Aug. 9: What's on HDTV today

What we're watching and why:

There's nothing like a Space Shuttle launch, and there's certainly nothing like a Space Shuttle launch in HDTV. I was wooed last week, but I was disappointed this morning when the landing was not shown in HD because the shuttle had to land at Edwards Air Force Base rather than in Florida. Perhaps HDNet can have a backup next time and install cameras at Edwards, too. HDNet is taking all of this launch and other material, stitching it together and presenting "World Report: Space -- The Shuttle Returns to Service" tonight at 8 Eastern. (Don't forget that you can download HDNet's coverage of the shuttle launch in high definition here.) The next launch probably won't take place until November.

Here are the HDTV programs showing on some selected networks today:

ABC: My Wife and Kids (8 p.m.), Rodney (8:30 p.m.), According to Jim (9 p.m.), Rodney (9:30 p.m.), Boston Legal (10 p.m.)

CBS: NCIS (8 p.m.)

NBC: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (10 p.m.), The Tonight Show (11:35 p.m.)

Fox: House (9 p.m.)

UPN: One on One (8 p.m.)

WB: Gilmore Girls (9 p.m.)

ESPN-HD: NFL Live (4 p.m.), SportsCenter (11 p.m.)