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"Hamtaro" (6 a.m., Cartoon Network) The popular Japanese anime kiddie series about the adventures of a hamster and his hamster gang, the Ham-Hams, makes its U.S. debut today. "Hamtaro" storybooks and other important merchandise that every child must own will follow shortly. Among the things you'll need to know right off is that Hamtaro and his Ham-Ham pals have their own Ham-Ham language, which includes "heke" (which is essentially the same as huh), "schmubby- wubby" (which is the sound hamsters makes when showing affection) and "bye-q" (which combines goodbye and thank you). Interesting, heke? (Repeated at 3 p.m.)

"Echo" (2 p.m., Lifetime) Jack Wagner plays a guy with an evil twin who assumes his identity, but you've heard it before.

"The In-Crowd and Social Cruelty" (7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): Master contrarian John Stossel is on to something when he suggests that the hierarchies of youth play an important role in social development, and probably shouldn't be tampered with. To prove his point, Stossel revisits some of his old classmates at New Trier High.

"7th Heaven" (7 p.m., WGN-Channel 9) Then again, you've got a kid here threatening to shoot the mean kids who bully him at school, so maybe Stossel's wrong. You know I only pretend to have all the answers.

"State of Grace" (7 p.m., ABC Family) Tattie tries to give up smoking in the days before the nicotine patch. (A second episode follows.)

"Biography" (7 p.m., A&E) This affectionate look back at CBS' 1970- 77 hit "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" takes a nothing night and suddenly makes it all seem worthwhile. (Repeated at 11 p.m.)

"The Pet Psychic" (7 p.m., Animal Planet) Sonya Fitzpatrick will tell you what's going through your pet's mind. My best guess always has been: eating, sleeping, playing and messing with my food when I'm not paying attention.

"The Hamptons" (8 p.m., WLS-Channel 7) Barbara Kopple simplifies her video-verite examination of this getaway haven for New Yorkers and the people who live and work there way too much in this two-part ** documentary that concludes tonight, though it is interesting to see that Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley seem to have a model divorce.

"Ally McBeal" (8 p.m., WFLD-Channel 32) Ally represents a guy (Joe Regalbuto) who wants to prove he can fly by jumping off the roof of his childhood home. Even if he does fly, the story doesn't--and we all know what happened to the series.

"Spy TV" (8:30 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5) Ali Landry is the new host as this hidden-camera prank show begins its second season.

"Friend or Foe" (9:30 p.m., Game Show Network) Cranky former VJ Kennedy, trying to climb back to "vague recognition" celebrity status, is host for this game show in which two-person teams can share the pot, swipe each other's winnings or wind up with nothing depending on how mean they want to be to one another.

"Russian Roulette" (10 p.m., Game Show Network) Speaking of people trying to climb back to "vague recognition" celebrity status, Mark L. Walberg of "Temptation Island" hosts a game show that distinguishes itself by having contestants try to win money even as they risk dropping through a trap door.

"Late Show With David Letterman" (10:35 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2) Dave and longtime Letterman fan Jimmy Kimmel get a big chuckle out of ABC's plans to compete with "Late Show" via a late-night entertainment show after "Nightline" beginning in January.