A Pageant of New Films and Series

The summer TV doldrums are finally over as the new fall season goes into high gear this weekend with movies, series premieres, specials and a beauty pageant.

NBC’s live coverage of the “1996 Miss America Pageant” from Atlantic City airs tonight at 6:30 on Channel 4. For the first time, a nationwide call-in will allow viewers to participate in the selection of the beauty queen.

Several new TV movies premiere this weekend:

* Stephen Rea and Isabella Rossellini star in HBO’s historical drama “Crime of the Century,” tonight at 8.

* NBC presents Neil Simon’s comedy “London Suite,” starring Kelsey Grammer and Michael Richards, Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 4.

* Jacqueline Bisset and Michael York star in Showtime’s romantic drama “September,” Sunday at 8 p.m.

* Fox premieres the action-thriller “John Woo’s Once a Thief,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on Channel 11.

* CBS counters with the four-hour thriller “Steve Martini’s Undue Influence,” airing Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 2 and concluding Tuesday at 9 p.m. Brian Dennehy, Patricia Richardson and Jean Smart star.

PBS, meanwhile, unveils its big fall miniseries, “The West,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on Channel 28. The eight-part series, exploring the American West from the 1500s through 1914, is the latest epic from executive producer Ken Burns (“The Civil War,” “Baseball”).

CNN premieres “Democracy in America ‘96,” Sunday at 6 and 9 p.m. The seven-hour documentary series, which continues Sundays through Oct. 27, is devoted to campaign issues.

Other weekend programming includes:

Public Affairs: TODAY: “Evans & Novak’s” topic is the military buildup in Iraq; the guest is Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) discuss teenage drug abuse on “John McLaughlin’s One on One,” 2:30 p.m. (28). . . .

“Capital Gang” discusses Iraq with Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), 4 p.m., 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“The McLaughlin Group” debates drug questions and the Clinton-Dole race, 4 p.m. (4). . . .

Donald Rumsfeld, national chairman for the Dole-Kemp campaign, visits “Inside Politics Weekend,” 4:30 p.m., repeats 7:30 a.m. CNN. . . .

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

“Pacesetters” looks at the need for Latino educators in the public school system, 6 a.m. (5). . . .

“Meet the Press”: Guest will be House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and the topics are Iraq, the Congress and the campaign. 7 a.m. (4)(39)(36). . . .

“CBS News Sunday Morning” visits high-achieving high school students, pays tribute to black Civil War soldiers and interviews jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“Fox News Sunday” plays host to Republican strategist Roger Stone, Donald Rumsfeld of the Dole-Kemp campaign and Pat Robertson, Christian Coalition president, 8 a.m. (11). . . .

“Face the Nation” examines the U.S.-Iraq showdown, with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, 9 a.m. (2). . . .

“Late Edition” looks at the military buildup in Iraq, 9 a.m. CNN. . . .

“Bob Navarro’s Journal” features state Sen. Tom Hayden and Cal State Northridge student body president Vladimir Cerna, 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

The guests on “This Week With David Brinkley” will be Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), 10 a.m. (7). . . .

“Life & Times” focuses on adoptions, 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“Both Sides With Jesse Jackson” looks at trade and the American worker, 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Prop. 209: The Affirmative Action Debate” airs at 4 p.m. (11). . . .

“60 Minutes” interviews the family of Unabomber suspect Ted Kaczynski and reports on the clash over Atlantic City real estate between Donald Trump and Steve Wynn, 7 p.m. (2). . . .

Sports: College Football--Oregon State at USC, today, 3:30 p.m. Prime Sports; Illinois at Arizona, today, 7 p.m. Prime Sports; tape delay of Northeast Louisiana at UCLA, Sunday at 10 a.m. Prime Sports. Baseball--Angels at Kansas City, Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (9). Pro Football--San Diego at Green Bay, Sunday at 10 a.m. (4).

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