"Glee" and "Lost": Two of TV's Most Inventive, Original Series Are Must-See Tonight... But Are On Opposite Each Other

Two of television's most exciting, inventive and original broadcast network series right now, Fox's Glee and ABC's Lost, present can't-miss episodes tonight. Unfortunately, they're on at the same time, so a little time-shifting is required. But see them both, by all means...

Glee, tonight at 9 ET, presents its much-hyped Madonna episode. (She doesn't appear, but music inspired by her does, in ways that often outshine the original recordings.) It's a brilliant episode, from its romantic and female-empowerment story lines to the sheer audacity of its production numbers.

I'd describe them, because I've seen the episode, but a lot of the fun is discovering them for yourself. But trust me, it's a great hour. And it's no fluke, because next week, which marks the return of Kristin Chenoweth as a former glee club star, is just as good. The talent she displays isn't surprising, but it IS jaw-dropping.

And jaw-dropping applies, just as well, to what's going on at Lost. Last week's episode ended with Desmond being thrown down a deep well by the smoke-monster Locke in the island reality -- and, in the alternate reality, Desmond taking aim at Locke and driving his car right into Locke's wheelchair.

This sort of shockingly unexpected, innovative stuff, on broadcast TV, is getting to be more and more of a rarity. That means we should appreciate it all the more -- and this is official notice that TV WORTH WATCHING appreciates Glee and Lost. A lot.