WNBA Takes Center Court in Sports

It’s a big weekend for sports on television--especially women’s sports, when a new women’s basketball league, the WNBA, tips off Saturday.

Starting things off at 7 tonight, Geena Davis will host the Lifetime special “Breaking Through: Our Turn to Play,” which examines what has been achieved in women’s sports since Congress passed Title IX in 1972--legislation that required schools to equally fund male and female athletic programs.

ESPN kicks off the third annual “X Games,” Friday at 4:30 p.m. The games feature 37 hours of bicycle stunt riding, in-line skating, sky-surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, sport-climbing, street luge racing and the X-Venture Race, a multistage endurance test. The one-hour preview on Friday is followed by an “X” edition of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports,” Saturday at 2 p.m. on Channel 7. Daily coverage continues on ESPN and ESPN2 through June 28.

With the NBA Finals now over, the women take the court as the WNBA begins its first season. In the opening game, scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. on Channel 4, Rebecca Lobo leads the New York Liberty against Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks. NBC, ESPN and Lifetime will carry 32 games throughout the summer.

Today

The Nashville Network presents “Reba McEntire Pro Celebrity Rodeo,” at 5 p.m. The second annual music and rodeo celebration honors the late Oscar-winning actor Ben Johnson. Included are riding and roping competitions and appearances by such celebrities as Richard Farnsworth, Brad Johnson and Anne Lockhart.

Bravo’s “Perfect Harmony,” at 7 and 10 p.m., offers an inside view at the famed Tanglewood Music Center. Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will host.

Friday

Tawny Little and Alex Trebek are the hosts of “Ragtime: The American Premiere,” at 8 p.m. on KCOP-TV Channel 13. The special looks at the new musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s historical novel and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes peek at how the production, which just opened at the Shubert Theatre, came together.

ABC offers “Hercules: From Zero to Hero,” at 9:30 p.m. on Channel 7, previewing Disney’s 35th full-length animated feature.

“Positive Life With HIV,” at 11:30 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, focuses on the challenges and triumphs of people living with the virus that causes AIDS.

Saturday

Paul Mercurio and Michael York headline the Sci-Fi Channel’s thriller “Dark Planet,” at 6 p.m.

KCET repeats the acclaimed World War I documentary “The Great War,” 6 to 11 p.m. on Channel 28. It will air at the same time Sunday.

The Learning Channel presents “Howard Hughes,” a documentary on the reclusive, eccentric billionaire, at 7 and 10 p.m.

Mark Curry’s ABC sitcom “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” returns to the lineup with 13 new episodes, at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 7.

Rob Lowe stars in the Movie Channel’s black comedy “Living in Peril,” at 9 p.m. The former Brat Packer plays a Seattle architect on assignment in Los Angeles. Jim Belushi and Dean Stockwell also star.

“The RuPaul Show” begins a second season of chat, music and comedy at 11 p.m. on VH1. The series will air Mondays through Saturdays.

Sunday

“The Gladys Knight Show” at 4 p.m. on Channel 2 features comedy, music and one-on-one interviews with heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, singer Kathy Mattea and comedian Jamie Foxx.

Bravo’s “Expose” series offers “The Heck With Hollywood,” at 4 and 11 p.m. The documentary chronicles four years in the lives of three first-time independent filmmakers.

Leslie Nielsen will host “National Geographic Explorer’s Savage Garden,” at 4 p.m. on TBS. The lighthearted documentary reveals some of the bizarre and strange critters that live in our backyard.

USA’s “Sunday Night Heat” heralds the network’s new Sunday night lineup featuring “Pacific Blue” at 8 p.m., “Silk Stalkings” at 9 p.m., new episodes of “La Femme Nikita” at 10 p.m. and “The Big Easy” at 11 p.m.

Rutger Hauer stars in the Family Channel’s version of Jack London’s classic adventure “The Call of the Wild,” at 9 p.m. Richard Dreyfuss narrates.

CBS repeats the 1994 four-hour drama “The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 2. Based on the book by Allan Gurganus, the drama traces 100 years in the life of a woman. It stars Diane Lane, Donald Sutherland, Anne Bancroft and Cicely Tyson, who won an Emmy for her role. The movie concludes Tuesday at 9 p.m.

The Disney Channel’s “LeAnn Rimes in Concert,” at 7 p.m., offers the 14-year-old country music star in concert at Walt Disney World. Also included is footage of Rimes enjoying the rides at the theme park.

Comedy Central’s “Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist” starts a new season of 13 episodes at 10 p.m. Ray Romano and Dave Chappelle are the guest voices.