Tonight’s schedule offers a few familiar faces from departed sitcoms. Hal Linden (“Barney Miller”) guest stars on “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m.). The family-friendly comedy takes an unexpected turn when Emily (Kelly Bishop) invites her feisty daughter for a posh spa weekend getaway, and to her surprise, Lorelai accepts. Mud baths and massages appear to melt away much of the tension between mother and daughter until they decide to get away to a restaurant for some “real food.” There, Emily surprises Lorelai by taking a spin around the dance floor with a mysterious stranger (Linden). An emotional cold front descends when Emily accuses her daughter of making her feel guilty about an impulsive moment.

 “Hearts Afire” co-stars Markie Post and John Ritter appear on “Scrubs” (8:30 p.m., NBC). Ritter plays J.D.’s divorced and slightly desperate dad. Post plays Elliot’s snooty and pretentious mother.

 “JAG” (7 p.m., CBS) normally takes its stories from recent headlines, and given the events of the past six months, it has plenty of material. Next month, the military legal series will recreate a military tribunal of terrorist prisoners. But tonight’s “JAG” is inspired by an injustice that occurred more than half a century ago.

An elderly veteran (Carl Gordon) of the World War II Port Chicago controversy wants to clear his name. While Gordon’s character is fictional, this episode will deal in real events. An explosion at the Port Chicago, Calif., facility in 1944 killed more than 300 sailors, most of them black. When survivors refused to return to the unsafe facility, 50 were charged with mutiny and court-martialed.

l Speaking of current events, Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft is scheduled to appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m.). The nation’s highest-ranking law enforcement official has been the subject of ridicule since it was reported that his office ordered that an Art Deco-era statue of a naked figure of Justice be hidden behind a blue curtain. Ashcroft’s curious act of art appreciation inspired one of the few political jokes during Whoopi Goldberg’s uninspired performance at the 2002 Oscars.

Ashcroft is hardly the first public official to use a talk show appearance to soften his public image. New York’s former mayor Rudy Giuliani used his many Letterman appearances to demonstrate his lighter side. However, not every political guest has left “Late Show” a winner. Former Vice President Al Gore’s several appearances did little to demonstrate his comic spontaneity. During the 2000 presidential campaign, candidate George W. Bush seemed ill at ease, and he even made a tasteless joke about his host’s recent open-heart surgery. Dave’s other guest will be Dee Dee Davis.

Tonight’s other highlights

 Joel McCrea stars in the 1940 Hitchcock gem “Foreign Correspondent” (7 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).

 Two former fraternity brothers become Andy’s new neighbors on “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” (7:30 p.m., Fox).

 Barbara’s teenage son gets busted for drug possession on “The Guardian” (8 p.m., CBS).

 Jack uncovers a key address on “24” (8 p.m., Fox).

 Maxine feels snubbed by Jared on “Judging Amy” (9 p.m., CBS).

 Brandt obtains Justice Flynn’s personal papers on “The Court” (9 p.m., ABC).

Cult Choice

A released convict (Robert Mitchum) terrorizes the family of the lawyer (Gregory Peck) who helped to put him behind bars in the 1962 thriller “Cape Fear” (7 p.m., AMC).

Series Notes

 On back-to-back episodes of “Will & Grace” (NBC), a bully who once taunted Will becomes his new law partner (7 p.m.), Grace plays matchmaker (7:30 p.m.) … Eric borrows Dad’s Corvette on “That ’70s Show” (7 p.m., Fox) … Larry buys a bookstore that caters to conspiracy theorists on “Dharma and Greg” (7 p.m., ABC).