Showtime redoes Serling’s Warsaw ghetto drama; CBS adopts ‘Rose Hill’ HBO’s ‘In the Gloaming’

Sunday

“In the Presence of Mine Enemies” / 8 p.m. Showtime

Oscar nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl (“Shine”) stars in a somber, well-acted remake of Rod Serling’s story about events leading to the Warsaw ghetto uprising of 1943. The German actor plays Adam Heller, a rabbi with an ailing daughter (Elina Lowensohn) and an angry son (Don McKellar). Charles Dance (“Rebecca”) is their tormentor. Trivia note: Serling’s 1960 script was produced as the final episode of the revered “Playhouse 90” anthology, with Charles Laughton and a young Robert Redford.

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“Rose Hill” / 9 p.m. CBS

Another title for this “Hallmark Hall of Fame” western could be “Four Kids and a Baby.” As the story opens, a quartet of pickpocket orphans stumble upon an abandoned infant while eluding police in 1866 New York. After naming her Mary Rose, the quasi-family heads west, settling on a sprawling spread in Montana dubbed Rose Hill. As Mary blooms into a beguiling young woman (Jennifer Garner), she is pursued by several suitors, including a smitten Scot (Casey Siemaszko) and a suspicious charmer (David Newsom).

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“On the Verge of Innocence” / 9 p.m. NBC

Kellie Martin, whose midseason series “Crisis Center” barely registered with viewers, is back on NBC. In this TV movie, she plays Zoe, a teen grappling with radical mood swings and the effects of lithium. It’s not long before Zoe lands in an institute where she meets the troublemaking Jake (James Marsden). In short order, they fall in love, break out and make a run for the border. That’s enough melodrama to make us run for cover.

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“In the Gloaming” / 9 p.m. HBO

Christopher Reeve makes his debut as a director in this cable drama about a young man with AIDS who comes home to die. “I wanted to start with something intimate,” says the paralyzed actor, “a story about people and emotions.” And that is precisely what he gets in this one-hour film centering on Danny (Robert Sean Leonard), who reunites with members of his estranged family (played by Glenn Close, David Strathairn and Bridget Fonda). They respond to him in the only way they can--by discussing everything but his illness.

Wednesday

“The 32nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” / 8 p.m. NBC

Country crooners fill the seats with hopes of snaring a “Hat” in one of 12 categories on this three-hour telecast hosted by George Strait, Crystal Bernard and Jeff Foxworthy at the Universal Amphitheatre. Strait vies for entertainer of the year with Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn. Other key categories are top vocalist (male and female); record, song and album of the year. Clint Black, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Deana Carter and LeAnn Rimes are among the scheduled performers.

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“The Metropolitan Opera Presents” / 8 p.m. KCET

Umberto Giordano’s 1896 opera “Andrea Chenier” closes out another season for this PBS series. Inspired by the life of the idealistic poet executed during the French Revolution, this is the most frequently performed of 12 operas written by Giordano, whose “Fedora” will be shown next season. Luciano Pavarotti sings the title role, with Maria Guleghina as the noblewoman who shares her doomed lover’s fate and Juan Pons as the official won over by their sincerity.

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“50 Years of Television: The Television Academy’s Golden Anniversary” / 8 p.m. HBO

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences marks its golden anniversary with a two-hour celebration chock-full of classic clips. Dick Van Dyke introduces scenes from family shows of the past and present. Programs in other popular genres are showcased by Tracey Ullman (variety); Mike Wallace (news); William Shatner (sci-fi); Rosie O’Donnell (talk); Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits (cops); Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle (medical) and LeVar Burton (miniseries). In addition, there are appearances by Milton Berle, Edward Asner and Tom Selleck.

Saturday

“U2: A Year in Pop” / 10 p.m. ABC

Robert Hilburn calls the band’s new album “another major and satisfying step in a remarkable body of work.” Part of that acclaimed effort can be heard in this hourlong special airing a day after the Irish group led by Bono opens its 14-month, 100-city world tour in Las Vegas. After segments on U2 history and behind-the-scenes recording sessions, the show concludes with footage from its opening-night performance at Sam Boyd Stadium.