All times Eastern

SUNDAY, AUG. 24

Failure Is Not An Option

History Channel, 9 p.m.

The totalitarian Soviet regime scored propaganda coups with some basic space ventures in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but by 1969 it was only the land of the free, the United States of America, which was able to put men on the moon.

MONDAYS

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Familyland TV, 5:30 p.m.

Richard Greene was the perfect Robin Hood in this fine CBS series from 1955-1958.

TUESDAY, AUG. 26

Our Lady of Czestochowa

EWTN, 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Through centuries of war, oppression and persecution, the heroic Polish people have kept the faith. In this show, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Benedict Groes chel and fellow pilgrims visit the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa (“chan-sto-ho-va”) at her shrine.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27

EWTN Live

EWTN, 8 p.m.

Bishop Robert Carlson of Sioux Falls, S.D., entrusted his diocese “to the Pure Heart of Mary” when he got there in 1995. Tonight he discusses the riches of the rosary.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27

Great Performances

PBS, 9:30 p.m.

From Palermo's famous Teatro Massimo, Gil Shaham performs Brahms’ Violin Concerto, Op. 77, with Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic. Also on the program are Dvorak's New World symphony and overtures by Beethoven and Verdi.

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

USS Missouri: The Last Battleship

Travel Channel, 6 p.m.

Every trip to Pearl Harbor should include a visit to the last battleship the U.S. Navy ever built, the Iowa-class “Mighty Mo.” She took part in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. You can tour the bridge, the berths and more, and stand on the exact spot where Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945.

FRIDAY, AUG. 29

Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown

ABC, 9 p.m.

Peanuts and baseball go well together, both at the ballpark and in this new 30-minute animated special from the folks who gave us the “Peanuts” holiday shows. Would trading Lucy help Charlie Brown's team finally win? And what is Snoopy thinking?

SATURDAY, AUG. 30

Cowboy Cook-Off

Food Network, 9 p.m.

Every cowboy knows good grub from the chuck wagon is a must if you're gonna keep them dogies rollin’. The categories in this annual cowboy contest are meat, potatoes, dessert and chuck wagon authenticity and traveling ability. As you might guess, beef stew and chicken-fried steak are among the delicious staples along this happy trail.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.