PREVIEW ’91 : Think Pieces, Salutes and Other Special Events

Whether it’s comedy, music, drama or documentary, television presents a slate of specials designed to suit everyone’s taste this fall.

NETWORK

ABC

“In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story,” which launches the 20th season of “ABC Afterschool Specials,” is produced in collaboration with the Public Broadcasting Service, Sept. 18 on PBS and Sept. 19 on ABC. ... Michael Jackson is among the pop superstars scheduled to perform on MTV’s 10th anniversary special, November 20 at 9 p.m.

CBS

Reba McEntire emcees “The 25th Annual Country Music Assn. Awards” from Nashville for the second consecutive year, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. ... “Classics Weekend II” includes retrospectives on “MASH,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and “The Ed Sullivan Show,” November.... “All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade” follows festivities across the country, Nov. 28. ... CBS News and Tokyo Broadcasting System join forces for a two-hour documentary marking the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor from the USS Arizona Memorial, Dec. 7. ...

“The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts” lauds Gregory Peck, country music’s Roy Acuff, composers Betty Comden and Adolph Green, dancers Fayard and Harold Nicholas (the Nicholas Brothers) and former Atlanta Symphony director Robert Shaw, December 26 at 9 p.m..

NBC

“Michael Landon: Memories With Laughter and Love” spotlights the late actor’s career, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ... “Los Angeles and Chicago Salute Michael Jordan” hoops it up for the pro basketball star, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ... Sarah Purcell and Fred Willard co-host the “Real People Reunion Special,” Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ... Johnny Carson, who will retire from his late-night series next May, celebrates “The Tonight Show 29th Anniversary,” Oct. 3 at 9:30 p.m. ... Executive producers David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. collaborate on the “Museum of Television and Radio Salutes the Funny Women of Television,” Oct. 24 at 9:30 p.m. ... “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” kicks off the holiday season, Nov. 28. ... President Bush and other dignitaries attend the annual “Christmas in Washington,” December.

FOX

“The UFO Report: Sightings” looks into claims of close encounters with unidentified flying objects, October 18 at 9 p.m..... In “Ray Charles: 50 Years of Making Music, Uh-huh!,” the Grammy-winning veteran shares the stage with friends and peers, October 6 at 9:30 p.m..... “The 1991 Billboard Music Awards” arrives in December.

PBS

Nutritional food for thought is served up in “Eat Smart,” “Diet for a New America” and “The Business of Food,” a trio of programs airing Sept. 16 starting at 8 p.m. KCET. (“Eat Smart” airs Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. on KPBS and 9 p.m. on KVCR.) ... “America Becoming” looks at how established residents react to the influx of immigrants, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. KPBS; Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. KCET; Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. KVCR. ...

“Frida Kahlo: Portrait of an Artist” profiles the Mexican painter, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. KOCE. ... “Architects of Change” is a new series of quarterly specials exploring the growth of Orange County over the past 40 years, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. KOCE. ... The story of three radical nuns unfolds in “Faith Even to the Fire,” Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. KCET. ... “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego Special?” introduces a new game show for 8- to-13-year-old viewers, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. KCET, KPBS; 10 p.m. KVCR.

“Moyers: 20 Years of Listening to America” features highlights from past Bill Moyers documentaries, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. KVCR; 9 p.m. KCET, KPBS.

CABLE

A&E;

“The Lost Americans: Wilderness” explores the European conquest of North America from the perspective of American Indians, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ... “Fear in the Dark” covers the history of horror in pop culture, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.

AMC

“Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II” recalls the entertainment capital’s support of the Armed Forces and the USO, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m..

BRAVO

The Dance Theater of Harlem performs Agnes de Mille’s “Fall River Legend,” a 1989 production based on the story of Lizzie Borden, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ... “Unfinished Stories” raised funds for AIDS throughout December.

C-SPAN

Queen Elizabeth delivers her annual speech to the House of Commons and the House of Lords at the Opening of the British Parliament, November.

CINEMAX

“Crazy About the Movies” surveys the career of Michael Caine, October.

DISCOVERY

“The Imagination Machines,” hosted by Kadeem Hardison of “A Different World,” examines the revolution in communication, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. ... “In Celebration of Trees,” Dec. 16.

DISNEY

“Life Pulse” studies nature, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. ... “McCartney: Going Home” highlights the former Beatle’s 1990 world tour, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.

FAMILY CHANNEL

Scott Ross studies “Family Issues,” Sept. 28 at 10 p.m.

HBO

“Influences: James Brown and M.C. Hammer” finds the rocker and rapper illustrating how one has had an effect on the other, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.

LIFETIME

“Forever James Dean” profiles the 1950s icon, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ... Farrah Fawcett hosts “Prisoners of Wedlock,” a new “Your Family Matters” documentary about domestic violence against women, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.

MTV

Kurt Loder moderates a discussion about freedom of expression on “MTV News College Special,” Oct. 16. ... Celebrities and ball players go to bat for the annual “World Series Weekend,” Oct. 19-20. ... A team of athletes and celebrities takes the basketball court for “MTV Rock ‘n’ Jock Hoops,” Oct. 26.

NASHVILLE NETWORK

“CMA Preview ‘91” looks at contenders for the Country Music Assn. Awards, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. ... “Buck Owens at Billy Bob’s” was taped at the popular honky-tonk in Texas, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. ... George Jones, Vince Gill and Patty Loveless headline “Fan Fair ‘91” in Nashville, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. ... Bruce Williams and Terry Ree clown around on “Williams & Ree Comedy Central,” the pilot for a new variety show, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ... Randy Travis and Tanya Tucker guest on “Loretta Lynn: The Seasons of My Life,” Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.

NICKELODEON

Linda Ellerbee produces “Nickelodeon Special Edition,” the first of three monthly news shows for children, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. ... Confronting one’s fears is the theme of a new “Eureeka’s Castle Special,” Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.

SHOWTIME

“Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse” follows Francis Coppola as he directed “Apocalypse Now.” The feature-length documentary consists chiefly of footage shot by his wife Eleanor, Oct. 12, 10 p.m. ... “Elayne Boosler: Live Nude Girls” boasts the season’s most intriguing title, Oct. 4 at 10:35 p.m. ... “In Living Color” comic Tommy Davidson gets his second special, October 5 at 11 p.m. ... Jeff (“You might be a redneck if . . .”) Foxworthy returns to his roots in Atlanta for a comedy special, November. ... “Public Enemy 2” parodies the TV series “America’s Most Wanted,” November. ... “Tim Allen Rewires America” takes the sitcom star to Ann Arbor, Mich., December.

LOCAL

KCBS

Celebrity panelists attempt to stump Southern California students on environmental issues in “Ecology Kids Challenge,” Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. ... “Time 2 Plant” visits local sites where young trees will be put into the soil, Oct. 20.

KCOP

The 11th annual “L’Chaim to Life Telethon” raises money for Chabad’s non-sectarian social services, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. ... A salute to the 25th anniversary of “Star Trek” includes a 10-hour marathon of episodes from the celebrated 1960s series, Sept. 28 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.) and a two-hour retrospective, 8-10 p.m.

KTLA

No turkeys allowed on Thanksgiving Day’s annual “Twilight Zone Marathon,” Nov. 28. ... Santa Claus turns up at “The Hollywood Christmas Parade” Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.