An aimless youth invades an empty nest on the new sitcom “Free Ride” (8:30 p.m., Fox). In a programming move that is sure to confuse all, “Free Ride” “previews” after tonight’s 90-minute “Idol” only to “premiere” in its regular time slot Sunday, March 12.

Josh Dean stars as Nate, a recent college grad who returns to his small Missouri town armed with a diploma and bereft of a clue as what to do with his life. Before he even arrives in his parent’s driveway, he spies one reason to stick around. Erin Cahill stars as the fetching, flirty bank clerk, Amber Danwood.

Nate’s parents, Margo (Loretta Fox) and Bob (Allan Havey), appear surprised by his return and his plans to stick around. And this show’s few touches of credibility begin to dissolve whenever they are on screen. Bob and Margo are supposed to be in marriage counseling. But, in the logic of sitcoms, this simply allows them to talk about sex without regard to boundaries or to the fact that their son is there. Speaking of rooms, they surprise Nate with the fact that they’ve turned his room into a shrine to exercise equipment. We’re told that this means he must sleep in the garage – a fact that makes no sense, unless they’ve turned their huge McMansion into a two-bedroom home.

¢ Color me confused. The 25th annual edition of “The Barbara Walters Oscar Special” (9 p.m., ABC) airs four nights before the Academy Awards, and of the five people interviewed, only one has anything remotely to do with the Oscars.

George Clooney certainly belongs here. Nominated for directing and co-writing “Good Night and Good Luck,” and for his supporting role in “Syriana,” he is the first person to receive three Academy Award nominations for two different films.

Other interviews include Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Matthew McConaughey and singer Mariah Carey.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Howie Mandel hosts “Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ A fight for survival on “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Nicole Linkletter’s Paris photo-shoot on “America’s Next Top Model” (7 p.m., UPN).

¢ A killer returns after a two-decade hiatus on “Criminal Minds” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ On two episodes of “Law & Order” (NBC), Van Buren breaks the rules (8 p.m.), no good choices (9 p.m.).

¢ Claire returns to the scene of her kidnapping on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ A game of tag turns ugly on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Down to the last three on “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Bravo).