With 9/11 in Mind, Holiday’s TV Events to Emphasize Security

The first Independence Day since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will certainly be one of the most security-conscious in recent memory, with those repercussions to be felt by a few of the more than a dozen televised events planned to commemorate the holiday, running from early morning till well into the evening.

For the first time in its history, those attending PBS’ “Capitol Fourth 2002” celebration, which will be telecast Thursday from the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., will have to pass through metal detectors.

“We are probably at the No. 1 most vulnerable site,” said executive producer Jerry Colbert. “The whole Capitol police force--1,400 men--will be out for security. It’s going to be extremely tight. You need security, and in a way it makes me feel better. We have two perimeters audiences will have to go through, and the metal detectors.”

Both ABC and NBC will offer their own prime-time specials. Tom Yellin, executive producer of ABC’s three-hour “In Search of America: A July 4th Musical Celebration,” said the producers are in stand-by mode “for whatever happens” during the program, which visits Independence Day celebrations around the country, including New York, Boston, Dallas, and Livingston, Mont.

“We have all kind of contingency plans, but I hope and believe that won’t be something we will have to use,” said Yellin.

Actually, Independence Day programming kicks off tonight with “Ultimate Guide: Fireworks,” a Discovery Channel documentary on mankind’s centuries-old love affair with fireworks, from the first Chinese firecrackers of 1,000 years ago to the modern multicolored displays.

Here’s a look at some of the special programming scheduled for Thursday to capitalize on the holiday:

* “Fawlty Towers”: For those still mourning England’s loss of the American colonies, BBC America is featuring a marathon of all 12 episodes of the classic John Cleese British comedy series in which he plays a most disagreeable hotel manager, beginning at 8 a.m.

* “Military Diaries”: VH1 celebrates the holiday with four back-to-back episodes of its new weekly series that features daily video dairies recorded by sailors, soldiers and pilots in the Army, Navy and Marines, starting at 9 a.m.

* “All American Festivals”: Chef Tyler Florence hosts a marathon of behind-the-scenes looks at regional specialties and related celebrations, 10 a.m. on the Food Network.

* “Discovery Channel Marathon”: The cable outlet presents a marathon of Americana programming, beginning at 10 a.m. with “Niagara Falls: Raging Rapids” and concluding at 7 p.m. with “Pentagon.”

* “Thanks for Giving”: Premiere of a musical “thank you” to the world---a collaboration between Carly Simon, her sister, Lucy, Lucy’s daughter, Julie, and the children of fireman, policemen and rescue workers. Nickelodeon and N will simulcast the video at 3:15 p.m., repeating it every hour until 8:15 p.m.

* “Inside the Pentagon”: The filmmakers were allowed into some of the Pentagon’s most sensitive areas for this portrait of the American institution, airing at 5 and 8 p.m. on National Geographic Channel, which will also run “The Best of America,” a special edition of “National Geographic Today” examining the things America loves best about itself.

* “Pops Goes the Fourth!”: Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra perform from the banks of Beantown’s Charles River in this annual holiday celebration, playing at 7:30 p.m. on A&E.; Barry Manilow, Maureen McGovern, Miss America Katie Marie Hartman, and the West Point Hellcats drum and bugle corps are the special guests.

* “In Search of America: A July 4th Musical Celebration”: A three-hour prime-time special anchored by ABC News’ Peter Jennings pays tribute to Independence Day through its rich musical history. Performers include Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Hank Williams Jr and the Boston Pops.

* “A Capitol Fourth 2002”: Barry Bostwick is the host of the nation’s birthday party from the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Richard Chamberlain, Erich Kunzel, and the National Symphony Orchestra are among the performers, at 8 p.m. on KCET and KVCR, also followed on the latter by “Rediscovering George Washington,” a 90-minute documentary promising a “fresh look” at the U.S.’s first president.

* “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks”: New York City’s Independence Day celebrations, with fireworks and patriotic music, at 9 p.m. on NBC.