Series

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer (8 p.m., UPN), the three geeks — Jonathan, Warren and Andrew — begin their quest for world domination. Big Pussy alert: Vincent Pastore of “The Sopranos” guests on Emeril (8 p.m., NBC) — not that that’s a reason to watch this loser sitcom. Nova (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents “Secrets of the Mind,” a look at a neurologist’s case files. Lorelai and Rory hit the road for a visit to Harvard on Gilmore Girls (8 p.m., WB). Juliette Lewis plays Dharma’s best friend from childhood on Dharma & Greg (8 p.m., ABC).

Specials

Music and haute couture meet at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards (9 p.m., VH1). Alicia Keys is among the performers.

Sports

Hockey:
Sharks at Sabres (8 p.m., ESPN2)

Talk

Rosie O’Donnell (syndicated) Kevin Kline
David Letterman (CBS) Bruce Willis, Alicia Keys (rerun)
Jay Leno (NBC) Tim Allen, Charlotte Church (rerun)
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Jason Alexander, David Crosby
Conan O’Brien (NBC) Tom Selleck, Black Crowes (rerun)
Craig Kilborn (CBS) Ted Danson, Natasha Gregson-Wagner (rerun)

All times Eastern unless noted.

Series

Tonya Harding, Kato Kaelin and Darva Conger are among the losers appearing on a special edition of Weakest Link (8 p.m., NBC). Doug accompanies Carrie on a business retreat on The King of Queens (8 p.m., CBS). Third Watch (9 p.m., NBC) has an episode that looks at the show’s fictional New York rescue workers’ lives on Sept. 10, before the terrorist attacks. Marie’s art class sculpture looks oddly familiar on Everybody Loves Raymond (9 p.m., CBS). On Angel (9 p.m., WB), Fred’s parents show up, and the skittish physicist freaks out more than usual. Minute by Minute (10 p.m., A&E) looks at the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800.

Sports

Football:
Eagles at Giants (9 p.m., ABC)

Talk

David Letterman (CBS) TBA
Jay Leno (NBC)Ellen DeGeneres, Blink 182
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Tim Robbins, Grace Slick
Conan O’Brien (NBC) Jeff Greenfield, Ana Gasteyer (rerun)

All times Eastern unless noted.

Series

Grace and Jessie compete for a role in the school play on Once and Again (10 p.m. Fri., ABC). Lara Flynn Boyle hosts a rerun of Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC), with music from Bon Jovi. E! True Hollywood Story (8 p.m. Sun., E!) looks at the ups and downs of the Spice Girls. Tony becomes suspicious of Pussy on The Sopranos (8 p.m. Sun., HBO). On Alias (9 p.m. Sun., ABC), Sydney simultaneously tracks a terrorist and spies on Francie’s boyfriend. Patricia Wettig (“thirtysomething”) guests as a reclusive star witness on The Practice (10 p.m. Sun., ABC).

Series

Rachel and Ross reveal what happened that night on Friends (8 p.m., NBC). The reality series Popstars 2 (8 p.m., WB) re-applies the “Popstars” formula, this time to a coed singing group. The thrill is gone, but Survivor: Africa (8 p.m., CBS) remains. CSI (9 p.m., CBS) has a case about the shooting death of a high school jock, seemingly by a tormented classmate. Will takes an acting class on Will & Grace (9 p.m., NBC). Sherry Stringfield rejoins the cast of ER (10 p.m., NBC) as Dr. Susan Lewis, Mark Greene’s ex-girlfriend. Frontline (10 p.m., PBS, check local listings) presents “Dangerous Straits,” a look at the United States’ precarious relationship with China.

Series

Ed tries out a hip new image on Ed (8 p.m., NBC). Dawson visits Joey at school, while Jen and Jack party, on Dawson’s Creek (8 p.m., WB). Bartlet’s staffers are at odds with the campaign crew and C.J. can’t get her foot out of her mouth on The West Wing (9 p.m., NBC). Felicity thinks she should tell Ben about what happened with Noel, or maybe she shouldn’t, on Felicity (9 p.m., WB).

Sports

Baseball:
ALCS, Game 1, Yankees at Mariners (4 p.m., Fox)
NLCS, Game 2, Braves at Diamondbacks (8 p.m., Fox)

Hockey:
Stars at Blues (8 p.m., ESPN)

Talk

Rosie O’Donnell (syndicated) David Duchovny, ‘N Sync (rerun)
David Letterman (CBS) Quincy Jones, Judith Miller
Jay Leno (NBC) Salma Hayek, Hayden Christiansen
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Muslim students
Conan O’Brien (NBC) Shannen Elizabeth, Ice-T, Sugar Ray
Craig Kilborn (CBS) Christine Lahti, Keb Mo

All times Eastern unless noted.

Series

Buffy has to face the economic facts of life without Mom on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (8 p.m., UPN). Lorelai has second thoughts about marriage, despite a wild bachelorette party, on Gilmore Girls (8 p.m., WB). On Undeclared (8:30 p.m., Fox), Steven tests fraternity life and Ron tries to stop Lloyd from making a conquest. The new drama series Smallville (9 p.m., WB) premieres. Tom Welling plays the teenage Clark Kent, a high school nerd with secret superpowers, a crush on Lana Lang and a bullying classmate named Lex Luthor. Mrs. Landingham lives! Kathryn Joosten guests on Scrubs (9:30 p.m., NBC) as a wise patient. Amy has to decide the fate of conjoined twins on Judging Amy (10 p.m., CBS).

Sports

Baseball:
NLCS, Game 1 (4 p.m., Fox)

Talk

David Letterman (CBS) Drew Barrymore
Jay Leno (NBC) Jet Li, Jill Hennessy
Politically Incorrect (ABC) Emmylou Harris, Jay Thomas
Conan O’Brien (NBC) Tom Cavanaugh
Craig Kilborn (CBS) Courtney Thorne-Smith

All times Eastern unless noted.