WORTH NOTING ON TV

FRIDAY Great Performances (PBS, 9-10 p.m.): ``Richard Burton: In From the Cold.'' First of two programs about the actor who - despite his relentless world press - may never have realized his exciting potential (see preview coming in this section tomorrow). SATURDAY Kenny Rogers in Concert (PBS, 9-10:40 p.m.): The pop star's own hits - and they are many - along with songs of the season done by himself and others, make up this special taped last December at Atlanta's Fox Theatre.

SUNDAY A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (NBC, 7-8 p.m.): First of a two-part ``Magical World of Disney'' drama about a woman's battle to protect her son from gangs and drugs so he can get an education. Mrs. Thomas must have donesomething right - her son went on to become pro basketball's truly impressive Isaiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons.

MONDAY Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (A&E cable network, 9-10:30): BBC documentary claiming that FDR let the Japanese bombing attack happen, as a way of getting the US into World War II. It's an old notion, of course, and the film indulges in ``dramatic reconstructions.'' But there's also lots of fascinating real-life documentation.

Please check local listings for all programs, especially on PBS.