Fox beats NBC with ‘The Jury’

Sometime you just have to go with the cheesy play on words.

So: The verdict is in. Jury shows are hot.

“Law & Order” will add a jury show to its franchise next season. But Fox beats NBC to that punch tonight at 8 with the premiere of a drama called “The Jury,” from the producers of “Homicide” and “Oz.”

We see all sides of each case including, eventually, the crime itself, in flashback as inside the jury room, a disparate dozen jurors try to make sense of the evidence and each other.

In the first episode, a 15-year-old is on trial for the murder of a younger boy, and the jurors find themselves grappling with how to treat him because of his age.

In the second, at 9, a boyfriend found standing over his girlfriend’s corpse claims he’s not a mad killer but simply the surviving half of a broken suicide pact. Is he to be believed?

Bonus for film buffs: Show producer Barry Levinson (the director of “Diner” and many other films) plays the judge.

Highlights

“8 Simple Rules,” ABC at 10:30: Mom decrees everyone must join the Y. Repeat.

“Navy NCIS,” CBS at 8: A dead Marine calls home. Something ain’t right. Repeat.

“Last Comic Standing,” NBC at 8: Two-hour season premiere of the stand-up comedy contest. Jay Mohr returns as host and executive producer.

NBA Finals, ABC at 6: Pistons at Lakers, game 2. (Pre-game show at 5:30.)

“The Guardian,” CBS at 9: Nick’s got to work on the accounts-due file, when the bank calls in its loan. Repeat.

“Judging Amy,” CBS at 10: Repeat. Tom Arnold as a shock-radio jerk whose attitudes may be affecting his son.

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” NBC at 10: A disturbed boy’s actions lead the detectives to a wealthy toy mogul known for his hospitality to younger houseguests. Not that this has any relation to any celebrities you might have heard about. Repeat.

Family Fare

“Gilmore Girls,” WB at 8: Repeat. Grandma’s on a shopping spree, and the girls go along. But what’s the real reason for all the spending?

“Summerland,” WB at 9: C. Thomas Howell guests as Ava’s new beau but, of course, there will be a complicating factor involving the kids.

Cable Cast

“World Series of Poker,” ESPN at 6: Season premiere. New players, new deal. From Las Vegas.

“Blow Out,” Bravo at 9: Premiere. Six-part reality series follows celebrity hairdresser Jonathan Antin as he preps his new Beverly Hills salon for opening. From the producers of “The Restaurant.”

“5 Days to Midnight,” Sci Fi at 9: Part 2 of the miniseries, as professor Timothy Hutton seeks to avoid his impending murder. (Part 1 begins at 7, and Part 2 repeats at 10.)

“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” Bravo at 10: David G. gets a makeover.