Guest Stars Make It a Sweep Choice

As any astute couch potato knows, we’re in the midst of a sweeps month, one of those set-the-VCR periods when the networks eagerly deliver high-profile projects aimed at juicing their ratings.

During such a month, it’s hard to wield the remote without stumbling over a guest star or two, some more notable than others. Tonight’s schedule brings appearances by John Cleese on “3rd Rock From the Sun” (8:30 p.m. NBC), Edward Asner on “Dharma & Greg” (9 p.m. ABC) and Richard Crenna on “Judging Amy” (10 p.m. CBS).

Don’t cheer all at once.

“Monty Python” farceur Cleese returns to “3rd Rock” as Dick’s rival, an alien who’s secretly writing love letters to Mary (Jane Curtin) in the first of a two-part episode.

Asner, who still hates spunk after all those years on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” plays a fellow who lost a bag of cash long ago.

Crenna resurfaces as Jarred, the wealthy guy who likes Amy’s tough-minded mother Maxine (Tyne Daly). The bad news is that Jarred’s flight disappears en route to a vacation in China. Bad news, that is, if you’re Maxine.

Surf Report

SERIES

Sarah Michelle Gellar and the gang hightail it out of Sunnydale after malevolent Glory discovers that Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) is the long-sought Key on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (8 p.m. WB). And Dawn learns she has the power to destroy the universe. Teens should never have that kind of clout!

“Three Sisters” (9:30 p.m. NBC) got off to a strong start in the ratings following “Frasier,” then faltered opposite ABC’s “What About Joan.” In its season finale, “Sisters” finds nice guy Steven (David Alan Basche) becoming a confidant to a couple of the feuding sibs (A.J. Langer and Vicki Lewis).

SPORTS

The Lakers play host to the Sacramento Kings in Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference semifinals (7:30 p.m. Fox Sports Net).

MOVIES

Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore star in “A Map of the World” (9 p.m. USA), a 1999 drama about two women brought together by a tragic accident in a small rural town.