Cable Channels Celebrate Mummies and Motorcars

A&E; and TBS celebrate “Mummies Day” on Sunday with two new specials.

Frank Langella hosts A&E;’s “Mummies,” Sunday at 5 and 9 p.m. and Monday at 6 and 10 p.m. The four-hour documentary unravels the mysteries and magic of Ancient Egypt and examines the art of mummification, the hypnotic geometric strength of the pyramids and the gaze of the Great Sphinx.

“Mummy Hunters” is the topic of TBS’ “National Geographic Explorer,” Sunday at 6 p.m. The one-hour special features the first in-depth look at the discovery of the Inca mummy, the Ampato maiden, who was discovered last year frozen and in an unprecedented state of preservation with hair and skin intact.

For car fanatics, there’s the History Channel’s 12-hour “Automobiles Marathon,” getting into gear at Sunday at 10 a.m. The festival features the repeat of the series “Automobiles” as well as the new special, “Classic Cars With Edward Herrmann.”

Here are other weekend programs:

Public Affairs: TODAY: “Today” looks at debit and ATM cards, the Denise Austin fitness video and naturalist Jim Fowler, 6 a.m. (4)(36)(39). . . .

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) are guests on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) guests on “Capital Gang,” 4 p.m., 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Inside Politics Weekend” reports on FBI files with guests Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), 4:30 p.m.; repeats 7:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

Bandleader Peter Duchin is the guest on “Larry King Weekend,” 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., CNN. . . .

SUNDAY: “Sunday Journal” arrives at 5 a.m. C-SPAN. . . .

“Sunday Today” looks at spinal muscular atrophy, a deadly childhood disease; the hidden costs of vacations; and a boating program for at-risk teens, 6 a.m. (4). . . .

Former Los Angeles Police Commission President Deirdre Hill visits “Pacesetters,” 6 a.m. (5). . . .

Mayors Norman Rice of Seattle, Mike White of Cleveland, Edward Rendell of Philadelphia and Stephen Goldsmith of Indianapolis field questions on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(39)(36). . . .

“CBS News Sunday Morning” features young NBA draftees, jazz pianist Fred Hersch and a Cezanne exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“Fox News Sunday” focuses on the flap over FBI files with Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), and on same-sex marriages with Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), 8 a.m. (11). . . .

“The McLaughlin Group” debates the seriousness of the FBI file controversy, 9 a.m. (4). That’s also the subject of “Face the Nation,” with guests White House chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), 9 a.m. (2); 9:30 a.m. (8). . . .

“Bob Navarro’s Journal” talks with Los Angeles Urban League President John Mack, 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“This Week With David Brinkley” investigates President Clinton’s controversy over FBI files with White House Counsel Jack Quinn, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and former Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese, 10 a.m. (7); 10:30 a.m. (10); 11:30 a.m. (3)(42). . . .

“Late Edition” guests are Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore, 9 a.m. CNN. . . .

“Life & Times” reports on what the Democratic and Republican parties think are the major issues in the upcoming national elections, 10 a.m. (28). . . .

Black church burnings are discussed on “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson,” 2:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

Clinton’s legal woes and black church burnings are among the topics on “Capital Gang Sunday,” 4 p.m., repeats 1:30 a.m. CNN. . . .

“60 Minutes” looks at overseas accounts of Raul Salinas; Martin Scorsese returns to Little Italy; parental custody battle, 7 p.m. (2)(8).

Specials and Movies: Tia Carrere, Donald Sutherland, John Lithgow and Thomas Ian Griffith star in the thriller “Hollow Point,” tonight at 8 on HBO. . . . Hector Elizondo hosts “Hispanic Entrepreneurs: Against All Odds,” Sunday at 4 p.m. on Channel 4.

Sports: Track and Field--U.S. Olympic Trials, today and Sunday, 11 a.m. (4)(36)(39). Baseball--Angels at Milwaukee Brewers, today at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. (9).

For a complete list of sports events on TV, see the Sports Section.