Tributes Honor Henderson and Ruth, the Sultan of Swat

Television specials this weekend encompass a musical tribute to Skitch Henderson, a live voyage to the Titanic’s hull and a heartfelt celebration of the one and only Babe Ruth.

PBS’ “Skitch Henderson at 80,” Saturday at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, celebrates the 80th birthday of the New York Pops conductor. Mike Wallace and columnist Liz Smith host. Performers include Isaac Stern, Harolyn Blackwell and Steve Allen.

The Discovery Channel’s two-hour “Titanic Live” excursion, Sunday at 5 p.m., travels to the North Atlantic ocean floor to present the latest in research about the doomed ocean liner.

And speaking of Titanic, Fox Family Channel presents the documentary “Leo-Mania: DiCaprio’s Unauthorized Story,” also at 5 p.m.

Jerry Orbach hosts the NBC special “You Be the Judge,” Sunday at 7 p.m. on Channel 4. Viewers are presented with contradictory arguments involving three controversial issues dealing with guns, sexual harassment and high-speed chases.

HBO pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the death of the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth with a one-hour documentary, Sunday at 8 p.m. The program features vintage footage, photos and anecdotes from those who knew the Sultan of Swat and played with him.

Today

TBS kicks off its coverage of the PGA Championship golf tournament from Redmond, Wash., at 11:05 a.m. Round 2 is set for Friday at 11:05 a.m. Round 3 begins at 8:05 a.m. Saturday on TBS and continues on Channel 2 at 11 a.m. The final round is set for Sunday at 8 a.m. on TBS and 11 a.m. on Channel 2.

Michael Biehn stars in “The Ride,” at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 2, as a bull rider who discovers that his young protege is dying of cancer. The drama is from evangelist Billy Graham’s production company.

Friday

Greg Germann of “Ally McBeal” guests on AMC’s “Remember WENN,” at 7 and 10:30 p.m., as a motivational speaker who conducts an experiment at the radio station.

“Suddenly Susan” regular Kathy Griffin headlines HBO’s “The Round Midnight Special: Kathy Griffin: Hot Cup of Coffee,” a comedy program, at midnight.

Saturday

National Public Radio’s call-in quiz show, “Michael Feldman’s Whad’ya Know?,” makes the transition to the small screen in this pledge special at 2 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28.

Management expert Ken Blanchard hosts the motivational special “Gung Ho! Succeeding in a Changing World,” at 3:30 p.m. on Channel 28.

NFL football returns to CBS for the first time in four years as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks play at the American Bowl at Vancouver, Canada, at 5 p.m. on Channel 2.

“Monty Roberts: A Real Horse Whisperer,” at 5 p.m. on Channel 28, profiles the horse trainer who inspired the novel that led to the Robert Redford movie.

“Flanders & Swann,” at 7 p.m. on Channel 28, is a salute to the British songwriting team of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann.

Until the beginning of its 24th season, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” at 11:30 p.m. on Channel 4, will feature a compilation episode starring a different “SNL” star.

Sunday

“The Kidsongs Television Show” presents the special “Meet the Biggles” at 7 a.m. on Channel 28.

“The Best Bad Thing,” at 12:30 p.m. on Channel 28, is a family drama based on the second of an award-winning trilogy of novels by Japanese American writer Yoshiko Uchida.

Bravo looks at the popular AM deejays who played rock music on the radio in the ‘50s on “Rock ‘n’ Roll Invaders” at 4 and 10:05 p.m.

The Learning Channel kicks off its “Quest Week” programming--documentaries on searches for lost cities and cultures--at 6 p.m. with “Heaven’s Mirror,” a chronicle of the ancient understanding of astronomy. Following at 7 p.m. is “Forgotten Secrets,” which examines an advanced civilization from 11th century BC.

E! Entertainment Television counts down TV Guide’s best-dressed TV personalities on “TV Guide’s Best Dressed” at 7 p.m. It follows with the two-hour documentary “Traci Lords: The E! True Hollywood Story,” at 8 p.m.

Karim Prince and Tom Wilson star in the Fox Family Channel comedy “National Lampoon’s Men in White,” at 8 p.m.

Singer Nana Mouskouri performs her first American TV special, “Nana Mouskouri: Concert for Peace,” at 10 p.m. on Channel 28. The program was recorded last October at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.