NBC’s ‘War’ worth resisting

Like most TV shows or movies about the press, “War Stories” (7 p.m.) takes itself very seriously. And much like the short-lived newspaper drama “Deadline,” this TV movie wastes no time in making its major characters as unlikable as possible. Before the credits even stop rolling, sultry magazine reporter Gayle Phelan (Louise Lombard) engages in meaningless sex with a source, and we see one vain war correspondent “enhance” his appearance by stuffing a sock down his pants.

A two-hour pilot for a possible dramatic series, “War Stories” concerns a group of cynical journalists covering a fictional war pitting the real government of Uzbekistan against fictional rebels associated with the very real terrorists known as al-Qaida.

Jeff Goldblum plays Ben Dansmore, a hardened correspondent for a Baltimore newspaper. Still shattered by the combat death of his photographer partner and best friend, Ben behaves cruelly when his paper assigns rookie shutterbug Nora Stone (Lake Bell) to accompany him. But Nora has problems of her own. Her sister was killed in the World Trade Center, leaving her with bitter feelings about terrorism and a less-than-objective view of al-Qaida.

“Stories” deserves credit for a clever plot that contains any number of good twists. It also portrays the U.S. role in the war on terror in a not-so-angelic light. Unfortunately, “War Stories” is sunk by overwrought dialogue, much of it delivered by Goldblum.

  • After separating the wheat from the chaff, the judges on “American Idol” (7:30 p.m., Fox) take 232 contestants to Los Angeles, where they will winnow down the talent pool to 32 worthies. This may be a letdown for some fans, who have grown accustomed to the train-wreck quality of bad auditions. “Idol” is truly at its best when the talent is at its worst.

Tonight’s other highlights

  • Arsenio Hall hosts “Star Search” (7 p.m., CBS).
  • Scheduled on “60 Minutes II” (8 p.m., CBS): teens receive a life sentence for a murder that their jurors knew they did not commit.
  • Jack Klugman (“The Odd Couple”) guest stars on “Presidio Med” (9 p.m., CBS)

Series notes

Jackie becomes jealous on “That ’70s Show” (7 p.m., Fox) … Michael thinks he’s a winner on “My Wife and Kids” (7 p.m., ABC) … T’Pol plots the capture of a fugitive on “Enterprise” (7 p.m., UPN) … Audrey bottoms out on “Dawson’s Creek” (7 p.m., WB) …Hometown dates on “The Bachelorette” (7:30 p.m., ABC) … The gang learns of Angel’s pact on “Angel” (8 p.m., WB) … Games of elimination on “Celebrity Mole Hawaii” (9 p.m., ABC).