SUNDAY, 8 p.m.

Nature: Victoria Falls

PBS Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is a mile wide and pours 550,000 cubic meters of water per minute into a 360-foot gorge. The resulting spray rises more than 1,300 feet. Advisory: TV-PG.

MONDAY, 9 p.m.

The Real George Washington

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL Archaeologists, scientists and historians offer new theories on the military and political careers, family history, finances and appearance of George Washington (1732-1799). That some popular assumptions about him are inaccurate does nothing to diminish his unparalleled contributions to our nation as commander of the Continental Army and as our first president.

TUESDAY, 9 a.m.

Word on Fire

CATHOLICTV Father Robert Barron, a theologian at the Archdiocese of Chicago’s University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, uses television, radio, DVDs, videos, podcasts, books, essays, talks and retreats to energize Catholics about the Gospel and to bring Christ to countless souls in today’s spiritually deprived world.

WEDNESDAY, 4 p.m.

The Universe: Biggest Things in Space

HISTORY This episode discusses super galaxy clusters, gas-cloud “radio lobes,” Lyman-Alpha blob structures and other astoundingly vast space phenomena. It also identifies the biggest constellation, black hole, star, planet and space void. Advisory: TV-PG.

THURSDAY, 8 p.m., live

Life on the Rock

EWTN Tonight’s guest for this special Memorial Day show is Father Ron Camarda, a Merchant Marine and Coast Guard veteran who became a priest and joined the Navy Reserve. Called to Iraq at age 46 as a chaplain with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the Bravo Surgical Company, he ministered to 1,500 wounded Marines, gave the last sacraments to many, and risked his life to say Mass in forward areas. Back home, he chronicled his tour of duty in a book, Tear in the Desert, and he has visited or corresponded with the families of many Marines killed in action.

FRIDAY, 7:30 a.m.

Gardening by the Yard

HOME & GARDEN TV In this episode, host Paul James visits a huge blueberry field and a French potager garden, praises favorite plants, and shows the best ways to remove unwanted shrubs and vines.

SATURDAY, 6:30 p.m.

Heavyweights

FOOD NETWORK This series explores how industry giants compete creatively to give customers the best products and service. Tonight’s episode, “Java Giants: Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts,” traces the development of specialty coffee marketing.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.