Preview ’95 : And Now for Something <i> Really </i> Special

There’ll be the usual good-sized dose of awards shows this fall, with specials paying tribute to several legends, including The Beatles, Jack Benny and Frank Sinatra. Biographies will look at the lives of sports heroes as well as comedy, television and movie stars, with others exploring stars of the celestial kind. And variety shows will serve up everything from abra cadabra magic to magical moments on ice.

BIOGRAPHIES

“The Life and Times of Gary Cooper”: Movie idol profiled. George C. Scott, Lloyd Bridges and Rhonda Fleming interviewed. Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. TNN.

“Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval”: A biography of the late Rod Serling, creator of the television series “The Twilight Zone.” Nov. 29, 9 p.m. KCET.

“The Life and Times of Conway Twitty”: The singer with 50 No. 1 songs who died in 1993 profiled. Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. TNN.

COMEDY

“Comic Relief VII”: Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams return as hosts for the event benefiting the homeless. Live. Nov. 11 TBA. HBO.

“HBO Comedy Half-Hour”: Jonathan Katz Thursday at 10:30 p.m.; Janeane Garofolo, Sept. 21 at 10:30 p.m., and Carlos Mencia, Sept. 28 at 10:30 p.m. HBO.

“HBO Comedy Hour: Dana Carvey”: His first HBO solo special. October. TBA.

“Just for Laughs”: David Schwimmer hosts non-traditional comedy acts from the Montreal International Comedy Fest. TBA. Fox.

“Kelsey Grammer’s Salute to Jack Benny”: “Frasier’s” star recalls the comedian. November. NBC.

DOCUMENTARIES

“Arlington National Cemetery: A Mirror of America”: Historical and contemporary footage. Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. Disney Channel.

“Autopsy 2”: Forensic pathologists help crack crimminal investigations. November. TBA. HBO.

“The Best of Real Sex: The Dirty Dozen”: Highlights of the adult late-night series. October. TBA. HBO.

“Doubles: Japan and America’s Intercultural Children”: A look at the lives and experiences of the children born to American soldiers and Japanese women during the U.S. occupation of Japan. Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. KCET.

“Executing A.J.”: Profile of A.J. Bannister, a death-row convict. Nov. 18 at 10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Discovery.

“Forbidden City”: 70th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum in Bejing. Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Discovery.

“Gandy Dancers”: Recollections of railroad truck laborers whose occupational folk music was once heard along the railroad tracks that crisscross the South. Sept. 18 at 10:30 p.m. KCET.

“The Germans: Portrait of a New Nation”: Individuals and families from both former East and West Germany will be profiled. Sept. 29, 10 p.m. KCET.

“Inside the Republican Revolution”: A behind-the-scenes look at the political strategy and tactics of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority leader Bob Dole, Minority Whip David Bonior and others. Sept. 13 at 9 p.m. KCET.

“Listening to Children: A Moral Journey With Robert Coles”: The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and child psychiatrist explores the lives of eight American children. Sept. 22, 9 p.m. KCET.

“National Geographic Special: Cyclones?”: The violent and destructive inner world of tornadoes and hurricanes. November. NBC.

“On Jupiter”: A visit to Jupiter’s surface. Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Discovery.

“The People’s Plague: Tuberculosis in America”: Joe Mantegna narrates this documentary about the leading cause of death in 19th-Century America. Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. KCET.

“Sex, Teens, and Public Schools”: Teen pregnancy and the role that public schools in stemming the tide of unwanted pregnancy, hosted by Jane Pauley. Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. KCET.

“Violence: An American Tradition”: A look at the most violent nation in the industrialized world. October. TBA. HBO.

“We’re Having a Baby!”: Marilu Henner, expecting her second baby, hosts show on celebrity parents. TBA. ABC.

MUSIC

“The Beatles Anthology”: Six-hour tribute over three nights to the Fab Four. Premiere of two songs, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” two unreleased songs by John Lennon, to which the other three Beatles have added their voices and instrumentation. November. ABC.

“Boyz II Men: Going Home”: The four singers perform and are interviewed. Nov. 19 at 9 p.m. Disney Channel.

“Indigo Girls in Concert”: Hits from the duo’s two albums. Oct. 15 at 9 p.m. Disney Channel.

“The Life and Times of Roy Acuff”: Beloved Opry performer (1903-1992) profiled. Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. TNN.

“The Marty Party”: Marty Stuart goes “rockin’ ” with Jerry Lee Lewis, The Mavericks and Steve Earle. Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. TNN.

“The Marty Party IV”: Johnny Cash and Alan Jackson join Marty Stuart. Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. TNN.

“Music for the Movies”: Three-part special on master composers. Bernard Herrman, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.; Toru Takemitsu, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.; Georges Delerue, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Bravo.

“People”: Animated musical celebration of global diversity. Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. Disney Channel.

“Phyllis George Special”: Guests TBA. Sept. 20, time TBA. TNN.

“Ralph Emery on Record”: Guests TBA. Oct. 11, time TBA. TNN.

“R.E.M. Rough Cut”: Documentary on the acclaimed Georgia rock band. Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. KCET.

“Sinatra: 80 Years My Way”: A tribute to Frank Sinatra on his 80th birthday. To be taped Nov. 19 at the Shrine Auditorium. TBA. ABC.

“The Soul Train 25th Anniversary”: Highlights of a great train ride from Don Cornelius. November. TBA. CBS.

“Values Matter Most With Ben Wattenberg”: Host of “Think Tank” argues that social issues are more important than economic ones. Nov. 13 at 10 p.m. KCET.

SPORTS

“Fairway to Heaven”: Top golfers are paired with music artists for charity. Nov. 11 and 12. Time TBA. VH1.

“Six Days to Sunday”: Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings prepare for the 1995 NFL season. Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. TNT.

World Series: Alternate coverage from ABC and NBC. ABC will cover Game 1 on Oct. 21, with NBC covering Games 2 and 3 on Oct. 22 and Oct. 24. Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) will air on ABC. If a sixth game is needed that will air on NBC. Game 7 will air Oct. 29, with the network TBA.

VARIETY

“Before They Were Stars”: Fourth installment of stars in commercials, bit parts, soaps, etc. TBA. ABC.

“Disney’s Champions on Ice”: Top skaters relive their greatest moments of victory in clips and in new production numbers. TBA. ABC.

“A Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre”: President and Mrs. Clinton are guests of honor in this evening of comedy and music. Paul Reiser hosts. TBA. ABC.

“Planet Hollywood Comes Home”: The opening of the Beverly Hills branch. Star-studded. TBA. ABC.

“Robert Gallup Magic Special”: Taped in Las Vegas, Gallup performs dangerous illusions. TBA. Fox.

“Television’s Greatest Performances”: Some of TV’s greatest moments. TBA. ABC.

“The World’s Greatest Magic II”: Illusionists, levitation experts and mentalists strut their stuff. November. NBC.