WEEKEND TV : Politicians, Snakes Set for Viewing

Politicians, snakes and Texas rock stars are showcased on the small screen this weekend.

Walter Cronkite will moderate “The Presidential Candidates: Address to the Nation,” in which most of the major presidential hopefuls will present a 20-minute, uninterrupted picture of their plans and platforms, at 4 p.m. Sunday on the Discovery Channel. Democratic contenders Jerry Brown, Bill Clinton and Paul Tsongas and Republican candidate Pat Buchanan are all scheduled to participate in this commercial-free telecast. President Bush declined an invitation to appear on the show, which will include a panel discussion among veteran news analysts and political figures following the candidates’ presentations. The three-hour program will repeat at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Former California Gov. Jerry Brown is also scheduled to appear on CNN’s “Newsmaker Saturday,” today at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

“Realm of the Serpent,” the latest installment in the “World of Discovery” series, also airs Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC (7)(3)(10)(42). This program, narrated by E.G. Marshall, travels to locations around the world to chronicle the behavior of some 3,000 species of snakes in their natural habitats.

Music lovers might want to check out “Rock ‘n Roll Cities” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on VH-1. This pilot for a possible series about places that have defined rock music through the years travels to Austin, Tex., for performances by Michelle Shocked, Joe Ely, Wil Sexton and the Texas Tornadoes. The program also features interviews with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Don Henley and ZZ Top.