CW lets ‘Girls’ go

The whole town turns out to fete Rory on her graduation day on the series finale of “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m., CW). And Lorelai and Luke reach a new understanding. I hope it includes him getting rid of that dumb hat. Rory also gets to meet her journalistic hero, Christiane Amanpour.

The departure of “Gilmore Girls” is hardly surprising. The series debuted in 2000 and had a good, long run. The announcement late last season that “Gilmore” would continue on the new CW network, but without the presence of creator and executive producer Amy Sherman-Palladino, was not a healthy sign.

How much could the network love “Gilmore Girls” and still use it for ratings fodder against “American Idol”? And in perhaps the greatest act of disrespect, the CW paired the literate “Gilmore Girls” with the stupendously stupid and aggressively vulgar “Pussycat Dolls Presents.”

The departure of “Gilmore Girls” and “7th Heaven” leaves the CW without two of the old WB’s signature series. And given its meager ratings, the future of “Veronica Mars” is hardly assured. Later this month, the network will launch “Hidden Palms,” a teen mystery created by Kevin Williamson (“Dawson’s Creek”). And yes, it seems “Pussycat Dolls” will return next year.

¢ Apparently, what goes on in Vegas does not always stay there. “Frontline” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) kicks off its documentary “Spying on the Home Front” in the desert resort.

When authorities received a tip in December 2004 that al-Qaida “might have an interest in Las Vegas,” the FBI worked overtime to prevent a New Year’s Eve terror strike. But among their efforts was the unprecedented request for all records from every hotel, car-rental agency, airline, casino, restaurant and business in town. In short, every person who traveled through Las Vegas that month would end up in a government database.

Vegas honeymooners Stephen Sprouse and Kristin Douglas were shocked to learn that details of their night in an Elvis chapel were now part of the war on terror. Says Douglas, “I’m sure the government does a lot of things I don’t know about, and I’ve always been OK with that – until I found out that I was included.”

Privacy expert, law professor and former Clinton aide Peter Swire expressed similar discomfort about the changes in legal standards since 2001. The new norm, says Swire, is “check everybody. Everybody is a suspect.”

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Reba McEntire hosts the “42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ It comes down to “Beat Box” Blake, “America’s Sweetheart” Jordin and “Perfection Does Not Necessarily Mean Excitement” Melinda on “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ On two hours of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), recaps (7 p.m.), results (8 p.m.).

¢ A chess whiz seems even more abrasive than Gregory on “House” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ A new season brings fresh rookies on “Deadliest Catch” (8 p.m., Discovery).

¢ A priest’s activism scuttles Brad and Denise’s wedding on “Boston Legal” (9 p.m., ABC).