TV SEPTEMBER 12-18 PAGE 9 THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS 8 p.m. ABC LOIS CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN Premieres begin in earnest this week as ABC launches a large chunk of its new programming, beginning with an updated, '90s version of "Superman." Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher star as the newspaper reporting team of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, with romantic tension and feats of heroism supplied by Kent's second identity, Superman. 7 p.m. FOX TOWNSEND TELEVISION Actor-director Robert Townsend moves to network television to revive the variety show format. Townsend, best known for his film "Hollywood Shuffle," will use his creative talents to bring a contemporary slant to various musical numbers, sketches and film pieces.
8 p.m. NBC SEAQUEST DSV Set in the year 2018, Steven Spielberg's science-fiction series cruises into the weekly schedule tonight. Roy Scheider stars as Nathan Bridger, the captain of a deep-sea leviathan that protects undersea colonies and researches the ocean. In the two-hour premiere, Bridger must deal with the former captain who was stripped of her command and now seeks revenge. MONDAY 8 p.m.
CBS EVENING SHADE Herman (Michael Jeter) stirs up some more trouble in this episode. Thinking that he has booked John Denver for Taylor's (Jay R. Ferguson) graduation ceremony, Herman is more than surprised when Bob Denver arrives. Bob Denver gueststars as himself. 9 p.m.
ESPN END OF SUMMER BEACH BLOWOUT It's summer's last hurrah as sun worshipers hit the beaches in Clearwater, to compete in beach volleyball, water skiing and surfing. Not to be outdone by the sunny south, New York is the host site for the American Double Dutch League World Championship rope jumping finals. 8 p.m. FOX MOVIE: JUST ONE OF THE GIRLS Corey Haim dons a dress to avoid a bully in this world premiere movie. While enrolling in a prestigious music program, Haim manages to anger the school bully.
Haim manages to sneak into school as a female student only to gain the confidence of the cheerleader that he is chasing. 9 p.m. NBC MOVIE: SECRETS NBC continues a tradition with the rebroadcast of this 1992 adaptation of the Danielle Steel novel. Last season's airing of "Daddy" and "Palomino" brought in good ratings for the network. Tonight, Christopher Plummer and Stephanie Beacham co-star in this saga that delves into the private lives of the stars of a hot new television series.
TUESDAY 8:30 p.m. ABC PHENOM Judith Light, formerly of "Who's the Boss," returns to prime time in this comedy as the mom of a normal teen-age girl (Angela Goethals) who happens to show potential as a star tennis player. William Devane also returns to play Lou Del La Rosa, an overbearing, yet almost loveable, tennis coach who spots the teen's abilities and sets his sights on making her a champion. 10 p.m. ABC OTHER EPIDEMIC: WHAT EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER Produced by Linda Ellerbee's innovative Lucky Duck Productions, this special profiles a number of women who have fought breast cancer and how they have coped with the disease.
Ellerbee serves as host, and she will provide information throughout the program regarding prevention, treatments and support. 9 p.m. CBS MOVIE: DISTANT COUSINS Escaped mental patients pursue a murderous dream in this premiere TV-movie. Harry Young and his girlfriend Connie (David Keith and Marg Helgenberger) ingratiate themselves with the Sullivan family before trying to take over their lives. Mel Harris, William Katt and Brian Bonsall star as Kate, Richard and Alex Sullivan.
8:30 p.m. FOX BAKERSFIELD, P.D. Giancarlo Esposito and Ron Eldard star as an offbeat police team in the mythical California town of Bakersfield. Filmed without a laugh track, this "male bonding" sitcom is a welcome relief to the endless dreck of formula television programs. A fine cast of supporting characters makes this show enjoyable to watch.
8 p.m. NBC SAVED BY THE BELL: THE COLLEGE YEARS The graduates of Bayside High are now freshmen at California University. In the first episode, Zack, Screech and Slater discover they share the same suite with three girls. With new classes, problems, friends and a very large resident director, the guys will find college much different from high school. WEDNESDAY 9 p.m.
AMERICAN JUSTICE Through prohibition, the 9 p.m. 9 p.m. NBC ABC SEINFELD government's backfired attempt at legislating morality, organized crime got its start in the United States. Based on the book "Blood and Power" by historian Stephen Fox, this series chronicles the rise of organized crime from its origins in Sicily to its current foothold as one of the most powerful criminal forces. HOME IMPROVEMENT This season's premiere finds Jill (Patricia Richardson) in a contemplative mood.
