Critic's corner

By Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff  |  November 21, 2007

Pushing Daisies
8 p.m., Channel 5
One of TV's strangest successes, which in certain moments recalls "Peewee's Playhouse," continues tonight with a very fitting guest star. Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee, plays a suspect in a case about a deadly scratch-and-sniff book. Yes, a deadly scratch-and-sniff. This show, which has a full-season order when the writers’ strike is resolved, is very "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

9 p.m., Channel 7
A Massachusetts resident gambles on national TV.

10 p.m., Channel 5
In the Darling family, it's called Thankstaking.

8 p.m., Discovery Channel
AYBABTU 101.

8 p.m., Channel 7
There could be a lot more of this kind of reality in our future, if the writers' strike goes on too long. "Phenomenon" (with Criss Angel, below), which has its season finale tonight, may be the most mind-bendingly stupid show going. See mentalists try to out-mental one another! See psychic wrestling matches! My favorite line from the series: "We have prearranged nothing."

9 p.m., Biography Channe
The story of Rachel Ray, or "Evil Dead: The Smile."

9 p.m., Channel 4
BAU out, Xander.

Comcast
For all its spareness of gesture and modest B-movie look, this biography of champion auto racer Shirley Muldowney, starring Bonnie Bedelia, is a knock-out. Its appreciation of the emotional consequences of a woman outperforming men in a macho setting makes it one of the best American films about a woman. (PG; runs through Nov. 25 on HBO)