TV Picks April 6-12, 2008

All Times Eastern


SUNDAY, 1 p.m.

Great Performances at the Met: Romeo et Juliette

PBS French tenor Robert Alagna and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko have the title roles in this December 2007 staging of Charles Gounod’s 1867 operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Sung in French with English subtitles. HD


SUNDAY, 1:30 p.m.

Dialogue of Francis and Clare

EWTN Franciscan Father Robert Hutmacher composed this oratorio to tell the story of the visit of St. Francis and St. Clare after St. Francis received the stigmata in the midst of a 40-day fast on Mount Alverna in 1224.


SUNDAY, 8 p.m.

Egypt

DISCOVERY CHANNEL Ancient Egypt is always one of TV execs’ favorite themes — and audience magnets. The first of tonight’s two back-to-back, hour-long episodes spells out 10 major advances in Egyptian civilization, and the second episode examines causes of a regime collapse in Egypt four millennia ago. Advisory: TV-PG.


MONDAY, 8 p.m.

The Journey Home

EWTN Host Marcus Grodi’s guest, Rosalind Moss, 65, is a convert from Judaism and evangelical Protestantism. She is also a staff apologist with Catholic Answers, and a TV and radio hostess for EWTN. She announced in February that, with the permission of St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, she is founding a community of sisters: the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope. They will wear floor-length habits and hand out baskets of Catholic religious articles in St. Louis neighborhoods.


TUESDAY, 8 p.m.

Nova: Cracking the Maya Code

PBS This is an in-depth study of archaeologists’ long and ultimately successful quest to decipher the glyphs that made up the intricate writing system of the prehistoric Maya Indians in southern Mexico and Central America. The surviving Maya writings focus on planetary movements, “divine” rule, blood sacrifices, wars and power struggles. Decoders are linking glyphs to current Mayas’ spoken language. Advisory: TV-PG.


TUESDAY, 9 p.m.

The Universe: Wildest Weather in the Cosmos

HISTORY CHANNEL Scientists are discovering fascinating extremes on our solar system’s planets and moons. Advisory: TV-PG.


THURSDAY, 9 p.m.

Divine Design: Cozy Family Room

HOME & GARDEN TV Designer Candice Olson turns a basement into a family room.


SATURDAY, 7 a.m.

Easy Entertaining: Little League Tailgate

FOOD NETWORK Treat your kids after their next big baseball game to yummy hot dogs, chips, potato-tomato salad, apple and blueberry pies and lemon-grape coolers.


Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.