Cable Connection

On The Weekend Watch:THE VOICE OF FOX -- If you find yourself thinking repeatedly of roadside motels while watching Fox network shows tonight, there is a subliminal reason: Radio humorist Tom Bodett, best known for the phrase "we'll leave a light on" in a series of commercials for a certain discount motel chain, is hosting "Tom Night on Fox." He'll introduce episodes of "The Simpsons," "Drexell's Class" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" (beginning at 8 p.m., Channel 45). And speaking of Fox, last week's premiere airing of Michael Jackson's new "Black or White" video just after "The Simpsons" earned the network its highest ratings ever, as the most-watched show in the time period.

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:THE TURNER TOUCH -- You've seen him this week sitting with Jane Fonda at the World Series, following his Atlanta Braves. Now cable mogul Ted Turner sits down for an interview on Friday's scheduled edition of "Talking With David Frost" (at 9 p.m., Maryland Public Television). Do you think he will talk about the tomahawk chop issue? Unknown. But he will apparently review the visionary success he has had with Cable News Network, for which he was roundly ridiculed upon its founding a decade ago.THE MOVIE MARQUEE -- Local angles highlight a pair of cable movie screenings in the coming days.

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)

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."

On The Weekend Watch:GOT SOME TIME? -- That's the question asked by "Project Reach Out," an unusual telethon that seeks pledges of volunteer time rather than money. The fourth annual edition airs tonight starring guest host Ben Vereen, under the sponsorship of Maryland Public Television, the state Department of Education and the United Way of Central Maryland. It's on MPT from 8 to 11, while the first hour is also being carried by WJZ-Channel 13 and the last hour can be seen on Washington's WJLA-Channel 7. Last year's effort, hosted by singer Melba Moore, generated more than 295,000 hours of volunteer work for a variety of agencies.

On The Weekend Watch:PREMIERES, PREMIERES! -- It's still August, but the Fox network continues to jump into the new fall season ahead of everybody else. Tonight, for example (at 8:30, Channel 45) "True Colors" debuts for its second season, with an episode in which Lester (Adam Jeffries) tries to balance his life against the writings of Malcolm X. And on Sunday (at 7:30 p.m., Channel 45), Baltimore is the setting and inspiration for the new series "Roc," with Charles Dutton starring as a trash hauler trying to get a VCR for his wife's birthday.

On The Weekend Watch:OH, THOSE O'S! -- Has there been a more frustrating team for fans than this year's Orioles? Every time they seem to be on a climb out of the cellar, as in Monday's sharp ninth-inning, third-straight victory over the Twins, they come back with something like yesterday's outrageous ninth inning. Oh well, Channel 2 offers four more opportunities for torture as the Birds head into Kansas City. Jim Palmer and Brooks Robinson will be broadcasting the full series with the Royals, with games at 8:30 p.m. tonight and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

On The Weekend Watch:MARKETING MOVIES -- It is a point made often before, but a pair of programs in the coming days particularly emphasize television's symbiotic shill role in the promotion of movies. For example, at 10 tonight (CBS/Channel 11) actor Pierce Brosnan, best known for his TV roles (particularly "Remington Steele"), hosts "Robin Hood: Myth, Man, Movie." The special is timed, of course, to this weekend's opening of the much-ballyhooed film about the Sherwood Forest denizen who stole from the rich and gave to the poor (Kevin Costner)

ON THE WEEKEND WATCH:MORE DEAD SHOWS -- Into the summer rerun season, the networks are offering what will perhaps be last-chance viewings of series from the long list of canceled fare. Just tonight, for example, ABC (Channel 13) has moved "Gabriel's Fire" to 9 o'clock (although star James Earl Jones is coming back in the fall as the same character in a new show, "Bird and Katt"). And CBS (Channel 11) has two returns, the mid-season replacement about a Cajun cop, "Broken Badges" at 9, and Edward Woodward's rather likable "Over My Dead Body" at 10. Note also that CBS on Sunday (10 p.m.)