Sophia Loren has the starring role in...

Sophia Loren has the starring role in “Courage,” a new movie set to air on CBS Sept. 24. She plays a New York woman whose son’s cocaine addiction prompts her to work undercover to help bust a drug smuggling ring. Billy Dee Williams portrays a drug agent.

“Live From Lincoln Center” is due to kick off its new season on the Public Broadcasting Service Sept. 16. The program will feature a performance by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Zubin Mehta, with violinist Itzhak Perlman as guest soloist.

Sam Elliott has landed the title role in “Gone to Texas: The Sam Houston Story.” The three-hour biographical film about the man who served Texas as governor and U.S. senator during the last century will air on CBS. Joining Elliott in the movie are Michael Beck, Devon Ericson, Bo Hopkins and William Russ.

This being September, and not April, CBS feels comfortable showing a comedy about having one’s taxes audited. George Segal stars as a sporting goods store owner who is called in by the IRS in “Many Happy Returns,” a new TV movie arriving Sept. 19. Helen Shaver plays his wife and Ron Leibman is on hand as his brother-in-law.

The syndicated series “Kids, Inc.” will be moving to a new outlet later this year. Beginning in November, the musical series about a young rock band will be seen on cable TV courtesy of the Disney Channel, complete with 13 new episodes. It’s currently airing in Los Angeles on KTLA Channel 5.

Nancy McKeon, who plays Jo on “The Facts of Life,” is cast as Cindy Fralick, the woman who fought to join the ranks of the Los Angeles County Fire Department in “Firefighter,” a new TV movie that CBS plans to broadcast Sept. 23. She also served as one of the film’s executive producers.

Acapulco is the setting for the next Agatha Christie mystery on CBS, “Murder in Three Acts.” Peter Ustinov reprises his role as detective Hercule Poirot. Playing the suspects are Tony Curtis, Emma Samms, Lisa Eichhorn, Frances Lee McCain, Fernando Allende and Diana Muldaur, among others. The movie is scheduled for Sept. 30.

“Discover: The World of Science” will be back with five new specials for public television this season. With Peter Graves as host, the series will report on the use of video techniques to study fish, the development of new methods of predicting avalanches, the training of ice skaters with advanced biomechanics and the research that goes into creating a new food product.

Robert Conrad will be seen as a New York City police lieutenant in “Police Plaza,” a TV movie being made for CBS. It’s a mystery about the murder of a young woman. Also in the cast are Anthony Zerbe and George Dzundza.