Cheaply made and frequently ridiculous, the 2004 biopic “Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story” (8 p.m., VH1) makes little effort to make sense or tell a story. The producers simply assume that the film’s potential audience is already well acquainted with the music superstar’s tabloid-worthy stunts, exploits and scandals.

On the other hand, “Mirror” should be savored by pop culture gluttons (like me) who enjoy watching lesser-known actors impersonate really big celebrities. An ersatz Diana Ross shows up, mostly in Michael’s dreams, often to offer reassuring cliches (“You’re going to be a big star!”). Elizabeth Taylor (Lynne Cormack) arrives whenever there is trouble. In one of the movie’s more delicious moments, she chides Michael’s family for choosing to attend his grandfather’s funeral rather than appear with him at a photo op. “You’re alive! You need them more!” says the former Ms. Larry Fortensky.

Flex Alexander (“One on One”) does a fairly credible job as the man-child gloved one. He also does his own dancing, and that is no small feat.

Fans looking to “Man in the Mirror” to determine Jackson’s guilt or innocence with regard to the child molestation charges against him will simply have to look elsewhere. The film does a litigious moonwalk around the subject, portraying Jackson as a perpetual Peter Pan, mistrusted, misunderstood and often exploited by cynical adults.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Scheduled on “Dateline” (7 p.m., NBC): Tom Brokaw examines the crisis in health care through the eyes of individual patients suffering either from lack of coverage or staggering bills.
• The gang unleashes a deadly tropical disease on “ChalkZone” (7 p.m., Nickelodeon).
• Tony Potts and Vanessa Minnillo are hosts of Miss Teen USA 2004 (8 p.m., NBC).
• A therapist is accused in his patient’s murder on “The Jury” (8 p.m., Fox).
• Scheduled on “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC): love between cousins; Victoria Gotti’s new show; Joan Rivers’ endurance; families that adopt.

Late night

Gen. Tommy Franks and Greg Giraldo are on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno greets Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gavin DeGraw on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … David Arquette and Alan Brenner are on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC).