WEEKEND TV : ’60 Minutes’ Profiles Syrian President

As Secretary of State James Baker tours the Middle East in search of peace and healing in the aftermath of the Gulf war, “60 Minutes” profiles one of the region’s key players, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

Airing Sunday at 7 p.m. (2)(8), this report asks if the Arab strongman--a sponsor of terrorism, occupier of Lebanon, leader of a 500,000-member military armed with chemical and biological weapons and member in good standing of the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq--is the next Saddam Hussein. The program also reports on the status of women in the Soviet Union and the convicted bombers of two British pubs in 1974 who still maintain their innocence.

Earlier Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 28, “Amazing Grace With Bill Moyers” offers a look at the history of the famed hymn.

“Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow . . . Idaho,” tonight at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime, features the Soviet comic sharing humorous anecdotes about his life with an American wife and a new baby. The program also includes a tour of the Soviet city Odessa, Smirnoff’s hometown.

John Belushi fans who want to commemorate the ninth anniversary of his death can take in one of his movies. KCOP will show “Neighbors” today at 2 p.m. and again at 1 p.m. Sunday. And the USA cable network will screen “The Blues Brothers” tonight at 11 p.m., followed at 1:30 a.m. by “Wired,” the movie based on Bob Woodward’s book about the comedian.