WEEKEND TV : NBC’S ‘EVERGREEN’ SAGA WILL BEGIN ON SUNDAY

Another weekend, another miniseries. Two weeks ago CBS gave us the sensationalistic “The Atlanta Child Murders.” Last week ABC brought forth the steamy “Hollywood Wives.” On Sunday, NBC serves up the sentimental “Evergreen.”

The slow, sweetly slumberous “Evergreen.”

Based on a novel by Belva Plain, the six-hour production is one of those romantic family sagas spanning three generations over more than 50 years, with a story of frustrated love loosely connecting the three installments. The first airs Sunday at 9 p.m.; the others follow Monday and Tuesday at the same hour (Channels 4, 36 and 39).

Family sagas are perfectly suited to the miniseries format--but only when the family is interesting. And the Friedmans of “Evergreen” aren’t. Their story--meeting in 1909, marrying, launching a business, struggling to raise a family, remain faithful to Jewish traditions and climb the American success ladder--is simple, straightforward and entirely predictable.

So few twists and turns does Jerome Kass’ script take that the family’s one dark secret remains just that, with only the audience the wiser. There is no dramatic payoff.

What keeps “Evergreen” from being a complete bomb are the solid performances turned in by the three principals (Lesley Ann Warren and Armand Assante as Anna and Joseph Friedman, and Ian McShane as Paul Lerner, the wealthy banker who loves Anna from afar) and the handsome production qualities, which were designed by Jan Scott and photographed by Woody Omens under the direction of Fielder Cook.

Warren is especially captivating as the Polish immigrant who comes to the United States determined to make a good life for herself, radiating sweetness and innocence from start to finish. None of the primary characters, for that matter, grow very much or are changed by the various hardships they encounter; indeed, they hardly even age. Even in Part 3, when she is supposed to be past 60, Warren is seen in a spaghetti-strap gown that reveals her cleavage.

Of course, this is supposed to be romance, not reality, and Warren, Assante and McShane are able to make it work to a point. By the second segment, however, the romance in their lives is pretty much over, and the lives of the children and grandchildren take precedence.

That’s when “Evergreen” (which was produced by Philip Barry for executive producers Edgar Scherick and Susan Pollock) begins to feel like it will go on everlastingly.

Here are other weekend programs.

TODAY: The merits of counseling and therapy get discussed on “Teen Talk,” 8 a.m. (9). . . There’s a new, two-part comedy on “ABC Weekend Special,” about a boy fascinated with horror movies. Melba Moore, Lainie Kazan and Barrie Youngfellow star in “The Two-Minute Werewolf,” 11 a.m. (7) (3) (10) (42). . . .

David Shaw, a media reporter for the Los Angeles Times, talks about how the news media handled the termination of retired Gen. William C. Westmoreland’s libel suit against CBS, on “Newsmakers,” 4 p.m. (2). . . .

The timing is coincidental, but just two days after President Reagan attacked the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, “Presente” is airing a documentary about the turmoil in that Central American country, “Nicaragua: Report From the Front,” 4 p.m. (28). . . .

“Headlines on Trial” tackles the controversial issue of abortion, 6:30 p.m. (4). . . .

“Gimme a Break” will be televised live to the East Coast, with a taped version of that “live” broadcast aired here at 9 p.m. (4) (36) (39). NBC says this may be the first time in 30 years that a network comedy series has been aired live. . . .

Eddie Murphy hosts a repeat edition of “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. (4) (36) (39).

SUNDAY: Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who also is chairman of the Republican Party in California, will be the guest on “News Conference 4 L.A.,” 9 a.m. (4). . Secretary of Agriculture John Block and South Dakota Gov. William Janklow, guest on “Meet the Press” at 9:30 a.m. (4) (36) (39). . . .

Drug Enforcement Administration chief Francis M. Mullen Jr. guests on “This Week With David Brinkley” at 10:30 a.m. (7) (10) and 3:30 p.m. (42). . . .

Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln star in “Nothing but a Man,” a drama about blacks in the South after World War II, 1:30 p.m. (28). . . . Roger Wilkins is the host for “Forum on Black America 1985,” a discussion of conditions for blacks in the United States today, 3 p.m. (28). . . .

Corporate takeovers are discussed on “Face the Nation” at 3:30 p.m. (2) and 4:30 p.m. (8). . . .

Former United Nations Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick is the guest on William F. Buckley’s “Firing Line,” 5 p.m. (28). . . .

Olympic champion Bruce Jenner, who suffered from a learning disability called dyslexia, talks about the problem in an episode of “Silver Spoons,” 7 p.m. (4) (36) (39). . . .

David Attenborough travels to the jungles of Ecuador for another installment of “The Living Planet: A Portrait of Earth,” 7 p.m. (28) (15). . . .

George Burns, Mr. T, Elvira, Donna Mills, Hal Linden and Morgan Fairchild help Bob Hope spoof television on the comedian’s hourlong comedy special, 8 p.m. (4) (36) (39). . . .

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are reteamed in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” 8 p.m. (7) (3) (10) (42). . . .

Home Box Office unveils a new TV movie, “Finnegan Begin Again,” starring Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Preston, 8 p.m. . . .

State Sen. Diane Watson (D-L.A.) talks about the community college system on “School Beat,” 9:30 p.m. (9).