Pbs

Wednesday, Feb. 9 9 p.m. on PBS "Slavery and the Making of America" This new four-part documentary focuses on how slavery was an important element in making the United States a rich and powerful nation. "Slavery was no sideshow in American history," says historian James Horton. "It was the main event. " Morgan Freeman narrates. Concludes at the same time next week. 10 p.m. on ABC "Wife Swap" In an episode that may bring unwelcome echoes of that long political season, the women changing places tonight are an anti-gay Texan and a lesbian mother from Arizona.

Tuesday, Jan. 11 8 p.m. on HBO "A Rape in a Small Town: The Florence Holway Story" At age 75, Florence Holway was raped by an intruder who was offered a plea bargain that reduced his sentence. Feeling that justice had been denied, she began a campaign that helped to bring about changes in New Hampshire law and to delay parole for her assailant. This "America Undercover" documentary chronicles her 12-year struggle. 9 p.m. on PBS "Frontline/World" The war in Iraq has been extremely dangerous for journalists, and more than 60 are said to have died as of last month.

Wednesday, Dec. 15 8 p.m. on A&E "Biography of the Year" We always worry when designations like this come so early. Why give up hope that the best is yet to come in the final half-month of 2004? 9 p.m. on the WB "Big Man on Campus" Fifteen women at the University of Central Florida roam the campus in search of one guy who will then go through the rest of this six-week reality series trying to pick one of them. 9 p.m. on PBS "This Is a Game Ladies" Filmmaker Peter Schnall follows the Rutgers University women's basketball team and legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer through the 2000-01 season.

Wednesday, Oct. 20 8 p.m. on PBS "National Geographic" The Phoenicians, an ancient Mediterranean people who thrived until their defeat by the Roman empire, are remembered for their legendary seafaring prowess. This program looks at three separate scientific efforts to learn more about their culture. 8 p.m. on TCM "Oklahoma!" Of the many musicals mentioned in this week's PBS documentary, perhaps none had a greater impact than this one, the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Here you can get a taste of what all the fuss was about, and then switch to the second night of the PBS show starting at 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 6 9 p.m. on the Sci-Fi Channel "Ghost Hunters" A pair of "real-life ghostbusters" check out haunted houses in this new "docu-soap" series. (We're not sure what it means that they haven't quit their day jobs as plumbers.) Preceded at 8 p.m. by another new series, "Proof Positive Evidence of the Paranormal. " 10 p.m. on PBS "Hollywood Presents" A well-known cast performs "Cop Shop," two "character-driven" stories about police officers in New York City.

Wednesday, Sept. 8 8 p.m. on PBS "John Lennon's Jukebox" Along with the other Beatles, John Lennon enjoyed a wide variety of popular music. This new "Great Performances" episode looks at Lennon through "the secrets of his private record collection. " The artists include Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Fontella Bass and the Lovin' Spoonful. 9 p.m. on ABC "The Drew Carey Show" Though he was relegated to the summer this year, Carey had an unusually long run on ABC - nine seasons.

Tuesday, Aug. 3 9 p.m. on PBS "The Real Olympics" How do the Olympics that the ancient Greeks conducted for centuries compare with what we see on TV today? Surprisingly, this program finds that the modern games have evolved in ways that bring them closer to the original. Concludes at the same time tomorrow. 9 p.m. on UPN "The Player" Thirteen "masters of the opposite sex" compete for the attention of a Miami model named Dawn. And to make this reality series even more like real life, they all live together in a Florida mansion.

Monday, Sept. 8 8 p.m. on PBS "American Experience" Filmmaker Ric Burns concludes his documentary series about New York with a look at how the World Trade Center was designed and built, became a sometimes-controversial landmark and was destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 9 p.m. on Lifetime "Sex and the Single Mom" Gail O'Grady stars in this new movie as a divorced mother whose affair with a married doctor (Grant Show)

Monday, Sept. 1 9 a.m. on PBS "Clifford's Puppy Days" We never gave it much thought, but it's not surprising that Clifford the Big Red Dog was not always big. As we see in his new series, he was tiny. 8 p.m. on ABC Family "Fletch Lives" The legendary comedy team of Chevy Chase and Hal Holbrook - oh, you say this is the only movie they ever made together?

Did you know that in the 18th century the average woman stood 5 feet 1 inches tall and the average man stood 5 feet 8 inches? Do you know what the average height is today? You would if you watched last Sunday's "Benedict Arnold" episode of "Liberty's Kids" on PBS. What does Benedict Arnold have to do with how the human race is growing taller? It's all about history. Where we've been, and where we are now. Between segments of a show on one of the most infamous acts of treason against America, vignettes provide a study of the time period, a frame of reference and an interactive element.