Television

HBO, compiled by Blase DiStefano

ELLEN & ELTON & MORE

HBO’s got Ellen’s new special plus an AIDS documentary narrated by Elton John

• Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now

This past March, Ellen DeGeneres (pictured; photo by Cliff Watts/HBO) began her national stand-up tour, culminating with the May taping of this special at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. Premieres Sunday, June 28, at 9 p.m. on HBO. (More Ellen: Before you view Ellen’s HBO special, you can at least hear her voice in the new Disney film, Finding Nemo. When Marlin’s son Nemo gets lost on his way to his first day of school, Dory [Ellen] offers to help. The only problem is that Dory has severe short-term memory loss and forgets things as quickly as they happen. Together, this aquatic odd couple set out on an impossible mission. Finding Nemo is now playing in theaters everywhere.)

• Pandemic: Facing AIDS

Narrated by Elton John, this documentary series of five half-hour films by Rory Kennedy takes a unique look at the worldwide AIDS pandemic, melding intimate personal stories with a global perspective. Pandemic: Facing AIDS features an original score by Philip Glass and debuts Sunday, June 15, at 6 p.m. on HBO with the initial two parts, “Thailand” and “Uganda,” followed by single half-hours on subsequent Sundays.

• The Wire

While The Wire’s debut season explored America’s urban drug war, the 12-episode second season will chronicle the steady decline of the working class in American cities, focusing on the Baltimore waterfront and its unions. Among the actors returning from the first season are Sonja Sohn (lesbian detective Shakima Greggs) and Michael K. Williams (gay criminal and police informant Omar). Premieres Sunday, June 1, at 9 p.m. on HBO, with repeat airings on June 3 (9 p.m.), 4th (10 p.m.), 6th (9 p.m.), and 20th (7 p.m.)

• Sex and the City

The EmmyAward-winning hit comedy series about four women (which has been jokingly alluded to as a show about four gay men) began production on its sixth and final season March 31 in New York. The first 12 of 20 new half-hour episodes debut on HBO on Sundays (8 p.m.), June 22–September 14, with the remaining eight to air in January 2004.

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