Cast changes coming for 'Law and Order': Documentary offers a look at other people's mummies

NEW YORK - 200 episodes is a long, long time. But somehow it'shardly surprising that "Law & Order" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) hasreached that milestone. Since debuting in September 1990, this Emmyaward-winning drama has had a revolving door of quality talent,including the departed Christopher Noth, Paul Sorvino and MichaelMoriarty.

We can now add Detective Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) to that list. Ina press release, series creator and executive producer Dick Wolfpraised Bratt as "a consummate professional and a terrific actor."He said that "my hope is that he will return as Curtis as ourfranchise expands." Wolf has plans to spin off a new series about asex crime unit, "Law & Order: SCU."

Curtis will leave the NYPD on the program's season finale on May26 after deciding to spend more time with his wife as she battlesmultiple sclerosis. Bratt will be replaced by Jesse L. Martin, whoviewers may recognize from his recurring roles as Ally's loveinterest on "Ally McBeal." Martin is nothing but enthusiastic aboutthis development. "I am extremely excited about joining the show. Iam grateful to work on such a superb show with such a stellar castinthe greatest city in the world."On tonight's episode: McCoy thinks it's murder when a famous richman dies mysteriously after taking an overdose of a performance-enhancing sex drug. Julia Roberts ("Pretty Woman") guest stars as awitness (and possible suspect) attracted to Det. Curtis. Bratt andRoberts have been romantically linked in real life.In other programming, dozens of past and present country starsappear and perform on the 34th Annual Academy of Country MusicAwards(8 p.m., CBS). Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, GeorgeStrait and Dixie Chicks have all been nominated for the Album of theYear. Brooks and Strait are also in the running for the Entertainerof the Year award.And just in time for Mother's Day it's Mummy's night on Discovery.Brendan Fraser hosts and narrates the three-hour series dedicated todesiccated remains. "Animal Mummies: Creatures of the Gods" (8 p.m.)looks at how ancient Egyptians deified their pets and preserved themfor posterity; "Mummies: The Real Story" (9 p.m.) looks at mummiesthroughout the world and throughout history; and "Egypt Uncovered:Mummies - Into the Afterlife" (10 p.m.) explores how modernscientists use mummies to study ancient diseases. Fraser is the starof the upcoming thriller "The Mummy."CULT CHOICEA washed-up screen siren (Bette Davis) desperately seeks acomeback in the 1952 drama "The Star" (2:30 a.m., Turner ClassicMovies, TV-G).