HISTORY

BRING ON THE SHOWGIRLS

AS the desert paradise of Las Vegas prepares to celebrate its centennial,the “American Experience ” offers a two-part documentary that chronicles the development of the United States ‘ fastest–growing city from frontier way station and gangster ‘s paradise (think Bugsy Siegel)to Rat Pack hangout (think Sinatra and Dino)and outrageous

playground (think MTV ‘s “The Real World “).Interviews with well-known Vegas insiders such as Steve and Elaine Wynn help give the sense that there is no other place like this home of hotels such as The Sands and The Palms,glamorous showgirls,well-heeled mobsters, cheesy wedding chapels,a zillion slot machines and last but not least,the Liberace museum.

LAS VEGAS:AN UNCONVENTIONAL HISTORY

Monday and Tuesday, 9 p.m., PBS

DRAMA

Digging up the dirt

IT isn ‘t bad enough that President Allen (Geena Davis)is sagging in the polls;then she ticks off the staff when she hires her husband (Kyle Secor)as a strategic advisor.Then one of the president ‘s advisors (Anthony Azizi)takes a

random drug test that reveals that he has HIV. The president ‘s enemy,Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland),intends to use the results for his own political advantage.What Templeton doesn ‘t know is that the President has just come across some potentially damaging dirt on him – and she doesn ‘t know whether to leak it to the press.

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Tuesday, 9 p.m., ABC

FLYING WIZARDS

MOVIES

WITH a new Harry Potter movie set to open in November,it ‘s a good time to broadcast “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” The second “Potter ” film finds the young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe)and his buddies facing new challenges at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:It seems that there ‘s a dark force terrorizing the school.

It could be the formidable top tier of British actors who keep stealing scenes.Maggie Smith as Professor

McGonagall,Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, and Kenneth Branagh as Professor Lockhart all do what they do

best:make magic.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC

REALITY

Last splash

IT ‘S the season finale of MTV ‘s addictive “Laguna Beach ” and MTV is airing the episode commercial-free.

During the breaks,cast members will dish about the show in front of a studio audience at the music network ‘s Times

Square headquarters.On screen,”Laguna ” will focus on Kristin,,this year ‘s hostess and Queen Bee,after the pro-

longed dramarama among nice girl Lauren,bad boy Jason and hapless-in-love Jessica.Watch as things get emotional when Kristin and ex-boyfriend Stephen (“Steve-un “)meet for the last time.As the rest of the Beachers head off to college,acting and music careers, they realize that their lives will never be the same.(duh!).Don ‘t miss your final

chance to catch the wave.

LAGUNA BEACH

Monday, 10 p.m., MTV

DRAMA

Tipsy test

DEAN CAIN plays Mike Jergens,a serial rapist,on “Law &Order:SVU.” To pin the crimes on Jergens,Det. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) must persuade his girlfriend Cora to testify.Cora a drunk, marries Jergens so she won ‘t have to take the stand,but the strategy backfires – since the rapes occurred before the marriage,she is able to testify. Cora freaks and drinks hereself into a coma.

LAW &ORDER:SVU

Tuesday, 10 p.m., NBC

MUCIS

Crowing for Cash

THE legacy of country music legend Johnny Cash,whose clear voice and craggy features and hard-luck life story (drugs,prison),made him an American icon will be celebrated in a lavish CBS special.Country artists such as Martina McBride,Dwight Yoakam and Alison Krauss will perform alongside the more mainstream artists who wish they had one ounce of Cash ‘s cool (and talent):Sheryl Crow,Kid Rock and the ubiquitous U2.Expect to hear Cash ‘s

classic songs (“Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Still Miss Someone “)and see clips from the forthcoming Cash biopic,titled “Walk the Line.”

I WALK THE LINE:A NIGHT FOR JOHNNY CASH

Wednesday, 8 p.m., CBS