Cable Connection

AND ALSO RUNNING . . . -- Tonight's first ratings showdown (at 8) between NBC champ "The Cosby Show" and upstart Fox challenger "The Simpsons" (reviewed elsewhere today) is drawing much attention. But what if you care for neither series? A couple good alternatives include: ABC's "Columbo" (at 8, Channel 2), a two-hour repeat from last season's "Saturday Mystery Movie" series, and Maryland Public Television's "Antarctica: A Presence on the Ice" (at 8, channels 22 and 67). The latter documentary suggests the land of ice at the bottom of the world is a critical barometer of Earth's environmental health.

I thought I'd seen just about every kind of nasty Web infection known to man, but until a friend called a couple of weeks ago, desperate for help, I'd never seen them all on one computer. It was a frightening experience. Now I should mention that that my friend - let's call him Fred - was not exactly clued in to Internet security. He'd been running his computer over a broadband cable connection for a year, and he'd never bothered to (a) install a virus checker, (b) set up a firewall or (c)

On The Weekend Watch:LOOKING BACK -- That's what two-out-of-three of NBC's late-night hosts are doing with specials tonight. First comes "The Tonight Show 29th Anniversary" (at 9:30, Channel 2), as soon-to-be-retired host Johnny Carson presents collections of highlights from the previous year's shows. And in "Tonight's" regular slot at 11:35, we get "Bob Costas: 3 Years . . . Later," a celebration of the third anniversary of the nightly wee hours show "Later with Bob Costas." In a cute touch, Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman are scheduled to do their Carson/Ed McMahon impersonations from "Saturday Night Live."

BRISTOL, Conn. - It doesn't take much to grasp just how many options sit at a sports fan's fingertips these days. One glance at the weekend TV listings or into a packed sports bar showing a wide array of games does the trick. But most fans take for granted that they can find at least one live game to watch every night of the week. The sports fan's world hasn't been that way for long. Before cable TV was even a thought, the three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) provided the only games on the dial.

After the launch tonight of a major PBS series examining the state of education in America, local viewers may telephone questions about the condition of state schools to a panel of experts gathered by Maryland Public Television.MPT is producing a live local follow-up show to "Learning in America: Education on Trial," a MacNeil/Lehrer production airing at 10 p.m. the next three Mondays. MPT's production follows at 11 p.m., and viewers may call a toll-free number - (800) 222-1292 - to talk about Maryland schools.

They got the title wrong for tonight's latest world premiere movie on the USA cable network. Instead of "Love Kills," the film (at 9 on the basic service) could be named "Suspense Movie Cliches, 101" and taught as a visual aid for would-be moviemakers.They are all here: ominous camera angles, lurid lighting effects, false scares, darkened house stalkings, car chases and at least four potential suspects. Oh, and let's not forget the woman-in-peril, actress Virginia Madsen, who is in a constant state of anxiety.

On The Weekend Watch:IN SESSION AGAIN -- NBC's "L.A. Law" finally returns for a sixth season tonight (at 10, Channel 2). And although she was among the partners who left the troubled law firm at the end of last season, Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey) is back tonight as co-counsel with Tommy (John Spencer), defending an abused woman accused of killing her husband.THE SPORTS SCENE -- Baseball, baseball, everywhere there's baseball. CBS (Channel 11) has all the action of the American and National League playoff series, including: NL games (Atlanta and Pittsburgh)

I thought I'd seen just about every kind of nasty Web infection known to man, but until a friend called a couple of weeks ago, desperate for help, I'd never seen them all on one computer. It was a frightening experience. Now I should mention that that my friend - let's call him Fred - was not exactly clued in to Internet security. He'd been running his computer over a broadband cable connection for a year, and he'd never bothered to (a) install a virus checker, (b) set up a firewall or (c)

On The Weekend Watch:PREMIERES, PREMIERES . . . -- The onrush of new series has slowed to a trickle. As far as we can tell, just three shows are to be seen for the first time in the coming days: "Reunion," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Channel 45, with James Brolin reuniting a variety of famous and not so famous families and friends; "Super Force," at 8 p.m. Saturday on Channel 54, a futuristic crime-solving show, and the Fox comedy "Good Grief," at 9:30 p.m....

On The Weekend Watch: PLAY BALL -- If past years are any indication, the besbaseball action of the year on television will be provided by the league championship playoffs rather than the World Series. And tonight's the night for the National League, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds squaring off in Game 1 in Cincinnati (at 8, Channel 11). Game 2 is due tomorrow (3 p.m.). And unlike recent years, when the playoffs and World Series switch-hit lTC between networks, all post-season action is on CBS. Jack Buck and former catcher Tim McCarver call the National League action, and Dick Stockton and former pitcher Jim Kaat call the American League games, scheduled at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Corvis Corp., the Columbia maker of fiber-optic equipment, is expected to announce today the launch of two products that will help the company enter new markets in the fiber-optics industry. The first product is a regional network, which carries information on the Internet from city to city in small geographic areas. The second is a network that carries information from island to island through underwater fiber-optic cables. "It's our first foray in the undersea market," said Shyam Jha, Corvis' vice president of marketing.

