East Germany Developments to Dominate News Programs on All Three Networks

The implications of East Germany’s decision to open the Berlin Wall will dominate the discussion on the weekend news programs as all three network anchors, Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather will be on the spot in Berlin. And Sunday, the networks will trot out four original TV movies in an effort to sweep viewers into their respective camps.

Today at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Gerhard Herder, the East German ambassador to the United States, Juergen Ruhfus, the West German ambassador to the United States, Paul Nitze and Jeanne Kirkpatrick will all be on hand to examine the opening in the Berlin Wall on CNN’s “Newsmaker Saturday.”

Sunday, Defense Secretary Richard Cheney and former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt will speculate on what’s next for East Germany on “Meet the Press,” 8:30 a.m. (4)(36)(39). (See below for details of other programs about the week’s developments in Germany.)

Sunday evening, NBC (4)(36)(39) will screen “Polly,” a two-hour musical at 7 p.m. that stars “Cosby’s” Keisha Knight Pulliam and Phylicia Rashad. The network follows that up at 9 p.m. with “Manhunt: Search for the Night Stalker,” a TV movie based on the capture of serial killer Richard Ramirez.

ABC (7)(3)(10)(42) counters at 9 p.m. with the first of the two-part docudrama, “Small Sacrifices,” which stars Farrah Fawcett as an Oregon mother accused of shooting her three children. CBS, meanwhile, resurrects Dennis Weaver and his famous maverick marshal in “The Return of Sam McCloud” at 9 p.m. (2)(8).

Other weekend shows include:

TODAY: “Youth & the Issues” looks at AIDS and adolescents, 7 a.m. (9). . . .

Sex among teen-agers is the topic on “Teen Talk,” 7:30 a.m. (9). . . .

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edwin Gray of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board are interviewed on “Evans & Novak,” 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. (CNN). . . .

Barry Goldwater looks back on politics and other topics on “Firing Line,” 3:30 p.m. (28). . . .

“John McLaughlin’s One on One” examines the savings and loan problem, 4 p.m. (28). . . .

“Saturday Night With Connie Chung” reports on judicial consent for minors’ abortions, 10 p.m. (2)(8). . . .

Chris Evert hosts “Saturday Night Live” with musical guest Eurythmics, 11:30 p.m. (4)(36) (39).

SUNDAY: Jerry Baxter of Caltrans and structural engineer John Kariotis discuss the safety of Southern California’s freeways and bridges on “News Conference,” 6 a.m. (4). . . .

“Sunday Today” reports on Willie Shoemaker, the Massachusetts “miracle” under Gov. Michael Dukakis, economics of Broadway road shows, 7 a.m. (4)(36)(39). . . .

“2 the Point” focuses on how to buy a Thanksgiving turkey, the Great American Smokeout, an exhibit of artists who have learning disabilities and French artist Paul Jacoulet, 7 a.m. (2). . . .

Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.) and Richard Perle discuss the events in East Germany on “Newsmaker Sunday,” 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (CNN). . . .

“Sunday Morning” reports on the 200th anniversary of the Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore, 8 a.m. (2)(8). . . .

Gennadi Gerasimov, Soviet foreign ministry spokesman, guests on “Face the Nation,” 10 a.m. (2).

The savings and loan catastrophe is the topic on “Newsmakers,” 10:30 a.m. (2). . . .

Secretary of State James Baker discusses the Berlin Wall on “This Week With David Brinkley” follows at 11:30 a.m. (7)(3)(10) (42). . . .

“60 Minutes” reports on Miles Davis, novelist Mario Vargas’ run for president in Peru and parents who accuse a Florida agency that intervenes in child-abuse cases of being overzealous, 7 p.m. (2).