Weekend TV : Tower to ‘Face the Nation’ in Nomination Fight; ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ Returning

The flap over President Bush’s nomination of John Tower to be Secretary of Defense will continue on TV this weekend, with Tower taking his defense to “Face the Nation” Sunday (5 p.m., Channel 2).

Whether Tower should be confirmed by the Senate also will be debated on CNN’s “Newsmaker Sunday” at 7:30 a.m., with Sen. Richard Shelby (D-Ala.), Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.), Sen. Dennis Deconcini (D-Ariz.) and Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Ala.), on “The McLaughlin Group” (Sunday at 9 a.m. on Channel 4, 5:30 p.m. on Channel 50), and on “This Week With David Brinkley” Sunday at 10 a.m. (7), 3 p.m. (3)(10)(42).

Elsewhere, “Upstairs, Downstairs,” one of public television’s most acclaimed series, returns to Channel 28 Sunday at 6 p.m. and Debbie Allen stars in her first prime-time special Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC (Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42), joined by Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, Little Richard and Phylicia Rashad.

And the 18th annual Easter Seal Telethon, hosted by Pat Boone and Mary Frann, kicks off tonight at 8 on Channel 8 and at 11 p.m. on Channel 5.