New, back and black - African-American television programs - includes related article

The stars on Thursdays are Denise Nicholas, Howard Rollins, Jen Harper, Chris Lobban and Tonea Stewart in CBS' In the Heat of the Night at 8 p.m. (EST); David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx and T'Keyah (Crystal) Keymah in Fox's In Living Color at 9 p.m. (EST); Jason Bernard in Fox's Herman's Head at 9:30 p.m. (EST); and Blair Underwood on NBC's L.A. Law at 10 p.m. (EST).

Friday features JoMarie Payton-France, Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White, Darius McCrary, Rosetta LeNoire and Kellie Shanygne Williams in ABC's Family Matters at 8 p.m. (EST); and Mark Curry and Holly Robinson in ABC's Hangin' With Mr. Cooper at 9:30 p.m. (EST).

Black stars on Saturday include Jonelle Allen and Henry Sanders in CBS' Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman at 8 p.m. (EST); Doug E. Doug, Shaun Baker, Jason Bose-Smith, Larraine Toussaint, Flex, Yunoka Doyle and Sullivan Walker in ABC's Where I Live at 8:30 p.m. (EST); Arnetia Walker in NBC's Nurses at 9:30 p.m. (EST); Clarence Gilyard Jr. in CBS' Walker, Texas Ranger at 10 p.m. (EST); and Gina Belafonte on ABC's The Commish at 10 p.m. (EST).

Cable viewers have a growing variety of prime-time alternatives. Dorien Wilson returns to Home Box Office's adult sitcom Dream On; Eugene Byrd returns to Showtime's Chris Cross and Black Entertainment Television's Ed Gordon hosts another season of news and information in Lead Story and BET News.

Blacks featured on syndicated shows include LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn and Whoopi Goldberg in Star Trek: The Next Generation; Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Don Cornelius hosts Soul Train.