Series
In case you missed it, the first episode of the Conan O'Brien-produced reality series Lost (8 p.m. Sat., NBC) gets another airing. Attention, all wannabe comedians and diva singers: "Star Search" lives! Yes, the talent search show that gave the world Sinbad and Tiffany returns under the title Ed McMahon's Next Big Star (6 p.m. Sun., PAX). Tony takes Meadow on a tour of Maine colleges in a rerun of the Emmy-winning "College" episode of The Sopranos (8 p.m. Sun., HBO). Those PAX folks are also rolling out the new series The Ponderosa (9 p.m. Sun., PAX), a prequel to "Bonanza" starring Daniel Hugh Kelly as Ben Cartwright. In this two-hour premiere, Ben's wife dies, leaving him with three boys to raise. Never heard of "Bonanza," kiddies? It was the "Sopranos" of its day. On Any Day Now (10 p.m. Sun., Lifetime), Rene rethinks her vow of celibacy when she gets a visit from her fine-looking ex (James McDaniel, formerly of "NYPD Blue").
Specials
The documentary Revenge of the Whale (8 p.m. Fri., NBC) recalls the true story of the 1820 attack on the whaleship Essex by a cetacean of Moby Dick-like proportions, resulting in death, destruction and cannibalism by survivors. Cool! Evasive Action: Inside Security Driving School (9 p.m. Fri., Discovery Channel) looks at the fancy wheeling techniques used by police, bodyguards and corporate security drivers. Nightline (11:35 Fri., ABC) begins a week-long series on the Congo, in which Ted Koppel travels to that war-torn African nation to report on the strife and poverty that have plagued the country since 1998. Andy Richler hosts the Creative Arts Emmy Awards (6 p.m. Sun., E!). Yeah, that's right, the hairdressers, art directors and makeup people don't get to go to the real ceremony. The eight-part series Africa (8 p.m. Sun., PBS), a co-production of "Nature" and National Geographic, takes a personal view of the continent in up-close profiles of average Africans. The documentary Ghosts of Attica (9 p.m. Sun., Court TV) chronicles the deadly 1971 riot at a New York prison, the emotional toll it took on guards and inmates and the long legal battle over compensation for survivors and victims' families. Susan Sarandon narrates. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' 10-part WWII miniseries Band of Brothers (9 p.m. Sun., HBO) begins with a two-hour installment. Damian Lewis, Donnie Wahlberg and David Schwimmer head the cast in this adaptation of Stephen Ambrose's bestseller, which told the true story of a U.S. Army regiment facing action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Sports
Baseball:
Dodgers at Cardinals or Red Sox at Yankees (8 p.m. Fri., ESPN2)
Braves at Cubs (4 p.m. Sat., Fox)
Orioles at Mariners (10 p.m. Sat., FX)
U.S. Open tennis:
Men's semifinals (Noon, Sat., CBS)
Women's final (8 p.m. Sat., CBS)
Men's final (4 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Football:
Raiders at Chiefs or regional action (1 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Bears at Ravens or regional action (1 p.m. Sun., Fox)
Rams at Eagles or regional action (4 p.m. Sun., Fox)
Dolphins at Titans (8:30 p.m. Sun., ESPN)
Talk
Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) The Rock, Shaggy
David Letterman (CBS) Eugene Levy, Rich Hall
Jay Leno (NBC) Tom Hanks
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Suge Knight, Gene Simmons
Conan O'Brien (NBC) Topher Grace, They Might Be Giants
Craig Kilborn (CBS) Rick Fox, Dido (rerun)
All times Eastern unless noted.
Shares