Parade of athletes, fireworks, 10,000 Chinese open Olympics

Tonight’s must-see

Olympics: Opening Ceremony, 7:30 p.m. to midnight, NBC.

These Olympics are in Beijing, so we can expect lots of visual spectacle.

The Chinese have the people – more than 10,000 in this ceremony – and the knack for sweeping epics. This ceremony was created by Yimou Zhang, director of the films “Hero,” “House of Flying Daggers” and “Raise the Red Lantern.”

They also have a mastery of fireworks, which will reportedly be fired from 1,800 spots.

Along with this will be the parade of athletes. Greece is the first nation to enter; host China is the last.

Tonight’s might-see

“War of the Worlds” (2005), 8:30-11 p.m., ABC.

Lots of networks counter the Olympics with action movies.

This one is directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s not as exciting or involving as most Spielberg films, but Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning are first-rate as a father and daughter surviving an alien invasion.

Other choices include

“Hellboy” (2004, Fox), “Batman Begins” (2005, FX) and “The Bourne Supremacy” (2004, TNT), all 8 p.m. OK, it looks like Olympics-skippers are expected to watch an action movie. In particular, we’d suggest “Bourne,” which has a smart story, an energetic pace and Matt Damon.

“Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m., CBS. A ghost blames Jim for his death; it seems quite bitter about this.

“NUMB3RS,” 9 p.m., CBS. One FBI agent has been killed, with another taken hostage.

“Monk,” 9 p.m., USA Network. Adrian Monk always manages to get someplace where he’ll be in the way. Tonight, that’s at a championship boxing match.

“Psych,” 10 p.m., USA. Shawn has a treasure map. Now he tries to use it with his dad and his friend. Bad guys, however, are involved.