New Season Roll-Out Continues

Several veterans and a batch of new series help ring in the fall season this weekend.

NBC’s “must see TV” lineup kicks off a new season at 8 tonight with the fifth season premiere of “Friends,” on Channel 4. Following at 8:30 p.m. is the new comedy “Jesse,” with Christina Applegate ; “Frasier” takes over the “Seinfeld” slot at 9 p.m.; “Veronica’s Closet” returns for its sophomore year at 9:30 p.m.; and “ER” is back at 10 p.m. for its fifth season.

CBS’ popular mystery series, “Diagnosis Murder,” kicks off its sixth season with a special two-hour premiere, tonight at 9 p.m. on Channel 2. Dick Van Dyke stars.

The CBS reality-based shows “Kids Say the Darndest Things” and “Candid Camera” return for their second season, beginning Friday at 8 p.m. on Channel 2. Following at 9 p.m. is the premiere of the lighthearted detective series “Buddy Faro,” starring Dennis Farina. “Nash Bridges” launches its fourth season premiere at 10 p.m.

ABC also unveils its “TGIF” lineup Friday at 8 p.m. with the new sitcom starring the Olsen twins, “Two of a Kind.”

ABC unveils its new and very quirky version of “Fantasy Island,” Saturday at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. This time around, Malcolm McDowell plays Mr. Roarke. Barry Sonnenfeld (“Men in Black”) is the executive producer. At 10 p.m. is the new romantic series “Cupid,” starring Jeremy Piven as a man who believes he is the god of love.

“Saturday Night Live,” Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on Channel 4, celebrates its 24th season with host Cameron Diaz and musical guests the Smashing Pumpkins. Jimmy Fallon, Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz are joining the cast.

The new syndicated series “Highlander: The Raven,” Sunday at 3 p.m. on Channel 13, is a spinoff of “The Highlander.” In this series, a 1,200-year-old thief (Elizabeth Gracen) teams up with an ex-cop to fight injustice.

Pamela Anderson Lee returns to TV in the syndicated action series “V.I.P.,” Sunday at 5 p.m. on Channel 11. She plays the head of a Beverly Hills bodyguard service.

CNN’s “Cold War,” Sunday at 5 p.m., is a 24-part series that traces the military and ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Kenneth Branagh narrates.

Mark Dacascos plays a murdered musician who tries to set things right on Earth so he can reunite with his dead lover on the syndicated drama “The Crow: Stairway to Heaven,” Sunday at midnight on Channel 9.

Documentary

“Living With Cancer: A Message of Hope,” tonight at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, is a one-hour documentary narrated by Anne Bancroft that features physicians, family members and patients discussing their disease, its treatment and the chance of leading a healthy life afterward.

Mariel Hemingway narrates a a two-hour A&E; “Biography” on her famous grandfather, Ernest Hemingway, Sunday at 5 and 9 p.m.

Movies

A&E; presents another “Dalziel and Pascoe” mystery movie, Friday at 7 and 10 p.m. This time around the detectives help a coal miner discover the truth about his father’s death. The conclusion airs next Friday.

Matt Battalgia headlines the Movie Channel actioner “Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms,” Saturday at 9 p.m. It is based on the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie.

Reba McEntire, Tim Matheson and Bess Armstrong headline the CBS movie “Forever Love,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 2. In this drama, McEntire plays a woman who awakens from a 20-year coma.