Early Morning to Late Night, Sunday Is Oscar’s Big Day

Have plenty of blank tape ready for your VCR this Sunday. The whole day will be devoted to the 71st Annual Academy Awards. The ceremony may not be airing until 5:30 p.m., but there are plenty of live pre-shows and post-ceremony specials to keep you glued to your TV set.

Steve Kmetko and Todd Newton are among the hosts on E! Entertainment TV’s six-hour “Countdown to the Academy Awards,” beginning Sunday at 9 a.m. At 3 p.m., Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa greet the arrivals. The post-Oscar celebration is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Sam Rubin and Leanza Cornett host KTLA’s “Live From the Academy Awards,” Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Also beginning at 3:30 p.m. is KABC’s “An Evening at the Academy Awards,” hosted by Roger Ebert. At 9:30 p.m., the movie critic gives thumbs up to the winners.

ABC begins its coverage with the “Oscar Preview Show” at 5 p.m. Academy Award winner Geena Davis is the host.

Whoopi Goldberg returns as host of “The 71st Annual Academy Awards,” at 5:30 p.m. on ABC. “Shakespeare in Love” and “Saving Private Ryan” are the top nominees.

Bill Maher and his guests wax comedic about the Academy Awards on “Politically Incorrect After Party,” at 11:30 p.m. on ABC.

Specials

Bravo examines the renaissance of Gaelic music on “Celtic Tides,” tonight at 5 and 8.

Sander Vanocur hosts “The Harry Award,” tonight at 6 on the History Channel. The first awards show honors the best historical movie of the year.

Linda Eder of Broadway’s “Jekyll & Hyde” fame performs jazz standards and show tunes on “Linda Eder in Concert,” Friday at 9 p.m. on KCET-TV.

The Independent Film Channel presents the 14th annual Independent Spirit Awards, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Queen Latifah hosts the awards, broadcast live from Santa Monica.

The Cartoon Network presents the eight-hour “Greatest Cartoon Countdown” marathon, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m.

Susan Sarandon, Elizabeth Taylor and Celine Dion will probably shed a few tears on “The Barbara Walters Special,” Sunday at approximately 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

Movies

Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff star in “Earthly Possessions,” Saturday at 8 p.m. on HBO. The comedy, based on Anne Tyler’s novel, deals with a bored housewife who is taken hostage by a young, inept bank robber.

Series

The Sci-Fi Channel unveils its new series, “First Wave,” Friday at 7 and 11 p.m. Sebastian Spence stars as a man who uncovers a conspiracy of alien infiltration on Earth.

The occult series “Poltergeist: The Legacy” moves from Showtime to the Sci-Fi Channel for its fourth season, at 8 p.m. Derek de Lint, Helen Shaver and Robi Chong star.

The cable network rounds out its new evening of series at 9 p.m. with the adventure “Far Scape,” from Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment.

On ABC’s “One Saturday Morning,” Saturday at 7:30 a.m., Pepper Ann goes with her mother and aunt to a woman’s retreat.

“The E! True Hollywood Story” profiles screenwriter Joe Eszterhaus, Sunday at 5 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.

The bimonthly gay and lesbian newsmagazine “In the Life,” Sunday at 11 p.m. on KCET-TV, looks at AIDS in the African American community and the misconceptions about bisexuals.