ABC has fun, fun, fun; Oprah gets a series and the Material Girl has her own weekend on MTV.

DIRT ON THE BEACH BOYS

ABC is sure to point out that its Sunday-night movie, “The Story of the Beach Boys: Summer Dreams,” is based on an unauthorized biography, and that the music in the film is not performed by the Beach Boys. With that disclaimer out of the way, the TV drama plunges into a tale of betrayal, sudden stardom, family control, paternity suits, divorce, death and personal battles with drugs and alcohol. It all starts in 1961, when Dennis Wilson, played by Bruce Greenwood, privately urges shy brother Brian to quit writing Lawrence Welkish music with their father and give rock ‘n’ roll a try.

“The Story of the Beach Boys: Summer Dreams” Sunday 9-11 p.m. ABC

LIFE AFTER DEATH

Stephanie Zimbalist stars as a woman presumed dead for 15 years who returns to the family fold right before a large inheritance is due in the CBS “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentation, “Caroline?” The problem is, not everyone is convinced of Caroline’s identity. The film co-stars George Grizzard as the workaholic father, Pamela Reed as the suspicious stepmother, Patricia Neal and Dorothy McGuire. The movie, from veteran TV director Joseph Sargent, is based on E.L. Konigsburg’s novel, “Father’s Arcane Daughter.”

“Caroline?” Sunday 9-11 p.m. CBS

A KICK OUT OF SINATRA

Frank Sinatra’s library of 13 TV specials spans almost 25 years-from 1965’s “A Man and His Music” to 1988’s “Concert for the Americas.” In the specials, he shares the spotlight with entertainers such as Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Orson Welles, Princess Grace, Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr. As part of its regular “Sunday Night Showcase,” the Disney Channel is presenting a different Sinatra special every other month. The first, “Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back,” debuted in 1973 when Sinatra came out of retirement. Gene Kelly joins him singing “New York, New York,” “Me and My Gal” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

“Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back” Sunday 9-10 p.m. Disney Channel

OLIVIER’S TUBE TRIUMPHS

Laurence Olivier’s 1986 TV role as an aging vaudeville comic in the “Masterpiece Theatre” production “Lost Empires,” which got him an Emmy nomination, capped off a shining TV career. Best known for his stage and film roles, Olivier was an actor, producer and director for a variety of TV projects. This electronic side of him is celebrated in “One Man in His Time: A Tribute to Laurence Olivier.” The biography features clips from Olivier’s TV work, including “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Collection” and “Come Back Little Sheba.”

“One Man in His Time: Tribute to Laurence Olivier” Tuesday 5-6 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. A&E;

POLITICAL INTRIGUE

The story of Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev is a political epic with the sweep of Tolstoy and the turmoil of Dostoyevsky. We have already absorbed perestroika and glasnost into our vocabulary, but do we really know what those words mean? “Inside Gorbachev’s USSR” with Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Hedrick Smith is a four-part PBS series that provides viewers with a complete, intimate and factual portrait of the world events that are shaking the Soviet system to its foundations. The opener, “The Taste of Democracy,” illustrates the exhilaration of reform and renewal as Gorbachev and his generation try to exorcise the ghosts of Stalin and Brezhnev.

“Inside Gorbachev’s USSRS Monday 9-10 p.m. KCET

A BROADWAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Latino communities throughout Southern California gather on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles Sunday to celebrate the country’s largest Cinco de Mayo fiesta. “La Fiesta Broadway,” stretching 10 city blocks, transforms the streets into a family festival. KMEX plans to broadcast live fiesta segments throughout the day, featuring Latin stars such as Luis Enrique, Laureano Brizuela, Angela Carrasco and Beatriz Adriana. KMEX will also broadcast taped performances from the fiesta in a national three-hour special Thursday at 8 p.m., and a local one-hour special Saturday, Cinco de Mayo, at 7 p.m.

“La Fiesta Broadway” Sunday 12-8 p.m. KMEX

OPRAH: THE SERIES

You’ve seen the movie (RThe Color Purple”). You’ve seen the talk show. You’ve seen the miniseries. Get ready for Oprah: The Series. “Brewster Place” is Oprah Winfrey’s dramatic series, based on last season’s highest-rated miniseries, “The Women of Brewster Place.” The show is set in an inner-city black neighborhood in 1967, where Winfrey plays the strong and spirited figurehead of her community. The series previews Tuesday behind another heavy-hitter, “Roseanne,” with a new episode next Tuesday, before settling into its regular time slot Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.

“Brewster Place” Tuesday 9:30-10 p.m. ABC

VICTOR OR VICTIM?

For five years, Charles Keating Jr. thwarted government and regulatory interventions to prevent his troubled Lincoln Savings from sinking $2.5 billion into the hole. Keating, a central figure in the national savings and loan scandal, contends he has been victimized by power-hungry agencies and government officials with a personal vendetta. In “Other People’s Money,” on “Frontline,” Judy Woodruff paints a portrait of Keating and his financial empire, and explores the savings and loan financial disaster, which will cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $315 billion.

“Frontline” Tuesday 9-10 p.m. on KCET Tuesday 10-11 p.m. on KOCE

CROSSING THE ARTISTIC DIVIDE

Nigeria is a country that, according to producer Carroll Parrott Blue, was “never meant to be.” The area was a vast region of peoples and cultures, until Great Britain drew a line around the land and unified it as a country. In “Nigerian Art- Kindred Spirits,” Blue profiles Nigerian artists who are trying to maintain their cultural distinctions while forging a national voice. The “Smithsonian World” documentary on PBS is hosted by Ruby Dee.

“Nigerian Art-Kindred Spirits” Wednesday 8-9 p.m. KCET

THE WORLD’S A STAGE

“Arts & Entertainment Revue,” a sort of weekly “Entertainment Tonight” with a global flair, debuts Friday, hosted by former NBC News correspondent Eric Burns. The weekly news show on the A&E; cable network is, by its own admission, for discriminating palates. It’s aimed at sophisticated audiences who want more than Hollywood gossip. The hour-long show spotlights entertainment news from around the world. Segments include news updates and stories on performers, artists, new trends and lasting traditions in the realms of movies, TV, theater, dance, art, literature and pop culture.

“Arts & Entertainment Revue” Friday 5-6 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. A&E;

BLOND AMBITION

Beware of flying sparks from your TV set-it’s Madonna weekend on MTV. To kick off the superstar’s concert tour, MTV pays tribute to the music and career of the energized pop icon with a four-part musical special. The sight and sound fantasy includes exclusive interviews and live coverage of Madonna’s Houston concert on Friday. Madonna videos featured in the specials include “Material Girl,” “Like a Virgin,” the controversial “Like a Prayer,” “Express Yourself” and her newest release, “Vogue.”

“Madonna Weekend” Friday 8-11 p.m. (Part 1) Saturday 12-4 p.m. (Part 2), 8-10 p.m. (Part 3) Sunday 2:30-6:30 p.m. (Part 4) MTV