Politics, ‘Star Trek’ and Playoffs on Tap

President Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole square off for the first of two debates on Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channels 2, 4, 7, 28, CNN and C-SPAN. The live, 90-minute event will originate from Hartford, Conn., with Jim Lehrer, anchor of PBS’ “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,” as moderator.

Most of the stations covering the debate will follow it at 7:30 p.m. with analysis. CNN, however, will present a special edition of “Larry King Live,” offering a forum for the five independent presidential candidates who were excluded from the debate, including Ross Perot and Ralph Nader.

UPN’s “Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond,” Sunday at 8 p.m., is a black-tie tribute to the 30-year legacy of the sci-fi series and will feature the largest gathering of “Star Trek” actors in addition to members of the entertainment, political and performing arts arenas. The proceeds from the event will benefit charities.

Baseball playoffs continue this weekend with the Dodgers meeting the Braves today at 1 p.m. on Channel 11; the Yankees and the Rangers, today at 10 a.m. on ESPN; and the Cardinals and the Padres, today at 4:30 p.m. on Channel 4.

On the kids’ front, the Family Channel is dusting off five of Sid and Marty Krofft’s classic series: “The Bugaloos,” today at 8 a.m.; “Lidsville,” today at 8:30 a.m.; “Sigmund & the Sea Monsters,” today at 9 a.m.; “H.R. Pufnstuf,” today at 9:30 a.m.; and “Far Out Space Nuts,” Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

CBS premieres its latest children’s show, the live-action, virtual-reality adventure game, “Secrets of the Cryptkeeper’s Haunted House,” today at 10 a.m. on Channel 2.

Other weekend programming:

Public Affairs: TODAY: Benazir Bhutto, the prime minister of Pakistan, guests on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) appears on “Capital Gang Saturday,” 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

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

Anthony Quinn visits “Larry King Weekend,” 6 and 11 p.m., CNN. . . .

SUNDAY: “The McLaughlin Group” discusses the debates, the Middle East summit and Bosnia, 5:30 a.m. (4). . . .

“Sunday Today” talks with author Clive Cussler and actor Matthew Broderick, 6 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

Republican vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp fields questions on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“CBS News Sunday Morning” reports on the congressional outlook if Clinton is reelected and interviews sound sculptor Chris Janney, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

Presidential candidate Ross Perot and professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson are guests on “Face the Nation,” 9 a.m. (2). . . .

“Fox News Sunday” discusses the presidential debate, Roberto Alomar’s spitting, doctor-assisted suicide and the Supreme Court, 8 a.m. (11). . . .

“Late Edition” looks at the presidential debate and campaign ‘96, 9 a.m. CNN. . . .

“Tony Brown’s Journal” reports on African civilization, 9:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“Bob Navarro’s Journal” talks to Faith D’Aluisio and Peter Menzel about their global project, Women in the Material World, 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“This Week With David Brinkley” discusses the presidential debates with White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and former Vice President Dan Quayle, 10 a.m. (7); 11:30 a.m. (3). . . .

The guests on “Life & Times” will be Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Rep. David Dreir (R-Calif.), 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

Race and the O.J. Simpson civil trial are the topic on “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson,” 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Crossfire Sunday” discusses the presidential debate, 4:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“60 Minutes” looks at how privacy laws protect a released killer, profiles sitcom director James Burrows (“Cheers,” “Friends,” “3rd Rock From the Sun”) and checks out the Massachusetts Senate campaign, 8 p.m. (2).

Specials and Movies: Michael Pare stars in the Sci-Fi Channel’s thriller “Carver’s Gate,” today at 5 p.m. . . .

Faith Ford and Kyle Secor star in Lifetime’s suspense movie “Her Desperate Choice,” Sunday at 8 p.m. . . .

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger headline the documentary “Black Market Birds,” Sunday at 6 p.m. on TBS.

Bravo’s new six-part series “The Look” offers a behind-the-scenes entree into the fashion world, Sunday at 5 and 11 p.m. . . .

VH1 premieres its new series about influential musicians, “Legends,” Sunday at 3 p.m.

Sports: College Football: California at USC, today, 12:30 p.m. (7)(3); UCLA at Oregon, today, 7:30 p.m. Prime Sports. . . .

Golf: PGA Las Vegas Invitational, today at 1 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m., ESPN. . . .

Pro Football: Raiders at N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 10 a.m. (4); 49ers at Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. (11).

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