What's On

October 30, 1997

TV highlights for the week of Nov. 2-8. All times are Eastern; check local listings. Ratings are listed for shows when available.

SUNDAY - 11/2

Eastwood on Eastwood (TNT, 7-8:30 p.m.): If Clint Eastwood is the kinda guy who makes your day, this retrospective narrated by actor John Cusack has footage from his early TV westerns to his latest film, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which opens next month. It is also Eastwood in his own words. Asked if Dirty Harry is a fascist, he explains: "No matter what, I just love this character.... He's called Dirty Harry because somehow all the dirty work comes to him." Unfortunately, this documentary lacks the depth of the book it was based on: "Clint Eastwood: A Biography" by Richard Schickel. (TV-PG)

Wonderful World of Disney: Cinderella (ABC, 7-9 p.m.): A classic fairy tale modernized for the 1990s, and it isn't your typical blue-eyed, blond-haired Ken and Barbie story either. Its colorful cast includes black pop star Brandy ("Moesha") as Cinderella; Paolo Montalban, a young Filipino actor, as Prince Charming; and superstar Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother, who lights up the screen with her voice and magic. The only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical written for television, the two-hour show might be a tad boring and slow for young children, but they will no doubt find Brandy and Houston enchanting. Adding their own brand of wit and humor is Whoopi Goldberg, the prince's mother, and Jason Alexander as his assistant. Bernadette Peters plays a feisty, and of course demanding, stepmom. (TV-G)

Before Women Had Wings (ABC, 9-11 p.m.): Based on a book by Connie May Fowler, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Barkin star in this drama set in northern Florida. (TV-14)

Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest (CBS, 9-11 p.m.): After a year's vacation, Angela Lansbury returns to her starring role as mystery writer Jessica Fletcher. On a train trip from Los Angeles to El Paso, Texas, Fletcher briefly befriends Sarah McLeish (Mel Harris), a murder witness under protective custody. The witness vanishes and the sleuth gets off the train, somewhere in the backwoods of Arizona. The intrigue builds. The mystery is solved - without gore or gunfire. The first in a series of new TV movies featuring Jessica Fletcher. (TV-PG)

MONDAY - 11/3

Jim Henson's the Storyteller - Greek Myths (HBO, 7:30-8 p.m.): If you've ever wondered what the difference is between Medusa and Pegasus, Orpheus and Theseus, or are just fascinated with Greek mythology, then tune into Jim Henson's final series. The first 30-minute show, "Perseus & the Gorgon," tells the story of how Perseus proves his mettle by beheading Medusa (whose stare turns men into stone). Michael Gambon is the host, and Brian Henson puppeteers the storyteller's dog. Additional shows will air on subsequent Mondays at the same time: "Orpheus & Eurydice;" Theseus & the Minotaur"; and "Daedalus & Icarus." (TV-PG)

George & Leo (ABC, 9-9:30 p.m.): "The Cameo Show" (which is airing a half-hour earlier than its usual time slot) features 20 former castmates of Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch from "Newhart," "Taxi," "The Bob Newhart Show," and "Dear John." The program begins with a charity auction, where Leo (Hirsch) wins a van and uses it to run a taxi/tour-guide service. Meanwhile, George (Newhart), wins a therapy session where he bumps into Jack Riley, John Fiedler, and Marcia Wallace (of "The Bob Newhart Show"). (TV-PG)

NFL Football (ABC, 9 p.m.-12 midnight): The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs go into this game with an identical 6-2 record for this season. Both teams have made big plays. Will the Steelers prove their mettle, or will the Chiefs take charge?

TUESDAY - 11/4

Lewis & Clark: the Journey of the Corps of Discovery (PBS, 8-10 p.m.): Ken Burns's two-part documentary recounts the 1804-06 exploration of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The second part airs Wednesday at the same time. (See story, left.) (TV-G)

WEDNESDAY - 11/5

Family Video Diaries - Daughter of the Bride (HBO, 7:30-8 p.m.): How would you feel if one of your parents remarried later in life after the death of a spouse? Documentary filmmaker Terri Randall captures it all on tape. She takes a look at how her mother dealt with the death of her husband of 42 years, found comfort in a support group, and fell in love again - all within a year. With her siblings still dealing with the loss of their father, Randall shows how they dealt with the new man in their mother's life. (TV-G)

FRIDAY - 11/7

Skin Deep (PBS, 9-10 p.m.): A timely peek into the complex and unrelenting issue of racism. About 20 university students from a wide spectrum of geographic and ethnic backgrounds participate in this interracial dialogue. Most of the revelations are, well, "we heard them before." But the open-minded exchange is refreshing.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Wonderful World of Disney: Cinderella

Sunday, Nov. 2, 7-9 p.m. (ABC)

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