SUNDAY, 8 p.m.

Planet Earth: Shallow Seas

DISCOVERY CHANNEL Coral reefs and rich fishing grounds abound in the shallow seas above the continental shelves.

SUNDAY, 8 p.m., 11 p.m.

Quest for Sunken Warships: Torpedo Alley

MILITARY CHANNEL A little-known World War II fact: For six months in 1942, unopposed German submarines sank hundreds of freighters and tanker ships, most of them U.S., off the East Coast, especially around Cape Hatteras, N.C. Undersea explorers are now probing some of the wrecks. Advisory: TV-PG.

MONDAY, 8 p.m.

Bella

LIFETIME Alejandro Monteverde directed and co-wrote this 2006 film, a touching, upbeat pro-life story about having the goodness and decency to help when someone needs it most. Pro-life, Catholic filmmaker-actor Eduardo Verástegui stars as José, an ex-soccer star who befriends just-fired and newly expecting waitress Nina (Tammy Blanchard), and then seeks to help her choose life for her baby. USCCB rating A-II (adults, adolescents), MPAA PG-13 (parents strongly cautioned).

MONDAY, 9 p.m., midnight

The Shipsinkers

SCIENCE CHANNEL In November 2005, the decommissioned frigate HMNZS Wellington was sunk off its namesake city, which is also New Zealand’s capital, to become an artificial reef. This documentary charts the prepping and sinking of the ship. Re-airs 4 p.m. Tuesday.

TUESDAY, 9 p.m.

Second Presidential Debate

MAJOR NETWORKS At Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama will stage a town hall debate. They will provide two-minute answers to questions from the audience and the Internet and then give one-minute responses to each other’s answers.

WEDNESDAY, 8 p.m.

EWTN Live

EWTN Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa interviews Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, a neurologist, psychiatrist and pro-life bioethicist at the University of Southern California, whose patients have included Pope John Paul II.

SATURDAY, 8 p.m.

Dogs 101

ANIMAL PLANET This premiere kicks off a series of nine episodes that focus on six dog breeds.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.