Amusing yourself with facts on scary rides; ‘Annie’ gets a Disney premiere

From the first American roller coaster to the stomach-dropping turbo lifts and drops of today, take a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the world’s scariest rides in the premiere of The Secret World of Amusement Parks (The Learning Channel, Sunday, 6 and 9 p.m.). Ages 8 to adult.

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Annie, the feel-good musical about that spunky, redheaded orphan (Aileen Quinn), comes to the Disney Channel for the first time. This family perennial is highlighted by Carol Burnett’s deliciously mean Miss Hannigan and performances by Albert Finney, Tim Curry and Ann Reinking, (Disney Channel, Tuesday, 8:15 p.m.). For the family.

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In a sensitive forum marking the premiere of Linda Ellerbee’s Nick News Special Edition: Divorce Happens (Tuesday, 8 p.m.; repeats Jan. 18, 8:30 p.m.), kids talk about their fear, confusion and anger when divorce changes their lives. The young ones hear how to deal with the experience and not feel so alone, while parents get some guidance in helping kids cope. For the family.

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An evil troll captures an orphan to replace his lost daughter and gives her impossible tasks to perform and a magic white lion holds the key to her ultimate destiny, in this week’s Jim Henson’s the Storyteller episode, “The True Bride,” with John Hurt, Brian Henson, Jane Horrocks and Sean Bean. (HBO, Wednesday, 5:50 a.m.; repeats Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. and throughout the month). Ages 6 and up.

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What would Alexander Graham Bell have thought of call waiting? That’s anybody’s guess, but viewers can meet the remarkable inventor of the telephone when he’s spotlighted in this week’s episode of “Animated Hero Classics,” the series that profiles inventors, explorers, presidents and pioneers (HBO, Saturday, 7 a.m.) Ages 7 and up.