What's On

June 5, 1997

PICK OF THE WEEK

PBS Double-Header

Tuesday, June 10

Frontline, 9-10 p.m.

P.O.V., 10-11 p.m.

TV highlights for the week of June 8-14. All times are Eastern; check local listings. Ratings are listed for shows when available.

SUNDAY - 6/8

French Open (NBC, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.): The men's final match airs live from Paris as the tennis Grand Slam event wraps up.

Muppet Treasure Island (Disney, 7-8:40 p.m.): This hilarious adaptation of the classic has Kermit sporting a tattoo, Rizzo turning a pirate ship into "The Love Boat," and a musical number worthy of Carmen Miranda. But what do you expect when the voyage's main backer is Fozzie Bear? Tim Curry is terrific as Long John Silver. (TV-G)

The Shawshank Redemption (TNT, 8-11 p.m.): The highly praised 1994 film, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, makes its network debut. Based on a Stephen King tale, it tells a moving but disturbing story about prison inmates. (TV-14)

MONDAY - 6/9

The Ruby Wax Show (Fox, 8:30-9 p.m.): Ruby Wax, a cross between Barbara Walters and Howard Stern, has been conducting off-the-wall interviews with celebs on her British talk show for years. In her US debut, she builds a quick rapport with Bette Midler, but her crass interviewing style could make even Mr. Stern blush. (TV-14)

TUESDAY - 6/10

Frontline (PBS, 9-10 p.m.): "Easy Money" takes a hard look at one of America's popular adult pastimes. Last year, Americans spent more than $500 billion on gambling. "Twenty years ago, gambling was a no-no," says former casino owner Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. "Now it's no different than going to the Metropolitan Opera." Even the federal government is getting a piece of the gambling pie: The Justice Department owned controlling interest in a casino where money-laundering and drug deals allegedly went down. The general manager of the casino used profits that went toward fighting gambling regulation in California.

P.O.V. (PBS, 10-11 p.m.): Women are not welcome in top preaching posts in Southern Baptist churches, and this enlightening program explains why. Conservative leaders say the Bible tells them so; critics contend these men are picking and choosing what they take verbatim from the Bible's pages. Novice filmmaker Steven Lipscomb offers a candid look at Southern Baptists, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

Cracker: White Ghost (A&E, 9-11 p.m.): Robbie Coltrane makes his last scheduled appearance, as his quick-witted, corpulent forensic scientist hits the road for Hong Kong. Fitz is in fine form as he battles wits with a colonial killer just months before the island returns to China. This fall, Robert Pastorelli ("Murphy Brown") will be trying his hand at the role when CBS airs its own version of "Cracker." (TV-14)

WEDNESDAY - 6/11

New Explorers (PBS, 8-9 p.m.): The documentary's season-ender focuses on new innovations in gentling wild mustangs.

THURSDAY - 6/12

US Open (ESPN, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; NBC, 3-5 p.m.; ESPN, 5-7:30 p.m.): Will Tiger Woods go two for two at the second of golf's Big Four events in Bethesda, Md.? Play continues through the weekend.

FRIDAY - 6/13

June Bugs (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m.-Sunday 8 p.m.): It's rabbit season! The fifth week-long tribute to the wascally wabbit culminates in this 48-hour marathon of all Bugs, all the time.

SATURDAY - 6/14

Path to Paradise: the Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing (HBO, 8-9:25 p.m.): Peter Gallagher stars in this docudrama about events surrounding the bombing, including mistakes the FBI, police, and terrorists made. Most surprising is the number of times the Muslim extremists came in contact with authorities before the bombing.

TV-Y All Children

TV-Y7 Directed to Older Children

TV-G General Audience

TV-PG Parental Guidance Suggested

TV-14 Parents Strongly Cautioned

TV-M Mature Audience Only