Series
Providence (8 p.m. Fri., NBC) has its season premiere, as does Dark Angel (8 p.m. Fri., Fox). The Ellen Show (8 p.m. Fri., CBS) settles into its regular time slot; the pilot wasn't laugh out loud funny, but DeGeneres' gentle clowning went down nice and easy. Try it. The Mole: The Next Betrayal (8 p.m. Fri., ABC) begins a new season of double-crossing. Dana Delany plays the matriarch of a family with a lot to hide on the new nighttime soap Pasadena (9 p.m. Fri., Fox). The cool cast includes Natasha Gregson Wagner, Martin Donovan and Balthazar Getty. More season premieres: That's Life (9 p.m. Fri., CBS), Law & Order: SVU (10 p.m. Fri., NBC), Once and Again (10 p.m., Fri., ABC), Touched by an Angel (8 p.m. Sat., CBS) and The District (10 p.m. Sat., CBS). John Stamos and Melissa George play bad guys working for the good guys in the new lighthearted drama series Thieves (9 p.m. Fri., ABC). The new family drama Citizen Baines (9 p.m. Sat., CBS) stars James Cromwell ("Babe") as a senator returning to his hometown and family after being defeated for reelection. Jane Adams, Jacinda Barrett and Embeth Davidtz play his three grown daughters. Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC) tries to figure out what's funny these days as it begins its new season; Reese Witherspoon hosts, with musical guest Alicia Keys. Ben Stiller bathes in a warm James Lipton ego bath on Inside the Actors Studio (8 p.m. ET/ 9 PT, Sun., Bravo). The new action series from "Felicity" creator J.J. Abrams Alias (9 p.m. Sun., ABC) has a commercial-free premiere. Jennifer Garner plays a college student who's secretly working for a CIA-like entity. The latest "Law & Order: spinoff, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (9 p.m. Sun., NBC) debuts; Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Courtney Vance and Jamey Sheridan are Major Case Squad detectives. Odded Fehr and Jon Seda head the cast of the new drama series U.C.: Undercover (10 p.m. Sun., NBC), about an elite team of Justice Dept. operatives. Larry learns not to admire other women's backsides on a new Curb Your Enthusiasm (10:30 p.m. Sun., HBO).
Specials
Plácido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti perform in China on the new special Three Tenors in the Forbidden City (8 p.m. Sun., A&E). The new TV movie Three Blind Mice (9 p.m. Sun., CBS) stars Brian Dennehy as an attorney defending a Vietnam veteran on murder charges. With Debrah Farentino and Mary Stuart Masterson. Ric Burns' documentary New York (9 p.m. Sun., PBS, check local listings) finally airs its last two installments, which chronicle the city through the 20th century. Watch, remember, celebrate the beauty that was and will be again.
Sports
Baseball:
Mets at Braves (7:30 p.m. Fri., TBS; 1 p.m. Sun., ESPN)
Orioles at Yankees (1 p.m. Sun., ESPN2)
Padres at Giants (4 p.m. Sun., ESPN)
Football:
Steelers at Bills, Dolphins at Rams, Colts at Patriots or Chiefs at Redskins (1 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Buccaneers at Vikings, Saints at Giants or Packers at Panthers (1 p.m. Sun., Fox)
Ravens at Broncos, Bengals at Chargers, Browns at Jaguars or Seahawks at Raiders (4 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Cowboys at Eagles (8:30 p.m. Sun., ESPN2)
Talk
Rosie O'Donnell (syndicated) Mary Tyler Moore
David Letterman (CBS) Jason Alexander, Wyclef Jean
Jay Leno (NBC) John Travolta, Aaron Neville
Conan O'Brien (NBC) Dana Delany, Michael Imperioli
Craig Kilborn (CBS) Dido
All times Eastern unless noted.
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