NBC’s ‘Friends,’ ‘Homicide,’ ‘Profiler’ Wrap Up the Season

Three NBC series conclude their seasons with special episodes this weekend.

The popular comedy “Friends” finishes its fourth season at 8 tonight on Channel 4 with a one-hour cliffhanger surrounding Ross and Emily’s impending marriage in London. Phoebe, though, stays in New York to await the birth of her triplets. Sarah, the duchess of York; Jennifer Saunders; Tom Conti; and Hugh Laurie are among the guests.

The sixth-season finale of “Homicide: Life on the Street” airs Friday at 10 p.m. on Channel 4 with the Baltimore homicide detectives still trying to bring down the powerful Mahoney organization. This 100th episode also marks the departure of regulars Andre Braugher and Reed Diamond.

On Saturday, there is a two-hour finale of “Profiler,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 4, in which Dr. Waters (Ally Walker) and the violent crimes task force hunt down a sophisticated serial killer.

Elsewhere this weekend:

Today

Five talking puppies introduce footage of brave animals on ABC’s “The Puppies Present: Incredible Animal Tales,” at 8 p.m. on Channel 7.

Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski makes her professional debut on ABC’s “The 1998 Skate TV Championships,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. The rock ‘n’ roll competition also features Oksana Baiul and Katarina Witt.

Swoosie Kurtz guests on NBC’s “ER,” at 10 p.m. on Channel 4, playing a televangelist.

KCET presents “My America,” at 10 p.m. on Channel 28, an examination of what it means to be an Asian American in the U.S. today.

Friday

“Storm of the Century,” at 8 p.m. on Channel 4, is a “National Geographic” documentary chronicling the horrific 1993 storm that struck the eastern third of North America.

“The Wizard of Oz,” at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 2, makes its last trip down the Yellow Brick Road on CBS. After 39 years on network TV, the beloved 1939 musical fantasy will only air on Ted Turner’s cable channels. Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton and Toto, too, star.

Saturday

Fashion police Joan and Melissa Rivers host the “World of Awards Fashion Reviews” at 2 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.

The Learning Channel explores “The Chicago Seven: America on Trial,” at 7 p.m. The program recalls how the antiwar demonstration at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent four-day confrontation.

Cynthia Geary stars in the Movie Channel’s “The Awakening,” at 9 p.m., as the owner of a boardinghouse who meets a bounty hunter.

“HBO Boxing After Dark,” at 10:15 p.m. on HBO, presents Shane Mosely vs. John John Molina and David Reid vs. Nick Rupa.

Sunday

Estelle Harris, who plays George’s mom on “Seinfeld,” hosts the Sci-Fi Channel’s Mother’s Day double bill of “Psycho II” and “Psycho IV: The Beginning,” at noon.

A&E;’s “Biography” presents Peter Jones’ two-hour documentary “Charlie Chaplin: A Tramp’s Life,” at 5 and 9 p.m. The profile of the legendary star features home movies, interviews with family members and clips from his classic films, including “The Gold Rush,” “City Lights” and “The Great Dictator.”

E! Entertainment Television presents “John Denver: The E! True Hollywood Story,” at 8 p.m.

Dana Delany and Linda Hamilton star in the Barbra Streisand-produced “Rescuers: Stories of Courage,” at 8 p.m. on Showtime. The drama deals with non-Jews who rescued victims of the Holocaust.

Discovery Channel premieres its 1996 feature documentary “The Leopard Son,” at 8 p.m. Shot in Africa’s Serengeti National Park, the film follows a leopard cub as he grows up..

HBO’s maxiseries “From the Earth to the Moon” touches down with its two final episodes at 8 p.m.

Rob Morrow, Mathilda May and Marisa Tomei star in CBS’ “Only Love,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 2, a four-hour romantic drama based on a novel by Erich (“Love Story”) Segal. The conclusion airs Tuesday at 9 p.m.

PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre” premieres a four-hour adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s “Far From the Madding Crowd,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 28. The drama deals with a young woman (Paloma Baeza) who casts a spell on three men (Nathaniel Oak, Nigel Terry and Jonathan Firth).