Weekly TV Picks

All times Eastern

SUNDAY, NOV. 25

The Making of “The Lost Battalion”

A & E, 11:30 p.m.

This special describes the production of A&E's upcoming TV movie on the true saga of a U.S. Army battalion in France that was trapped behind German lines and fought off constant attacks for five full days in early Oct. 1918 before being rescued. Some 107 dough-boys died in the ordeal, and only 194 were able to walk out under their own power.

MONDAY, NOV. 26

Raymond's Portrait

PBS, 10:30 p.m.

This 1997 documentary profiles San Francisco Bay Area artist Raymond Hu, 19, who has Down Syndrome. Mr. Hu creates beautiful Chinese brush paintings of birds and other animals. Also interviewed are his parents and his art teacher. A repeat.

TUESDAY, NOV. 27

Special Effects: Titanic and Beyond

PBS, 9 p.m.

This “Nova” installment shows special-effects experts at their most inventive—on the recent Titanic and Flubber films, the “X-Files” TV show and movies all the way back to George Melies’ A Trip to the Moon (1902).

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28

American Justice: Madalyn Murray O'Hair

A & E, 9 p.m.

Catholics will view this sad crime show as a reminder to pray for the repose of the souls of atheist Mrs. O'Hair, one of her sons and her granddaughter, whose disappearance in 1995 seems to have ended in their murders. Viewers should also note that there is no O'Hair-sponsored “Petition 2493” to the FCC to ban the name of God from TV, despite all the well-meaning e-mails that still perpetuate that pesky 25-year-old urban legend.

THURSDAY, NOV. 29

Life on the Rock

EWTN, 8 p.m.

Jeff Cavins hosts New Evangelization specialist Mike Manhardt, who founded the group F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forget About Me, I Love You) after hearing Father Stan Fortuna do a rap song of that title about Christ's sacrificial love on the Cross for us. To be rebroadcast the next Sunday at 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 30

An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash

TNT, 10:30 p.m.

This is the two-hour show from 1999 in which the famed singer and composer Johnny Cash, just out of the hospital, made a surprise appearance at a tribute to himself that other country music stars were taping.

SATURDAY, DEC. 1

Andrea Bocelli: Tuscan Skies

A&E, 8 p.m.

The sightless tenor, who has performed for the Pope and who recently sang the “Ave Maria” so beautifully in