Flawed shirts lead ‘Monk’ to trouble

Tonight’s “Monk” (10 p.m., USA) episode begins with a clever, neurotic twist.

It seems the picky detective buys only one brand of shirt from one particular shop. And not just any shirt, but only garments approved by Inspector No. 8.

Her dedication to perfection has inspired Monk (Tony Shalhoub) to write fan letters. So when she approves a few flawed shirts, he suspects that there may be trouble in her life. And he is correct.

Her son stands accused of the bloody murder of a fashion model. This plunges Monk and his police entourage in the flighty, fabulous world of the fashion business.

While we know Monk will find the real killer, we also know that his true motivation is not justice, but the pursuit of perfection. He’s running out of flawless shirts!

The new cartoon adventure series “Ben 10” (9 p.m., Cartoon Network) gets a prime-time airing before moving to its regular Saturday, 10 a.m. timeslot. While out for a walk in the woods, Ben discovers a high-tech watch dispatched from an alien space pod.

John Stossel hosts “Stupid in America: How We Are Cheating Our Kids,” a special edition of “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC). Stossel argues that American schools are failing because they are run by local monopolies and that education would improve if students and parents were offered more choices.

He cites the Belgian educational system, in which school funding is attached to students and not to local districts.

This forces schools to compete for students and compels failing schools to shut down.

Stossel cites charter schools in Oakland, Calif., and Milwaukee, Wis., as success stories. His case for the success of such schools and the abject failure of public education is presented in largely anecdotal terms.

We hear no statistics about the success or failure rates of charter schools as a whole.

Not content to champion choice, Stossel uses the most loaded language and imagery to demonize public schools and other nonprivatized institutions, likening them to the Soviet Union. Union members are presented as radical, unwashed and unqualified. And given the millions of teachers in America, Stossel spends an inordinate amount of time on a handful of teachers accused of sex offenses.

Given a mere hour to make a case for a whole new approach to education, Stossel spends too much time smearing an entire profession. Now that’s “Stupid.”

Other highlights

The legacy of an executed man on “Ghost Whisperer” (8 p.m., CBS).

Family planning on “Bernie Mac” (8 p.m., Fox).

A problem pug goes on the couch of “The Dog Whisperer” (8 p.m., National Geographic).

Difficult adjustments on “Trading Spouses” (9 p.m., Fox).

A former athlete claims he was framed on “In Justice” (9 p.m., ABC).

New understanding of ancient hieroglyphics on “Egypt Untold” (9 p.m., Discovery).

College card counters on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS).

Returned church funds come with a catch on “The Book of Daniel” (10 p.m., NBC).

An attack on a Cylon vessel on “Battlestar Galactica” (10 p.m., Sci Fi).

Cult choice

Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh and Ann-Margret star in the 1963 adaptation of the Broadway musical “Bye Bye Birdie” (5 p.m., TCM).

Series notes

On “Most Outrageous Moments” (NBC), old clips (8 p.m.) and older clips (8:30 p.m.) … The results are read on “Dancing with the Stars” (8 p.m., ABC) … Well-kept secrets on “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB) … Reese’s rash decision on “Malcolm in the Middle” (8:30 p.m., Fox).

Shrink wrapped on “Hope & Faith” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Dan Aykroyd guest-stars on “Living With Fran” (8:30 p.m., WB) … The killer of a doctor’s wife on “Close to Home” (9 p.m., CBS) … Under the weather on “Reba” (9 p.m., WB) … A whole new hue on “Twins” (9:30 p.m., WB).