[ No headline ]

*SATURDAY

Skates of Gold II (NBC, 8-10 p.m.): TV is replete with figure-skating exhibitions these days, but if you're looking for something special, you can safely settle on this show. To participate, a skater can't be merely an Olympic medalist but a gold medalist. When the first ''Skates of Gold'' was held last year in Boston, the audience gave standing ovations to the skaters, who had come together on the ice for the first time.

Nineteen gold medalists compete in this year's event, including winners from the Olympics of 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994. Among them: Oksana Baiul, Brian Boitano, Katarina Witt, Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Viktor Petrenko.

They perform production numbers grouped by discipline (Men's, Ladies', Ice Dancing, and Pairs). The moves were choreographed by JoJo Starbuck, two-time US Olympian and US Pairs Champion.

*SUNDAY

Daytona 500 (CBS, Noon to 3:45 p.m., EST): It's not quite the Indianapolis 500 -- that comes in May. But even viewers who aren't crazy about watching cars go round and round for almost four hours may find some excitement in this race from Florida's Daytona International Speedway. The 37th edition of the classic event -- 200 laps of the 2.5-mile course -- features 40 or so top drivers of the NASCAR class competing for a winner's purse that last year topped a quarter of a million dollars.

CBS has again installed tiny, remote-controlled cameras in some of the cars, offering not only driver's-eye views but also shots from the rear and elsewhere.

A man who often viewed victory from the driver's seat provides some of the analysis: legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty -- ''The King'' -- who has made a record 32 starts at Daytona and won a record seven times.

Please check local listings for these programs.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0217/17112.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe