TONIGHT’S MUST-SEE: "Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama," 8 p.m., 9:20 p.m., Disney Channel.

The "Kim Possible" cartoon has been a delight.

It has Buffy-esque humor, as a teen saves the world in time for the prom; it also has stylish animation. Both are evident here.

When a handsome stranger arrives, Kim is smitten and Ron fumes. Now Kim’s dad has been kidnapped; can Ron set aside his jealousy and help them?

It’s a fun plunge, complete with music. Jesse McCartney sings "Get Your Shine On" and "Why Don’t You Kiss Her?" Christy Carlson Romano - who plays Kim and starred in Broadway’s "Beauty and the Beast" - sings "Could It Be?"

TONIGHT’S MIGHT-SEE: "Malcolm in the Middle," 8:30 p.m., Channel 47 (Fox).

At 15, Hayden Panettiere has been a pleasant surprise. She tackles serious roles ("Lies My Mother Told Me," "Tiger Cruise") one moment, goofy ones the next. This rerun offers one of the goofier bits as the wild-haired Jessica. She schemes and manipulates the brothers, with funny results.

Other choices tonight

• Auction, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Channel 23. The nine-day event begins. That includes benches decorated by 34 top local artists.

• "Spartan Salute," 8 p.m., Channel 6. A terrific basketball season gets one more celebration. For the second straight week, that pushes "Joan of Arcadia" into the darkness; tonight’s episode - Joan fumes about Adam cheating with Bonnie - airs at 1:55 a.m.

• "8 Simple Rules," 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Channel 53 (ABC). In the first episode, Cate has Ed (Alan Arkin) over when everyone is away. In the second, she and Bridget switch brains, after watching that happen in "Freaky Friday."

• "The Bernie Mac Show," 8 p.m., Channel 47. In the season’s final new episode, Bernie urges his nephew to make new friends.

• "Living With Fran" debut, 8:30 p.m.and 9:30 p.m., cable station WB30. Here’s a broad comedy in the "Nanny" style. Fran Drescher plays a mom in her 40s, whose live-in boyfriend (Ryan McPartlin) is a handsome hunk in his 20s. In the second episode, his parents (Marilu Henner and John Schneider) arrive and disapprove.

• "Third Watch," 9 p.m., Channel 10 (NBC). After a long layoff, this show returns. Bosco frets about being teamed with Monroe, who spied for Internal Affairs.

• "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," 10 p.m., Channel 10. For two years, Carey Lowell was Jamie Ross on "Law & Order." Now the same character is a judge, on a tough case.

Mike Hughes’ column appears Mondays through Saturdays.