), and Arnold Becker (Corbin Bernsen) bedded every rich, good-looking woman he could reach (this was back when he had hair), and Victor Sifuentes (Jimmy Smits) had the steamy affair with Grace (after she left Michael). And then there was Douglas and his sex therapist and Stuart trying to master the Venus Butterfly... Did they practice law on this show? Wasn't it more like the "Grey's Anatomy" of legal shows?

We don't necessarily agree with their pick. Do you?

You can't be at the pool/beach/park/slippy-slide all the time, so here are some 4th of July TV viewing options.

Marathons!
Nothing says holiday weekend like TV marathons, and we love it when someone does all the work for us. The blog Interesting Pile (a highly addictive blog that compiles random lists like 7 great sci-fi chase scenes and 12 disturbing vintage ads) has put together a list of TV marathons this weekend, including our favorite holiday standby, "Law & Order." But some other marathons caught our eye, too: "Martin," James Bond, "Ice Road Truckers," "The Cake Boss," "Twilight Zone," and many others.  

Capital Fourth
Jimmy Smits hosts the "Nation's Capital Independence Day Celebration" at 8pm on PBS/UNC-TV. Live from the West Lawn of the US Capital, the special features a concert with Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Sesame Street gang, and more.

Macy's Fireworks
Fireworks on the 4th from New York City featuring performances by Rob Thomas, Jewel, and the cast of "West Side Story." NBC at 9pm.

Local Fireworks!
News 14 Carolina will broadcast both the NC State Fair fireworks and the Uptown Charlotte fireworks live Saturday night. Starting around 9:15pm, the Raleigh fireworks begin, and then "Red, White, and Boom! 2009" (Charlotte gave theirs a name!! Come on, Raleigh!) will start from the Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. Avoid traffic, watch 'em both from your couch, and decide who has the best.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Craig Ferguson hosts the Charles River celebration Saturday night, featuring Neil Diamond performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Finale has fireworks accompanied by "1812 Overture." CBS at 10pm.

The Law & Order franchise has spawned many a spinoff -- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (rest in peace, old friend).

Now, the quintessential American crime drama is taking a trip across the pond, delivering some 'ripped from the headlines' justice to jolly old England. Law & Order: U.K. debuted in Great Britain in February to solid ratings and generally positive reviews. 

Maybe. It seems, once again, the long-time NBC show is on the bubble -- that insecure spot where its unclear whether the ratings (or advertising dollars) warrant the show's return for another season.

(Although with reruns of the various L&Os on Bravo, TNT, USA and network TV we'll always have Jack, Lu, Lenny and the gang.)

And what of "Chuck" and "Medium"? Or the CW's last comedies "The Game" and "Everybody Hates Chris"?

This Variety piece explores what's bubble-licious and how showrunners deal with the uncertainty. Read it and find out whether you need to get those 'save my show' campaign ideas rolling.

Leading presidential candidates take a turn on Law & Order.