Was “Love Story” a great love story? Why does “Pretty Woman” still get great ratings every time they repeat it on TBS? Do they still make romantic tearjerkers like they used to? The American Film Institute presents a three-hour countdown of the 100 most romantic movies ever made on “100 Years … 100 Passions,” (7 p.m., CBS).

The list is the result of an extensive poll. The AFI provided more than 1,800 members of the movie community with a list of 400 nominated movies and asked them to rank the top 100 love stories. “100 Passions” will present each film, from No. 100 to No. 1, complete with clips and commentary by hundreds of celebrities and performers, from Danny Aiello to Robert Wise.

Since AFI never sent me their roster of 400 nominated films, I wracked my brain to come up with my own list. It’s not an easy thing to do. I realized how few superior love stories have been made in the past 15 years. I am sure that “Titanic,” “Pretty Woman,” “Ghost,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “Working Girl” will make the list. “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” should make the cut, but probably won’t, because it’s technically a foreign movie.

Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think these recent movies compare to such classics as “Wuthering Heights,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Gone with the Wind,” which is my bet to weigh in at No. 1 unless “Casablanca” tops the list of usual suspects.

It’s too bad that the AFI is only considering American movies. I’d nominate “Brief Encounter,” David Lean’s 1945 adaptation of Noel Coward’s play about doomed, forbidden love. I’d also add “The Red Shoes” and “Stairway to Heaven” by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and Jean Cocteau’s “Beauty and the Beast.” But they’re all foreign and therefore don’t count.

I will also wager that few sci-fi movies make the top 100. That’s a major oversight. I think “The Terminator” is a million times more romantic than any Meg Ryan movie. I’m serious. Take away Arnold Schwarzenegger’s killing machine and you have the story of a man traveling through time and space to find his soul mate. “Blade Runner” is pretty darn romantic, too, in a boy-meets-replicant fashion.

We crabby critics can dish it out, but can we take it? In last Wednesday’s column, I cited the wrong date when recalling D-Day. The Allied invasion of France occurred on June 6, 1944. My apologies to all of the veterans, history teachers and careful readers who have phoned, faxed and written to inform me of my mistake.

Tonight’s other highlights

“Biography,” (7 p.m., A&E) collaborates with the BBC to profile Madonna. Maybe they can explain her recently acquired British accent.

Ali Landry hosts back-to-back episodes of “Spy TV” (7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., NBC)

Former pop sensation Paula Abdul, two record executives and home viewers get to judge more than 100 showbiz wannabes as they audition on “American Idol,” (7:30 p.m., Fox).

A prison breakout on “Mole II: The Next Betrayal,” (8 p.m., ABC).

TNN celebrates Father’s Day with a “Happy Godfather’s Week.” The 1972 mob epic “The Godfather,” (8 p.m.) airs in two parts, concluding Wednesday. “The Godfather, Part II” will be broadcast on Thursday and Friday nights. Both films will air with minimal editing and limited commercial interruption.

Scheduled on “Dateline,” (9 p.m., NBC): A mother stricken with breast cancer prepares her children for her death.

A police officer returns to the tough streets of Roxbury on “Boston 24/7,” (9 p.m., ABC).

Cult choice

Just in case you weren’t bummed out enough by last night’s “Too Young to Be a Dad,” you can wallow in “Fifteen and Pregnant,” (8 p.m., Lifetime) the 1997 drama starring Kirsten Dunst.