Today on TV

Published: Tuesday, May 2 2006 12:00 a.m. MDT

NCIS (7 p.m., Ch. 2): A drug dealer's brother takes Shepard hostage.

American Idol (7 p.m., Ch. 13): The five finalists perform.

Gilmore Girls (7 p.m., Ch. 30): Emily shocks Lorelai with some unexpected news.

Scrubs (8 p.m., Ch. 5): Dr. Cox loses his nerve after patients die.

The Unit (8 p.m., Ch. 2): How do you take out a Brazilian drug lord who uses children as his security team?

House (8 p.m., Ch. 13): A wounded cop with uncontrollable laughter has House and the team baffled in the first of a two-parter that concludes Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Veronica Mars (8 p.m., Ch. 24): Veronica, Keith and Logan take the witness stand against Aaron Echolls.

Nashville Star (8 p.m., USA): A winner is declared in this country-music "Idol."

Boston Legal (9 p.m., Ch. 4): Edwin Poole (Larry Miller) — of Crane, Poole & Schmidt — is back on the job after being released from a mental hospital.

Law & Order: SVU (9 p.m., Ch. 5): Anthony Anderson (standing in for the pregnant Mariska Hargitay) guest stars as Stabler's old partner.