Weekend TV : Teens’ Choices, Ladies of Soul and the Jerry Lewis Telethon

Labor Day Weekend heralds the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Assn. telethon, as well as Fox’s new “The 1999 Teen Choice Awards” and the hip-hop “Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.”

Dave Thomas hosts the CBS special “World’s Funniest Pets,” Friday at 8 p.m. Among the pets featured is an opera-singing dog.

Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Gloria Estefan and Blind 1982 headline Fox’s “The 1999 Teen Choice Awards,” Friday at 8 p.m. The special celebrates the hottest performers in film, TV, music, sports and fashion as chosen by American teenagers.

Monica, Shemar Moore, Deborah Cox and Busta Rhymes host the “Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards,” Friday at 8 p.m. on KTLA. Grammy winner Lauryn Hill leads the nominations with four. Natalie Cole is set to receive the Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievement.

“Today’s” Matt Lauer goes prime time as host of a one-hour preview of upcoming episodes of the popular anthology “National Geographic Explorer,” Saturday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Despite some recent health problems, Jerry Lewis is set to host his annual “MDA Telethon,” beginning Sunday at 6 p.m. on KCAL. This year, the veteran entertainer hopes to top last year’s pledge total of $51.5 million. Ed McMahon also returns for the two-day telecast from Hollywood.

E! Entertainment Television takes a look behind the scenes of the Pamela Anderson Lee series “VIP,” Sunday at 8 p.m.

Sports

The WNBA will crown its champion in a best-of-three series, beginning tonight at 5 on Lifetime.

Movies

Turner Classic Movies premieres the late Akira Kurosawa’s final film, “Madadayo,” Friday at 5 p.m. This drama about a professor and his students during World War II-era Japan kicks off a 23-film salute to the Japanese filmmaker, which continues every Friday this month. His first film, 1943’s “Sanshiro Sugata,” follows at 7:30 p.m.

Ann-Margret, Marg Helgenberger, Henry Thomas and Nicholas Campbell star in “Happy Face Murders,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on Showtime. Loosely based on a real-life story, the story deals with a soft-spoken grandmother who ends up on trial for murder.

Children

The preschooler series “Wimzie’s House” kicks off its third season on PBS, Saturday at 7 a.m. on KCET-TV. The series focuses on family, feelings and friendship.

Series

The latest edition of A&E;’s mystery series “Dalziel & Pascoe,” Saturday at 6 and 10 p.m., finds the British sleuths investigating a mystery involving murder, illegal drugs and wounded World War I soldiers.

A&E; repeats six episodes of “Law & Order,” beginning Sunday at 5 a.m., featuring guest appearances by the cast of “The Sopranos”: Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Jerry Adler and Vincent Pastore. The marathon repeats at 11 a.m.

The award-winning “Explorer” series from “National Geographic” moves from TBS to CNBC for its new season of adventures, Sunday at 8 p.m. Boyd Matson hosts.

“The E! True Hollywood Story” looks at the tempestuous romance between Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, Sunday at 9 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.