IT'S ONE of the most pressing crises in Baltimore County's public schools: African-American students achieve at levels far below those of their white counterparts, and the gap is unlikely to narrow soon. The results from the last round of the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program tests starkly demonstrate the width of this chasm. In reading, writing and mathematics, the percentage of black third-grade students doing satisfactory work is about half that of white students. In science and social studies, the distance between the two is even greater -- half of white students are performing to the standard compared with only one-fifth of black students.

DOES anybody else here have leaking TV cable? Does anybody here even know that leaking TV cable is a terrible menace?That's right: menace. Airplanes could crash, possibly into your very own house, because your TV cable is leaking.I was completely unaware of any of this until Monday when a man came to the door with a TV-cable-leakage detector. He said eerie electronic emissions had been detected from our house, which immediately made me think of flying saucers.Maybe one had been hovering directly above our house, I suggested.

On The Weekend Watch:ROCKY RELATIONSHIPS -- Possibilities of matrimony provided the tantalizing theme of several series over the last season, as recapitulated in two repeats tonight. On NBC's "A Different World" (at 8, Channel 2), setting up the eventual two-part season finale, Whitley and Dwayne (Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardeston) seem headed for splitsville as she gets serious about Byron (Joe Morton). And also at 8 (Channel 13) on ABC's "Who's the Boss," Tony and Angela (Tony Danza and Judith Light)

On the Weekend Watch:CONVENTION CLOSEOUT -- The Democrats gavel down their convention at Madison Square Garden tonight, with acceptance speeches by both nominee Gov. Bill Clinton and vice president candidate Sen. Albert Gore Jr. Combined PBS/NBC coverage begins at 8 (Channel 2 and Maryland Public Television), CBS checks in at 9 p.m., NBC goes solo at 9:30 and ABC joins the action at 10.A NEW 'PARKER' SLOT -- The Fox series "Parker Lewis" takes up a new night tonight (at 8:30, Channel 45) in a second season premiere, also dropping the original "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" TC title and adding some characters.

On The Weekend Watch:A STATE OF MIND -- Gov. William Donald Schaefer's annual "State of the State" address to the General Assembly, delivered earlier today, will be rebroadcast in its entirety tonight by Maryland Public Television, at 7:30 p.m. And with another legislative session under way, MPT's weekly state government coverage show, "State Circle," returns for an 11th season at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Dave Durian hosts, with reporters Sue Kopen, Nate Howard and Jeff Salkin, and this week's show is a preview of the dire economic conditions facing the new session.

On The Weekend Watch, events in the Persian Gulf are likely to dominate regular public affairs programming and may interrupt scheduled programs as events unfold. But here are some peaceful highlights of the coming days:NUPTIALS PENDING? -- On "Cheers" tonight (at 9, Channel 2), Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) may become a prospective bride as miscreant millionaire Robin (Roger Rees) finally proposes. But will she remember the next day? It's the first of a two-parter.HIZZONER SAYS... -- The stresses on and services available to Baltimore's senior citizens are the scheduled focus of "The Mayor's Show," the periodic City Hall showcase which airs at 10:30 tonight on Channel 54, hosted by Mayor Schmoke.

On The Weekend Watch:WHAT'S YOUR GAME? -- Whew! Sports activities of wide variety are chewing up huge chunks of the viewing schedule this weekend. First up, of course, are the early games of the annual basketball odyssey of the NCAA Tournament, and CBS/Channel is the locale for a numbing total of 15 games through Sunday, with Billy Packer heading the broadcast teams. Doubleheader game times are at noon and 8 p.m. today and Friday; marathon games begin at noon on Saturday (four) and Sunday (three)

After the launch tonight of a major PBS series examining the state of education in America, local viewers may telephone questions about the condition of state schools to a panel of experts gathered by Maryland Public Television.MPT is producing a live local follow-up show to "Learning in America: Education on Trial," a MacNeil/Lehrer production airing at 10 p.m. the next three Mondays. MPT's production follows at 11 p.m., and viewers may call a toll-free number - (800) 222-1292 - to talk about Maryland schools.

Although the Christmas specials just keep on coming (including some new ones, such as tonight's "The Wish That Changed Christmas" at 8:30 on Channel 11), the inevitable end-of-year review shows are also beginning to appear.A pair of cable considerations get a jump on the New Year tonight.* At 10 p.m. on Arts & Entertainment, for example, the excellent weekly "Revue" series is a combined Christmas/year-end special.Robert Klein hosts, and singer Patti LaBelle is a guest, who sings from her album of Christmas songs.