Adam Beach really is a good actor, as audiences have discovered in numerous small films and the more high-profile Flags of Our Fathers. But man, was he ever miscast on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Whether the blame goes to the writers for never doing anything to flesh out the character of Detective Chester Lake, or whether Beach simply thought he'd play his detective as taciturn and went too far with it, who can say. But the experiment ends tonight, as Lake makes his exit on the season finale of SVU (NBC, 10 PM).

Lake actually displays a little personality tonight, as he reopens an old murder case and then mysteriously ends up shooting and killing the detective who had the case originally. While recuperating from his own wound suffered in the shootout, Lake escapes the hospital and then takes a hostage, a witness from the old murder. To say that Lake has never shown that he has this in him is a massive understatement. Tonight (attention: all unemployed blonde actresses) is also the finale for Diane Neal, who I've grown to like as ADA Casey Novak.

According to Jim (ABC, 8 PM and 8:30 PM): At 8:00, Dana tries to help Andy figure out why his relationships never last past the initial phase; at 8:30, Cheryl tries to interest everyone in a game night, but doesn't realize that everyone knows she cheats.

American Idol (Fox, 8 PM): The typical format in the next-to-last week is for the final three to have one song chosen for them by the judges and one by the future record label (I think Clive Davis may now be out of the picture). The singers also get to pick something for themselves; hopefully David Cook has gotten Duran Duran completely out of his system by now.

Beauty and the Geek (CW, 8 PM): It looks like this show has reached the end of the trail after five seasons. Tonight's season finale begins with a pop quiz that will eliminate one of the last three teams, after which all the eliminated players return for one final night of craziness, during which a fight actually breaks out over a desirable geek. The winners are then named, and if you can't remember the names of any of the previous seasons' winners, that goes a long way towards explaining why the series is dying.

NCIS (CBS, 8 PM): A showcase for Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, who usually works with the dead and tonight is in danger of joining them when a killer takes him hostage.

Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 9 PM): A tribute to Michael Jackson features Omarion and a pro dance troupe, and our final three are revealed. Hard to see how Marissa Jaret Winokur could hang on, but she definitely has the underdog vote this season.

Deadliest Catch (Discovery, 9 PM): As king crab season winds down, the North American returns to the fray, while Time Bandit struggles despite its captain's skills.

Frontline (PBS, 9 PM): Storm Over Everest is climber/filmmaker David Breashears's look at the most famous climbing disaster of all time, the death of eight near the summit of the world's highest peak in May 1996.

Hell's Kitchen (Fox, 9 PM): Ramsay conducts a blind taste test, with the losers having to clean the living area; a more chaotic than usual dinner service leaves the head man with a hard elimination choice.

Last Restaurant Standing (BBC America, 9 PM): In the season finale, the final two teams are whisked to Raymond Blanc's hometown of Besancon and are told they have 48 hours to prepare a restaurant for one night of service, a rough task considering the language barrier. Finally, Blanc makes his choice.

Mega Disasters (History, 9 PM): It's known that a massive tsunami devastated the Mediterranean coast in about 6000 B.C.E., and scientists piece together what the carnage may have looked like.

Reaper (CW, 9 PM): There's apparently a leak in hell, which wouldn't surprise anyone who knows my recent dating history. After Sam returns, a soul who keeps escaping the Devil orders him to find the one responsible for the leak

Secrets That Sell (HGTV, 9 PM): A family is concerned about why they haven't had any offers on their home for five months.

Shark (CBS, 9 PM): With Sebastian's short-lived disbarment over with, he looks into the killing of an up-and-coming singer who had no shortage of enemies. Danny complicates matters by sleeping with a witness who then becomes a suspect in the murder.

A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (MTV, 10 PM): The men and women compete in a rodeo, and the elimination comes as a shock. I'm not sure I'd want to get on a bull wearing as little as these characters do.

College Hill: Atlanta (BET, 10 PM): The roommates finally bond over their shared discomfort in London, but then some begin getting closer to their cultural exchange partners.

Secret Lives of Women (WE, 10 PM): A look at three women who got involved with men in the world of organized crime.

Sex: The Revolution (VH1, 10 PM): In the 1960s, sex leaves the bedroom and enters the public area where it belongs.

The Alaska Experiment (Discovery, 10 PM): As winter sets in -- yes, Alaska does have an identifiable start to winter -- Tim Wagner goes goat hunting, while Jeff and Elizabeth try to nab a moose.

The Bad Girls Club (Oxygen, 10 PM): The second season of mayhem ends with Tanisha returning after her time behind bars, which seems to be the impetus for old alliances falling apart

Women's Murder Club (ABC, 10 PM): This series didn't get picked up for a second season, which is a bit unfortunate as it had potential to be a likable low-key trifle. There's a little resolution as Lindsay closes in on the Kiss-Me-Not killer, while still trying to develop her new relationship. Angie Harmon won't be off your TV screen for long.

Work Out (Bravo, 10 PM): A weekend retreat with clients leads to an emotional group therapy session; Renessa is in the mood for love.

Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love (Oxygen, 10 :30 PM): Pilar handles a family camping trip on her own when Deion is away on business; the onetime "Prime Time" has a midlife crisis.

Gene Simmons Family Jewels (A&E, 10:30 PM): Sophie gets deeper into fashion design, while Gene's foray into prostitution "research" sends him to jail. Simmons is pretty well-known: shouldn't an arrest of any sort have made the news? It's almost like this show is ... not all that real.

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