WEEKEND TV : Final Four on CBS; Baseball Opens on ESPN

The NCAA basketball tournament enters its final stretch today on CBS with semifinal games between Mississippi State and Syracuse at 2:30 p.m. and Kentucky and Massachusetts at 5 p.m. on Channel 2. Both games will be played at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

The championship game will air Monday night at 6:15 between today’s winners.

Meanwhile, the major-league baseball season opens Sunday on ESPN at 6 p.m. with a game between the defending American League champions Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox.

On a musical note, VH1 puts on its dancing shoes with an all-day marathon of Dick Clark’s venerable “American Bandstand” today. The music fest, featuring performances by Janet Jackson, Donna Summer and the Four Tops continues until 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

On Sunday, CBS’ “60 Minutes” airs its first O.J. Simpson story at 7 p.m. Correspondent Steve Kroft will report on allegations of jury tampering in the case centering on juror Francine Florio-Bunten, who, according to court records, was dismissed for lying to Judge Lance Ito.

The militia movements and the Freemen standoff in Montana will be the topics on several public affairs shows.

Other weekend shows include:

Public Affairs: TODAY: “Today” looks at tax tips, telephone technology and the film “A Family Thing,” 6 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

Mayor Richard Riordan is a guest on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Rep. John Kasich (R-Ohio) is a guest on “Capital Gang Saturday,” 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Inside Politics Weekend” airs at 4:30 p.m. CNN.

SUNDAY: “Sunday Journal” airs at 5 a.m. C-SPAN. . . .

“Sunday Today” looks at self-published author Bruno Buti; the band Ace of Base performs, 6 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

The Montana Freemen standoff is the topic on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“Sunday Morning” features a St. Louis recovery program that helps former prisoners; health-service workers form an orchestra; Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monica Terrace project, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“Face the Nation” looks at the Montana Freemen standoff, 9 a.m. (2). . . .

“Bob Navarro’s Journal” looks at the county juvenile court system, 9 a.m. (2). . . .

Militia movements and the Freemen standoff in Montana will be discussed on “This Week With David Brinkley,” 10 a.m. (7); 11:30 a.m. (3). . . .

“Life & Times” interviews Gov. Pete Wilson, 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“Midday Sunday” spotlights the militia movement across the country, 11:30 a.m. (11). . . .

“Late Edition” looks at the Freemen standoff in Montana, 2 p.m. CNN. . . .

Jury nullification is discussed on “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson,” 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Reliable Sources” reports on media coverage of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, and television booking wars, 3:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“The McLaughlin Group” discusses diversity on campus and Sen. Bob Dole’s candidacy, 3:30 p.m. (4). . . .

The GOP’s report card is discussed on “Capital Gang Sunday,” 4 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Crossfire Sunday” spotlights lessons in education reform, 4:30 p.m. CNN.

Specials and Movies: The Family Channel repeats the 1986 CBS miniseries “Dream West,” starring Richard Chamberlain as American pioneer John C. Fremont, tonight at 8.

Delayed from New York City is HBO’s latest comedy special “George Carlin: Back in Town,” tonight at 10 p.m.

USA presents three baseball flicks, beginning Sunday at 1:30 p.m. with “Major League,” followed by “The Babe” at 3:30 and “Field of Dreams” at 5:30.

Chris Noth (“Law & Order”) plays a father who abducts his infant from his abusive estranged wife in NBC’s “Abducted: A Father’s Love,” Sunday at 9 p.m. (4).

Sports: Tennis: Lipton Championships, women’s final, today, 1 p.m.; men’s final, Sunday, 1 p.m. ESPN. . . . Pro Basketball: Clippers at Chicago Bulls, today, 2 p.m. (13); Lakers at Toronto Raptors, Sunday, noon (9); Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, 12:30 p.m. (13).

For a complete list of sports events on TV, see Section C.