ENTERTAINMENT

With the new television season upon us, audiences can look forward to a variety of programs of interest to Spanish- and English-language viewers.

Cuban-born actor Tomas Milian co-stars in a comedy series, “Frannie’s Turn,” which will debut on CBS on Sunday and then move to its regular spot on Saturday nights. This will be the first television series for the actor who has starred in many Italian movies, including Bertolucci’s “Luna,” as well as “Havana” and other American productions. The cast of the new sitcom, about a beleaguered working mother, also includes Taylor Negron.

If you missed the original telecast on “All Star Fiesta at Ford’s,” you can catch repeats Sept. 22 at 10 p.m., Sept. 23 at 2 a.m. or Sept. 27 at 11 a.m., on the Arts & Entertainment Network. The one-hour special, taped at Washington’s historic Ford’s Theater, was presented by Anheuser-Busch to salute the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. The program features performances by Rita Moreno, Vikki Carr, Tito Puente, Paul Rodriguez, Jose Carreras, Vanessa Williams, David Copperfield and Barry Manilow.

The “Desi Entertainment Awards,” named in honor of the late actor, musician and producer Desi Arnaz, recognizes Latinos in the areas of music, film and television. The variety special, which was to air locally Sept. 9 on KTLA, was taped at the historic Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles with an all-star cast.

Another star-studded special is the “Nosotros’ Golden Eagle Awards,” to air locally Sept. 20 on KCAL-TV. Lorenzo Lamas, Maria Conchita Alonso and Erik Estrada are a few of the many celebrities taking part in the annual event.

But before then, on Saturday, Maria Conchita Alonso will play the female lead in “Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story.” Alonso plays the girlfriend and later wife of Presser. The special, filmed in Toronto, will air on HBO at 8 p.m. The Venezuela-born actress and singer and Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia were recently voted “Ideal Lovers,” according to a survey conducted by Alize de France, a juice and cognac beverage company.

Taking the plunge into the English media is Jackie Nespral, formerly on Univision’s “Noticias y Mas.” The journalist, who was born in the United States of Cuban parents, has moved from Miami to New York, and early-risers can watch her as a co-host of NBC’s new weekend morning editions of “The Today Show.” She had previously held anchor and reporting positions on Univision’s “TV Mujer” and the Voice of America’s Television Marti.