“Dateline” (7 p.m., NBC) goes undercover to reveal an illegal fencing operation in Houston where thieves trade in stolen cars and electronic consumer goods.

Many critics, including me, have slammed this series for stinking up the airwaves with its nonstop “To Catch a Predator” obsession. So it came as a pleasant surprise to see “Dateline” honored with a Peabody award for its 2006 documentary special “The Education of Mrs. Grove,” a look at an idealistic teacher in Atlanta.

¢ They say every dog has his day. Duane “Dog” Chapman has had quite a year, and he returns for the fourth season of “Dog the Bounty Hunter” (8 p.m., A&E). Last year, the grizzled and tragically permed man-hunter got married, lost a daughter and father-in-law and was arrested south of the Mexican border over his involvement in the extradition of convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster. Chapman continues to battle for his exoneration and still has time to bring AWOL outlaws to justice.

“Dog” remains one of the most-watched documentary series on basic cable.

¢ I believe it was Shakespeare who wrote “‘American Idol’ (7 p.m., Fox) doth make fools of us all!” The media obsession over the staying power of Sanjaya Malakar has become absurdly overheated. I predicted some time ago that he would survive long into the competition. He’s a nice, young, nonthreatening male – virtual catnip for the preteen female viewers who watch “Idol” and presumably vote in large numbers.

The notion that a cynical Web campaign to “vote the worst” is behind Malakar’s survival seems completely preposterous. And the efforts of a certain satellite radio star to “destroy” the popular show by backing Malakar says more about Howard Stern’s desperation for attention and relevance than it does about Malakar and “Idol.”

And hair aside, is Malakar all that bad? I’m just a tone-deaf critic who can’t sing “Happy Birthday,” so what do I know? Last week, young Malakar got a vote of confidence from Tony Bennett. That’s good enough for me.

¢ If a fancy cup of coffee costs almost three bucks, then how come farmers in Ethiopia get just pennies per pound? Activists and filmmakers follow the world coffee trade in the documentary “Black Gold” on “Independent Lens” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Actor/producer/director Orson Welles adopts a shaky Irish brogue in the 1948 mystery “The Lady From Shanghai” (7 p.m., TCM), co-starring Rita Hayworth (then Mrs. Orson Welles). Don’t dare miss the shattering conclusion.

¢ Kim Coles and Hal Sparks preside as celebrity judges on “Funniest Mom in America” (8 p.m., Nick at Nite). Roseanne Barr hosts.

¢ House and Cuddy face contagion at 30,000 feet on “House” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ The results are read on “Dancing with the Stars” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ Denny tries to conjure Raquel Welch on “Boston Legal” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ “The Real World/Road Rules” (9 p.m., MTV) decamps for South Africa.