Summer music special is off-key

Former “Party of Five” star Jennifer Love Hewitt and two ‘N Sync members, J.C. Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick, are hosts for “Teen Choice Presents: Summer Music Mania,” (7 p.m., Fox). This two-hour concert features performances by Britney Spears, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Tweet, Ludacris, Nelly, Vanessa Carlton, The Calling, Craig David, B2K and Ja Rule.

According to a network release, this special, which is clearly aimed at a teen and ‘tween market, was taped at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut. It is sure to include plenty of shots of Mohegan’s waterfalls, swimming pools and other swanky amenities. In fact, a cynic might call this “Teen Choice” extravaganza an advertisement for Mohegan Sun. And what’s wrong with that? The Mohegan Sun is a casino. It’s one thing for adults to lose their money to the gaming industry. But using prime-time television to sell gambling to the candy-and-Clearasil crowd is predatory and perverse. Can you imagine the outcry from concerned parents if “Teen Choice” were sponsored by Joe Camel, Johnny Walker or Bud Light?

Enron, Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing: Where does the bad business news end? According to “Bigger Than Enron” on “Frontline,” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings), these scandals are just the beginning. With host Hedrick Smith, “Bigger” looks at the lax regulatory practices that resulted in the Enron collapse, as well as the more than 700 other corporations that allegedly used funny accounting practices to file misleading financial statements, costing investors more than $200 billion. According to Smith and others, the regulators themselves have been compromised. “The watchdogs now work for executives, accountants and Wall Street,” Smith says. “They don’t work to protect shareholders.”

Tonight’s other highlights

Joey confesses his awkward feelings for Rachel on a repeat “Friends,” (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

A college student disappears on a repeat “CSI,” (8 p.m., CBS).

Scheduled on “Primetime,” (9 p.m., ABC): a multi-million dollar sexual harassment suit against a store manager; a repeat of an interview with Cher.

Series notes

“Price is Right” is new … Bob Barker salutes the Marines on “The Price is Right,” (7 p.m., CBS) … Drew Carey is host to back-to-back episodes of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” (7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., ABC) … Wrestling on “WWE Smackdown,” (7 p.m., UPN) … Back-to-back improvisation shows on “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” (7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., WB).