All times Eastern

SUNDAY, MAY 19

American Writers II: The 20th Century C-SPAN, 3 p.m. live

This live program profiles famed writers by visiting their homes and by answering viewers' phone and e-mail questions about their works. This week's subject is war correspondent Ernie Pyle (1900-1945). World War II GIs loved him because he risked his life in the front lines with them, dug his own foxholes, ate K-rations with them and gave the folks back home a true picture of what combat soldiers endure. At his death from hostile fire on Ie Shima in the Pacific on Apr. 18, 1945, all America mourned. To be rebroadcast Friday at 8 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 20

Nicklaus Museum Opening Ceremony Golf, 6:30 p.m.

Join in this tribute to Jack Nicklaus, who burst upon the golfing scene four decades ago.

TUESDAY, MAY 21

Science Times: The Third Option National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.

This hour-long show charts advances in surgically treating spina bifida in babies before they are born. The two other “options” implied in the show's TITLE are surgery after birth — and killing babies by abortion, which is morally evil and so is no option at all.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22

SportsCentury: Lou Gehrig ESPN, 4 p.m.

They called him “The Iron Horse” for defying injuries and playing in 2,130 straight baseball games. With the New York Yankees in the 1920s and 1930s, strapping first baseman Lou Gehrig (1903-1941) set many batting records for teams often rated among the best clubs ever. But Americans loved him even more for his strength of character, which eventually helped him face a wasting disease and an early death.

THURSDAY, MAY 23

Airport Travel Channel, 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

These two hour-long shows, Mission Control and All Systems Go, depict daily operations at the bustling Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport.

FRIDAY, MAY 24

Navy SEALS Training Discovery Channel, 9 p.m.

Viewers might get tuckered out just watching the exhausting training of these crack military professionals.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

The Crufts Dog Show Animal Planet, 8 p.m. & 11 p.m.

The Kennel Club in Birmingham, England, hosts this event every March. This year, 18,000 enthusiastic canines competed in a raft of categories such as gamekeeper, gun dog, pastoral, working, police, rescue, guide and, of course, best of breed.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

A Salute to America's Military CBS, 9 p.m.

In this patriotic tribute, Clint Black and Lonestar perform on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.