The observability of the tidal disruption of stars
by massive black holes in galactic nuclei is considered.
At least three phases following a tidal disruption event
may have spectacular (and observable) consequences:
(1) a flare produced by the initial fast accretion of the disrupted
material which may have absolute magnitudes in excess of -19 in V
and -21 in U, (2) a long lasting $\sim 10^3$ year phase in which the
mass to light ratio of the black hole remains below 1, and
(3) a nearly constant level of nebular line-emission from recombining
highly ionized species such as HeII.