Worth Noting on TV

SATURDAY

Great Books Marathon (Learning Channel, 9 a.m.-3 a.m. next morning): Bibliophiles take note: Donald Sutherland narrates this marathon journey through such classics as Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," and Joseph Heller's "Catch 22."

Avonlea (Disney, 6-7 p.m.): The Emmy-winning family drama begins its final season with Felicity mourning the loss of Gus.

SUNDAY

The West (PBS, 8-9:30 p.m.): Stephen Ives and Ken Burns ("Baseball," "The Civil War") take a look at the American West. In 12-1/2 of the most worthwhile hours on TV, the series spans 1500 to 1914 and covers millions of miles of territory. Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, "The West" weaves together newsreels, photographs, and diaries - with context provided by historians and authors. Most notable is Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist N. Scott Momaday. Actors Matthew Broderick, Jason Robards, Mary Stuart Masterson, Jimmy Smits, Ossie Davis, and Gary Sinise provide voices. The eight-part series runs through Sept. 19 and then finishes Sept. 22-24.

London Suite (NBC, 9-11 p.m.): Neil Simon interweaves four stories in his final sequel to "Plaza Suite." TV stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kelsey Grammer, and Michael Richards head the ensemble cast.

MONDAY

Murphy Brown (CBS, 9-9:30 p.m.): Lily Tomlin joins the FYI team as the news show scrambles to replace Miles (Grant Shaud), who left at the end of last season.

Cybill (CBS, 9:30-10 p.m.): Cybill really brings home the bacon in this season-opener when her character steals a pig from her new show. Dom DeLuise guest stars.

TUESDAY

Frasier (NBC, 9-9:30 p.m.): Niles (David Hyde Pierce) is only too happy to oblige when Daphne (Jane Leeves) has him pose as her husband to help her brush off her ex-fianc in the season-opener.

*Please check local listings for these programs.