She asks Tim (Tim Allen) about the possibility of having another child. Knowing she will not be easily swayed from the idea, he tries everything in his limited arsenal to try and discourage her thoughts of adding one more to the Taylor household. 9:30 p.m. ABC MOON OVER MIAMI The new series launches tonight with the pilot episode, which joins Walter Tatum and Gwen Cross (Bill Campbell, Ally Walker) as Miami private investigators. Walter is a soft-spoken kind of guy who takes on the impetuous heiress Gwen after she abandons her father's wealth and skips out on her wedding.
The apparent mismatch makes for interesting viewing. 10 p.m. CBS 48 HOURS The 1993-1994 broadcast season of this award-winning, in-depth, single-topic news magazine opens with an examination of American youths' deadly love affair with guns. Dan Rather anchors "Our Kids Armed and Dangerous." Staff correspondents include Phil Jones, Erin Moriarty and Richard Schlesinger. THURSDAY 8 p.m.
THE REAL WEST "The Final Clash: Wounded Knee" chronicles the 1890 battle between American Indians and U.S. troops at Wounded Knee, S.D. About 200 Indians and 29 soldiers died in what is widely considered to be the final defeat of the American Indian. 8 p.m. CBS IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT This popular crime drama begins its second season with some major changes: Carl Weathers joins the cast as Hampton Forbes, Bill Gillespie's (Carroll O'Connor) successor as chief of Sparta's police.
The City Council decides not to renew Gillespie's contract, preferring to replace him with the former FBI man. 8:30 p.m. FOX THE SINBAD SHOW Popular comic Sinbad returns to network television and gets his own show in the process. David Bryan (Sinbad) becomes a father overnight when he agrees to care for two foster children (Willie Norwood, Erin Davis). David's life becomes complicated as he tries to find a balance between fatherhood and bachelorhood.
In the season premiere of the toprated show, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) begs Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to give him another chance when he learns that she pretended to enjoy their romance more than she really did. Kramer (Michael Richards) continues to gets into trouble and is banned from buying fruit at his favorite market. 9:30 p.m. NBC FRASIER Dr. Frasier Crane moves to Seattle and dispenses his advice on the radio airwaves in the series premiere of Kelsey Grammer's new show.
His dreams of starting a new life on his own are soon dashed when his father (John Mahoney), his father's dog and a semi-psychic home-care worker (Jane Leeves) move in with him. FRIDAY 8 p.m. TIME MACHINE A portrait of the future through the eyes of visionaries of the past. In "The Future That Never Was," host Jack Perkins uses science fiction film, archival footage and interviews with leading futurists to examine the characteristics of a future society that never came to be. 8:30 p.m.
ABC SATURDAY MORNING PREVIEW The cast of ABC's hit comedy series "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," Mark Curry, Holly Robinson and Marquise Wilson, preview four new Saturday morning animated series. Among the newcomers are "Cro," "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Tales From the Cryptkeeper." The new live-action series, "CityKids," combines drama and comedy relevant to urban-based teens. 10 p.m. CBS PICKET FENCES Zach (Adam Wylie) is chosen to play his horn on stage with an ailing legendary blues singer (Della Reese) who collapses on stage.
Also, after delivering a fugitive's baby, Max (Lauren Holly) decides to adopt the child herself. 8 p.m. NBC AWAKENING LAND In the final part of this 1978 miniseries, Rosa (Katy Kurtzman) is found dead after Chancey (Dennis Dimster) is told by his father (Hal Holbrook) never to see the girl again. Also, after fulfilling his dream of becoming a judge, Portius begins building a home for Sayward (Elizabeth Montgomery). 9 p.m.
check local listings PBS FIRING LINE SPECIAL DEBATE "We Need Not Fear the Religious Right" is supported by William F. Buckley Pat Robertson, Rabbi Jacob Neusner and Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill. Arguing against are Ira Glasser (ACLU), Professor Cornel West, Barry Lynn (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and Harriett Woods (National Women's Political Caucus). SATURDAY 8 p.m.
ABC MOVIE: JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO Tom Hanks stars as Joe Banks, a young man who has learned he has but six months to live in this 1990 feature film. Knowing he is doomed, Joe agrees to an unusual proposal from a wealthy man (Lloyd Bridges): live like a king for a few days in exchange for your life, via a jump into an active volcano. Meg Ryan also stars, playing three parts in this John Patrick Shanley film. 9 p.m. CBS IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT The second of this week's two new episodes, this two-hour presentation follows Chief Forbes (Carl Weathers) as he settles into his new job, which is complicated by the murder of two prominent Sparta citizens.
Stacy Keach portrays Gillespie's pal Wade Hatton and Burgess Meredith reprises his role as Judge Cully. 8 p.m. NBC AMERICAIN Two female-oriented series make their premiere tonight. "Mommies" stars Marilyn Kentz and Caryl Kristensen as mothers dealing with life and love in the '90s..