WEEKEND TV : All Eyes on Presidential Aspirants

With the clock ticking down on Tuesday’s critical New Hampshire primary, the ebb and flow of presidential politics is king.

The five major challengers for the Democratic nomination square off in another debate that will be carried live Sunday at 5 p.m. by CNN. Bernard Shaw will ask the questions of former Gov. Jerry Brown, former Sen. Paul Tsongas, Sen. Tom Harkin, Gov. Bill Clinton and Sen. Bob Kerrey.

Earlier Sunday, Tsongas, the leader among Democrats in recent polls, will be interviewed at 8:30 a.m. on NBC’s (4)(36)(39) “Meet the Press.” At 9 a.m. on Channel 4, “The McLaughlin Group” offers its preview of the New Hampshire primary, zeroing in on “who’s hot and who’s not.”

CNN also offers “The Battle to Lead: The Democrats” at 7 p.m. Saturday. The hourlong special features profiles on all five major Democratic candidates.

KSCI Channel 18 meanwhile turns its eye on the Chinese New Year with two Saturday specials. At 6 p.m., KSCI will show San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, the largest in the United States. Following that at 8 p.m., “The Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Beauty Pageant” highlights the talent and pulchritude of 18 local women.