Tuning In to TV

Fall basic cable finds

TV’s fall prime-time season may be heating up on broadcast networks, but there’s still plenty to crow about on basic cable. Offerings include continuing summer favorites and brand-new shows, some with sizzle potential that, for now, are flying a bit under the radar.

An example of the latter: The Silver Spring-based TV One — which scored a hit with the limited series “Unsung” last November (and its follow-up run in June) — is back with “Life After.”

The new series, which more or less follows the same “what happened to …” formula as “Unsung” by homing in on past stars who have faded from the spotlight, premieres at 10 p.m. Sunday.

Among those under the microscope:

• The ’80s hip-hop/R&B trio Bell Biv DeVoe (Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe), telling the story of their life together after making the break from the group New Edition.

• Al Reynolds, describing in detail how he reignited his career as an investment banker after his highly publicized marriage to and divorce from Star Jones.

• Former child actress Jaimee Foxworth, who briefly pursued a career in adult films (performing under the name Crave) after starring as Judy Winslow on ABC’s hit sitcom “Family Matters.”

Others profiled include actor and martial artist Taimak, star of the film “The Last Dragon,” who offers insight into the special challenges of becoming a cult hero at a young age, and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, co-star of “The John Larroquette Show” and “Veronica’s Closet,” who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2001. (Mr. Mitchell, by the way, has a co-starring role on the new Fox sitcom “Brothers,” premiering Sept. 25.)

Among the “nearly new” shows is “Hoarders” (10 p.m. Mondays, A&E). The good news for recent fans of the series, which debuted Aug. 17, is that A&E has made it available on Video on Demand, thereby allowing viewers to catch up on past episodes. More than a mere makeover series, “Hoarders” chronicles the dilemma of people whose homes are uninhabitable because of their compulsive need to warehouse garbage, debris — and, sometimes, hundreds of stray animals. Two subjects are profiled in each installment as an anti-hoarding specialist/counselor leads them through the decluttering process.

Weekend watch

Friday:

• 102 Minutes That Changed America (8 p.m., History Channel) — Rebroadcast on the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, this 2008 documentary explores the attacks via hijacked passenger planes on New York, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon.

• 20/20 (10 p.m., ABC) — LaToya Jackson — who also has a turn as guest co-host coming up on “The View” — talks with Barbara Walters about the death of her brother, Michael Jackson, in June.

Saturday:

• Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion (10 p.m., WMPT-Channel 26 ) — KC and the Sunshine Band host a historic reunion with superstars of the 1970s disco and dance era.

Sunday:

• MTV Video Music Awards (9 p.m., MTV) — Cable’s music television network hands out its distinctive “Moon Man” statuette to honor the year’s best music videos. Among the night’s highlights: Janet Jackson will give a musical tribute to her late brother, Michael, Associated Press reports. Performers taking the stage include Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Green Day and D.C. rapper Wale. Outrageous British comic Russell Brand returns as host for the second straight year. Live from Radio City Music Hall in New York.

• Drop Dead Diva (9 p.m., Lifetime) — In one of her first post-“American Idol” stints, Paula Abdul gets a cameo as a gavel-banging, glammed-up judge in a dream sequence set in a Los Angeles courtroom.

• HGTV Design Star (10 p.m., HGTV) — It’s down to the last two contestants: Oregon designer Dan Vickery, 27, or Antonio Ballatore, 40, of Los Angeles, will take the crown. The winner will host his own interior design show on the network. Clive Pearse is the host, and designers Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and Candice Olson are the judges.

• Hung (10 p.m., HBO) — Season finale. Tanya (Jane Adams) ends up battling Lenore (Rebecca Kreskoff) for control of Ray (Thomas Jane) — the high school basketball coach by day, gigolo by night, who’s worried about his future after hearing rumors about layoffs at his school.

• Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff and Web reports