How do you know when a television show is dead? Sudden, unexplained cancellation is usually one good indication that its vital signs have flat-lined. But in an act both unnatural and unholy, the geniuses at ABC have exhumed the sitcom “Wednesday 9:30.”

To make matters worse, they have renamed the unloved comedy, which is now called “My Adventures in Television” (8:30 p.m., ABC). I can’t recall a single instance when giving a show a new name has ever improved it. Remember when “Cursed” became the “Steven Weber Show”? Of course you don’t.

For those of you who blinked during mid-season replacement season, “Wednesday/My Adventures” stars Ivan Sergei (“Jack and Jill”) as David Weiss, a fresh-faced newcomer at an offbeat new television network called IBS. As I recall, the show stole a lot of material from a Showtime comedy, “Beggars and Choosers,” that was also set at a TV studio. The characters at IBS try to shock David with a lot of unfunny ethnic jokes.

The only thing memorable about this doomed series is that it marked “Monty Python” veteran John Cleese’s first foray into American situation comedies. Before blaming Cleese for this regrettable blot on his distinguished career, let’s remember that even legendary comedy pioneers need a paycheck now and then.

Tonight’s episode, previously scheduled, but never aired, guest stars Ted McGinley as Ted Wayne Giblin, a death-row inmate who agrees to allow IBS to air his execution only if Red (Cleese) can arrange for him to share his last meal with “Just the Three of Us” star Lori Loughlin (as herself). Garry Shandling (“Town & Country”) also cameos as himself.

Model-turned actress Daisy Fuentes and quarterback-turned-sportscaster Phil Simms host the Miss Universe 2002 pageant (8 p.m., CBS), broadcast live from Puerto Rico. The Grammy-winning pop singer Marc Anthony will perform. A genuine crossover sensation, Anthony won a 1999 Grammy nomination for “I Need to Know” and a Latin Grammy for “Dimelo,” the Spanish language version of that song. He appeared in Paul Simon’s controversial Broadway musical “The Capeman.”

Tonight’s other highlights

Scheduled on “60 Minutes II” (7 p.m., CBS): misleading stock analysts.

C.J. and the first lady express their feelings about women’s rights on “The West Wing” (7 p.m., NBC).

Boston and New Jersey meet in game 5 of the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs (8 p.m., NBC).

To fool a reporter, Alison throws a fake surprise party for Junction Jack on “Greg the Bunny” (8:30 p.m., Fox).

Peter Jennings examines the high cost of prescription medicine on an ABC News Special (9 p.m.).

The stories behind four of the great doomed cruise ships, including the Titanic, Britannic and Empress of Ireland unfold in the 2000 documentary “Lost Liners” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings, part one of two).