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LeAnn Rimes hosts the 36th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (7 p.m., CBS). The five artists vying for Entertainer of the Year Award include Brooks & Dunn, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Toby Keith and George Strait.

Kenny Rogers first won an Academy of Country Music Award 24 years ago. That makes his career just slightly older than LeAnn Rimes. An eight-time winner, Rogers will receive the Career Achievement Award, presented by nine-time winner Glen Campbell. Other scheduled performers include Kenny Chesney, SheDAISY, Jo Dee Messina, Lonestar, the Warren Brothers and Dwight Yoakam.

� Part history and part travelogue, "Conquistadors" (7 p.m., PBS) retraces the footsteps of the Spanish explorers and conquerors who settled and exploited the New World and who were in turn changed by the experience.

Viewers may be familiar with British historian Michael Wood from his 1998 special, "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great." He takes a similar approach here, retracing the journeys of Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs; Pizarro's domination of Peru's Incas; Orellana's search for the city of El Dorado; and de Vaca's trip across North America.

Tonight features the sagas of Cortes and Pizarro. "Conquistadors" concludes next week.

� Long before Americans TV viewers confronted Ann Robinson, the acerbic host of "Weakest Link," they fell for the tart-tougued Judge Judy Sheindlin. The star of "Judge Judy" submits to a frank interview on "Celebrity Profile" (9 p.m., E!). The only woman in her law school graduating class of 127, Sheindlin has always been a maverick. She and her husband of many years, Jerry, divorced some years back, only to remarry after 10 months. She wrote her own vows to her second wedding, turning to Jerry and saying "for better, or forget it."

Tonight's other highlights

� Dawson mulls a move on "Dawson's Creek" (7 p.m., WB).

� Military insurgents threaten our Haitian embassy on "The West Wing" (8 p.m., NBC).

� Caitlin falls for a philanthropist (Scott Wolf, "Party of Five") on "Spin City" (8:30 p.m., ABC).

� A body found on a driving range has mob ties on "Law & Order" (9 p.m., NBC).

� Regis Philbin hosts a celebrity studded version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" (9 p.m., ABC). Guests include Jason Alexander, Edie Falco, Martin Short, Ben Stiller and Alfre Woodard.

Series notes

� "That '70s" is a repeat ... Ed pursues landmark status for the alley on "Ed" (7 p.m., NBC) ... Donna and Eric declare a cold war on "That '70s Show" (7 p.m., Fox) ... A friend's death jump starts Michael's lust for life on "My Wife and Kids" (7 p.m., ABC) ... Nick's old partner gets in the way on "Special Unit 2" (7 p.m., UPN).

Sean rigs a soccer game on "Grounded For Life" (7:30 p.m., Fox) ... Juggling women on "Two Guys and A Girl" (7:30 p.m., ABC).

Elimination, humiliation and perspiration on "Boot Camp" (8 p.m., Fox) ... Drew's new eco-friendly girlfriend (Illeana Douglas) threatens Lewis's livelihood on "The Drew Carey Show" (8 p.m., ABC) ... Neelix rallies his own on "Star Trek: Voyager" (8 p.m., UPN) ... Juggling men on "Felicity" (8 p.m., WB).

Late night

� All are new ... Juliette Lewis chats on "Late Show With David Letterman" (10:35 p.m., CBS) ... Melanie Griffith, Fuel and David Willey are Jay Leno's guests on "The Tonight Show" (10:35 p.m., NBC).

Bill Maher hosts Carrot Top, Jack LaLanne and Debbie Schlussel on "Politically Incorrect" (12:05 a.m., ABC).

Martha Stewart, Amy Sedaris and Kevin Nealon are scheduled on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" (11:35 p.m., NBC).