WHATS ON TONIGHT

8 P.M. (ABC) UGLY BETTY -- What do you do when you work in a place where image is everything, and the image you project is not all that? In this new comedy series, America Ferrera (above) plays a displeasingly plump plain Jane from Queens trying to fit into an ultra-svelte, high-fashion world. Just the fact that she got hired is a slap in the face: she was the only executive assistant the magazine's publisher figured his son, the newly anointed editor in chief, wouldn't want to sleep with. Turns out he likes her. The cast beauties include Eric Mabius, Becki Newton, Michael Urie and Vanessa Williams. 8 P.M. (NBC) MY NAME IS EARL -- Burt Reynolds plays the owner of the local strip joint, who agrees to loan Earl money if he can convince the club's most popular dancer to get back to work. 8 P.M. (Sundance) SIGNÉ CHANEL -- Tensions rise at the House of Chanel in the final days before the show, and the nerves of Madame Jacqueline, the head seamstress, begin to fray. 8 P.M. (11) SMALLVILLE -- Zod morphs into Lex's body with designs on destroying the planet, while Clark is encased in the phantom zone and sent hurtling into space. 8 P.M. (Bravo) CIRQUE SU SOLEIL: CORTEO -- In this latest from the playful crew from Quebec, a festive parade is imagined by a clown. 8 P.M. (Turner Classic Movies) DICK CAVETT -- In this 1972 interview, Alfred Hitchcock talks with Mr. Cavett about his filmmaking, his life and his career, and spills the beans on some of his special effects. 9 P.M. (Travel) MOMS ON THE ROAD: AFRICA -- Eight American mothers (right) go soulsearching during a grueling six-week adventure across southern Africa in this new reality series -- and return home with a better understanding of what matters most. 9 P.M. (Fox) CELEBRITY DUETS -- Lucy Lawless, Alfonso Ribeiro and Hal Sparks are all that's left in this competition series that pairs would-be celebrity singers with the real deal. Tonight, in Part 1 of the season finale, the three remaining couples perform, after which the audience will choose the winning vocalist, who will be awarded $100,000 for the charity of his or her choice tomorrow night. 10 P.M. (NBC) ER -- Abby's domineering mother (Sally Field, left, in a reprise of her Emmy-winning guest role) shows up at County General Hospital to comfort her daughter and Dr. Kovac as their son struggles to survive. John Stamos turns his guest spot as Tony Gates, a paramedic, into a fulltime role. KATHRYN SHATTUCK