An AIDS program: “In the Shadow of Love” airs on ABC and PBS

The Centers for Disease Control reported in June, 1991 that the number of AIDS cases diagnosed among 13- to 19-year-olds had more than doubled since December, 1989. The AIDS rate among teen-age girls is more than three times higher than among adult women.

In an attempt to educate teens and parents about the disease, ABC and PBS are cooperating in a joint effort by both airing “In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story.”

Produced in Boston by PBS, the special aims to be “a teen-ager’s primer on AIDS” by explaining the hows and whys of transmission, plus what teens should do if they test positive for the HIV virus. It’s framed as a drama, in which two young women journalists investigate teens with AIDS and begin to question their own chances of having the disease. Actor-playwright Harvey Fierstein has a featured role.

“In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story,” Wednesday 8-9 p.m. KCET, KPBS, KVCR; Thursday 3-4 p.m. ABC (season premiere of “ABC Afterschool Special”). For 12- to 19-year-olds and their parents.

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

“Why Save the Children?” (today 10-11 p.m. KCET), Part 1 of the two-part special A Chance to Live, reports on the efforts by UNICEF and WHO to get children vaccinated against measles, polio and diphtheria. For parents.

Kids who never want to grow up will look forward to the animated Disney classic Peter Pan (today 7-9 p.m. Disney Channel). The tale of the boy who could fly is making its world television premiere. For all ages.

The USA Network airs Denver, The Last Dinosaur (weekdays 7-7:30 a.m.); Voltron--Defender of the Universe (weekdays 7:30-8 a.m.) and My Two Dads (weekdays 5:30-6 p.m. USA) beginning Monday. For all ages.

Everybody’s favorite feathered friend encounters the people and sights of Tokyo in Big Bird in Japan (Tuesday 8-9 p.m. Disney Channel), the 1989 family mystery-adventure. For all ages.

In the season premiere of Roseanne (Tuesday 9-9:30 p.m. ABC), teen-age Becky announces that she wants to begin taking the Pill. For ages 13 and up.

A repeat episode of What Every Baby Knows called “Playing Doctor” (Friday 9:30-10 a.m. Lifetime) deals with the development of sexual identity in young children. For parents.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a weekend-long block of Superman reruns (Friday 9 p.m.- Saturday 6 a.m.; Saturday 8 p.m.-next Sunday 6 a.m.; next Sunday 8 p.m. to next Monday 6 a.m. Nickelodeon), as the cable channel celebrates its acquisition of the vintage series. For all ages.

Making its Disney Channel premiere is “Daffy Duck’s Movie: Fantastic Island” (Saturday 7-8:30 p.m.), which stars the famous duck, of course, plus other animated favorites. For all ages, with parental guidance.

Paul Sorvino stars in “A Friend in Deed” (Friday 4-4:30 p.m. Showtime), which teaches teens the lesson that it’s easy to mistake friendship for love. For 12- to 15-year-olds.

If you were part of a stone-age family and a monster moved next door, what would his name be? Why, Mr. Frankenstone, of course. He’s the anti-hero of the animated “The Flintstone’s New Neighbors” (Saturday 8:30-9 p.m. Disney Channel). For all ages.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Saturday 7:30-8 a.m. HBO) is an animated version of the Virginia Lee Burton kids’ book about a guy who pits his old-fashioned machine against some slick, modern ones--with surprising results. For 2- to 11-year-olds.

In the live-action fantasy The Dog Days of Arthur Cane (Saturday 2-3 p.m. Nickelodeon), selfish Arthur is transformed into a dog by a magician who wants to teach him a little something about life. For 3- to 11-year-olds.