TV’s best bets: Past contestants sing for ‘Idol Gives Back’

Tonight’s must-see

“American Idol,” 7:30 p.m., Fox. Last year’s “Idol Gives Back” mixed music, emotions and hype, while raising $76 million for people here and in Africa.

Now it’s back. No one gets ousted until Thursday, so there’s lots of time for music. Two past contestants, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry, are expected. Other singers include Mariah Carey, John Legend, Miley Cyrus, Bono, Fergie, Annie Lennox, Celine Dion, Maroon 5 and Snoop Dogg.

Tonight’s must-see II

PBS’ “American Masters – Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun,” 9 p.m., KSPS, KUID, KCDT.

Zora Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Fla., America’s first incorporated, all-black town. She was the mayor’s daughter, a dreamer whose world crashed when her mother died. She was 28 before she reached college, but soon thrived. Zestful and flamboyant, she mixed with the Harlem masters; she also gathered folk stories from her roots. Hurston was a writer whose reputation soared, collapsed then was revived by author Alice Walker and others. It’s a big story, beautifully told.

Other choices include

“America’s Next Top Model,” 8 p.m., CW. The show pauses to show clips that didn’t make it into previous episodes.

PBS’ “Ocean Adventures,” 8 p.m., KUID, KCDT. Here’s the second half of a mildly interesting film in which Jean-Michel Cousteau travels the Amazon River with his son and daughter.

“Troy” (2004), 8 p.m., AMC. Brad Pitt is Achilles, and Orlando Bloom is the prince. This is the version edited by director Wolfgang Peterson (“Perfect Storm,” “Air Force One”).

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” 9 p.m., NBC. In a rerun, a therapist has been killed. Suspects include her patients and her crooked husband.

“Law & Order,” 10 p.m., NBC. January Jones (Betty Draper in “Mad Men”) plays an employee at a crooked real estate firm, going undercover.

“CSI:NY,” 10 p.m., CBS. Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) has trouble: Her apartment building burned, and arson is suspected