Fox’s Public Affairs Show, Basketball on Tap

This Sunday, Fox unveils its first public affairs series and the venerable “60 Minutes” introduces its new commentators.

“Fox News Sunday,” premiering at 8 a.m. on KTTV-TV Channel 11, promises “a fresh and spirited look at major stories and events of the week.” Tony Snow, nationally syndicated columnist for USA Today and the Detroit News, is the host.

Fort Worth Star Telegram columnist Molly Ivins and New York Daily News columnist Stanley Crouch debut as commentators on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” at 7 p.m. on Channel 2. Andy Rooney offers a humorous essay on the newsmagazine’s previous commentators.

The NBA playoffs heat up this weekend. NBC begins its coverage today at 10 a.m. with the New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the Houston Rockets at the Lakers at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday’s tripleheader coverage begins at 9 a.m. with the Detroit Pistons playing the Orlando Magic, followed by the Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs at noon. The Miami Heat meet the Chicago Bulls at 2:30 p.m. on Channels 4 and 36.

TNT’s basketball coverage continues today with the Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers at 5 p.m. and the Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz at 7:30 p.m. The Sacramento Kings square off against the Seattle SuperSonics, Sunday at 6 p.m.

For those culturally inclined, there’s PBS’ “The Metropolitan Opera Presents” today at 4 p.m. on Channel 28, a celebration of conductor James Levine’s silver anniversary of his Met debut.

Other weekend shows include:

Public Affairs: “Today” has wildlife expert Jim Fowler and author Judith Sills (“Biting the Apple”); 6 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

The budget, minimum wage and Bob Dole’s campaign are topics on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Partisan politics’ effect on the Whitewater probe is debated on “John McLaughlin’s One on One,” 2:30 p.m. (28). . . .

Term limits, Sen. Bob Dole and the budget fallout are discussed on “Capital Gang Saturday,” 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Inside Politics Weekend” reports on Campaign ‘96, 4:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

House Speaker Newt Gingrich guests on “Larry King Weekend,” 6 and 11 p.m. CNN.

SUNDAY: Barry McCassfrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control, Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Reps. Bill Zeliff (R-N.H.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) discuss drugs in America on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“Sunday Morning” looks at congressional cuts to legal services and a Roy DeCarava jazz-photo retrospective, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

Dole’s campaign and the Republican Party are discussed by political consultant Ed Rollins, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and columnist Bob Novak on “Face the Nation,” 9 a.m. (2). . . .

Guests on “Bob Navarro’s Journal” are Los Angeles Times media writer David Shaw and Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

Leon Panetta, White House Chief of Staff, Reps. Dick Armey (R-Texas), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and David McIntosh (R-Ind.) talk about minimum wage and the budget on “This Week With David Brinkley,” 10 a.m. (7); 11:30 a.m. (3)(42). . . .

“Life & Times” talks with state controller Kathleen Connell and naturalist-author David Darlington, 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“Midday Sunday” focuses on comets and falling satellites with author Bob Berman, 11 a.m. (11). . . .

Church bombings is the topic on “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson,” 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Reliable Sources” reports on the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis media frenzy and coverage of Dole, 3:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

Iranian arms to Bosnia, Kenneth Starr and health insurance reform are the topics on “The McLaughlin Group,” 4:30 p.m. (4). . . .

Specials and Movies: KCAL presents live coverage of the El Toro Air Show, today, noon (9).

Sports: Baseball: Angels at Chicago White Sox, today, 4 p.m. (9) WGN; Sunday, 11 a.m. (9); Cubs at Dodgers (subject to blackout), Sunday, 1 p.m. WGN.

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