Black History Specials, ‘List’ on Menu

Black History Month specials, miniseries and movies dominate the weekend’s programming.

“Record Row: Cradle of Rhythm & Blues,” on Friday at 10 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, looks at the independent R&B; labels that achieved success along Chicago’s “musical mile” in the 1950s through the ‘70s. Etta James narrates the documentary, which features archival photos, interviews and performance footage.

Lifetime presents an “African American Actors Weekend,” beginning Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The two-day movie festival features “The Father Clements Story,” “Clara’s Heart,” “Mississippi Burning,” “The Color Purple” and “The Jacksons: An American Dream.”

Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburne, Ossie Davis and Joe Morton headline HBO’s “Miss Evers’ Boys,” Saturday at 9 p.m. Adapted by Walter Bernstein from the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, the drama chronicles the shocking story of a controversial 40-year government study in which medical treatment was withheld from a group of African American men with syphilis.

The History Channel reprises “Roots,” the highest-rated miniseries in TV history, starting Sunday at 5 and 9 p.m. Stars of the 1977 epic--Ben Vereen, Leslie Uggams, John Amos and Sandy Duncan--will be on hand to offer commentary. The series continues nightly through Feb. 28.

The Family Channel presents “The Ditchdigger’s Daughters,” Sunday at 7 p.m. The heartwarming drama, set in the 1950s, tells the story of a ditchdigger (Carl Lumbly) who wants all six of his daughters to become doctors.

Elsewhere this weekend:

Thursday

USA presents a two-hour figure skating celebration, “Reflections on Ice,” 9 p.m.

Saturday

That badly behaved man Rob Schneider hosts the TNT special “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ‘97,” at 6, 7 and 10 p.m. The one-hour event spotlights the scantily clad models who will grace the eagerly anticipated issue of Sports Illustrated.

Drew Carey shows outtakes from his popular ABC sitcom on NBC’s “All-Star TV Censored Tickle Me Bloopers,” at 8 p.m. Dick Clark hosts.

The performers from “The English Patient,” “Shine,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Marvin’s Room” are among the nominees competing for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, at 9 p.m. on Channel 4. Last year’s winners, Nicolas Cage and Susan Sarandon, are among the presenters. Angela Lansbury will receive a special lifetime achievement award.

Sunday

TBS presents the Trumpet Awards at 5 p.m. The fifth annual ceremony honors African American achievers in the fields of law, medicine, politics and entertainment. Steve Allen and Nancy Wilson host.

Following on TBS at 6:30 p.m. is “That’s How I See It,” hosted by “New York Undercover” star Malik Yoba. The special offers different points of view from young African Americans, including hip-hop artists Immature and Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes.

Steven Spielberg’s landmark, Oscar-winning 1993 Holocaust epic, “Schindler’s List,” makes its broadcast premiere at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 4. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes star. The presentation, without commercial interruptions, is the first to receive a TV-M rating (for mature audiences) from one of the networks.

Kelsey Grammer--at least his voice--returns as Bart’s evil nemesis Sideshow Bob on Fox’s “The Simpsons,” at 8 p.m. on Channel 11. In this installment, Bob is reunited with his brother, who is voiced by Grammer’s “Frasier” sibling, David Hyde Pierce.

Last year it was tornadoes. This year, volcanoes are hot movie fodder with the current “Dante’s Peak” and upcoming “Volcano.” Now ABC has jumped on the bandwagon with “Volcano: Fire on the Mountain,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. Dan Cortese plays the geologist who predicts a volcanic eruption beneath a ski resort. Cynthia Gibb also stars.

HBO kicks off a weeklong salute to comedian George Carlin with the one-hour retrospective “George Carlin: My Personal Favorites,” at 10 p.m.