Holiday Parade, Concerts and an ‘American Hero’ Spark Lineup

The Special Olympics, a salute to Dustin Hoffman and numerous Fourth of July specials light up this holiday weekend TV viewing.

The History Channel presents 12 consecutive hours of its “Civil War Journal” series, today at 6 a.m.

Billy Crystal hosts the opening ceremony of the “1999 Special Olympics,” tonight at 8 on ABC.

“American Film Institute Salute to Dustin Hoffman,” tonight at 9 on ABC, celebrates the career of the two-time Oscar-winning star of “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Rain Man.” Hoffman is the 27th recipient of the AFI’s Life Achievement Award. Anne Bancroft, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Katherine Ross and Jessica Lange are among those praising the actor.

The Discovery Channel explores how poaching has nearly destroyed the Siberian tiger on “In the Shadow of the Tiger,” Saturday at 8 p.m.

Harry Smith C examines the history of the Declaration of Independence on the History Channel’s “Save Our History,” Saturday at 9 p.m.

Deborah Norville, who was a Junior Miss in 1976, hosts TNN’s coverage of the 42nd annual “America’s Junior Miss,” Saturday at 9 p.m. The winner will earn a medallion for her achievements in class and extracurricular activities.

Richard Dreyfuss hosts the History Channel’s “The Great American History Quiz,” Saturday at 10 p.m.

KOCE-TV presents the “Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade,” Sunday at 3 p.m. The parade features 350 parade entries, film and television personalities, marching bands and equestrian units.

Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra from the Hatch Shell on the banks of Boston’s Charles River on A&E;’s “Pop Goes the Fourth! ‘99,” Sunday at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Barry Bostwick and the Temptations are among the performers participating in the holiday musical celebration “A Capitol Fourth,” Sunday at 5 p.m. on KOCE and 8 p.m. on KCET-TV and KVCR-TV.

KCET offers an updated “John Glenn, American Hero,” Sunday at 9:30 p.m. The documentary chronicles the life of the first American to orbit in space and the eldest person to go into space.

“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks,” Sunday at 11 p.m. on KTLA, features fireworks from New York.

Series

Clare Wilkie and Victoria Smurfit star in the Victorian soap opera “Berkeley Square,” Friday at 9 p.m. on KCET. The drama deals with three diverse women working as nannies in London in 1902.

The World Skating League concludes its first season on TNN’s “Rollerjam” with playoffs, Friday at 9 p.m.

Dan Lauria and Mykelti Williamson headline Showtime’s “The Hoop Life,” Sunday at 10 p.m. The new dramatic series deals with the professional and personal lives of a fictional pro basketball team.

Sports

NBC presents coverage of the women’s and men’s tennis finals of Wimbledon, Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 6 a.m.

Movies

Turner Classic Movies kicks off its two-month film noir festival “Summer of Darkness” with the 1941 Humphrey Bogart classic “The Maltese Falcon,” Friday at 5 p.m. His 1950 gem, “In a Lonely Place,” follows at 7. The festival continues Friday and Saturday through Aug. 28.

American Movie Classic rings in the Fourth of July with its “Camp AMC” film festival, Sunday at 5 a.m. The marathon features such campy flicks as “Abominable Dr. Phibes,” “The Swinger” and “Fathom.”