THE WEEK

Stand-Ups What are the chances that the lengthily titled hbo comedy hour: the 1995 young comedians hour hosted by garry shandling (HBO, March 25, 10-11 p.m.) and bob hope's young comedians: a new generation of laughs (NBC, March 25, 10-11 p.m.) would air at exactly the same time? Shandling's show is broadcast live from the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., and includes the rhyming-named Dave Attell (a Jon Stewart Show scribe) and Dave Chappelle (costar of the new ABC sitcom Buddies). Hope's pretaped hour features Alan Thicke, Phyllis Diller, and a sextet of performers-among them Wayne Cotter, Margaret Smith, and Kevin Meaney-who are young only by contrast to the nonagenarian Hope.

Oscars Looking for an alternative to the typical horse-race coverage of the Academy Awards? On mystery science theater 3000 (Comedy Central, March 22, 8-8:30 p.m.) robots Crow and Tom Servo predict this year's winners based solely on clips sent by the studios. For a more traditional preview, CNN presents Hollywood gold (CNN, March 26, 9-10 p.m.) profiles nominee Tom Hanks, examines the Hoop Dreams controversy, and gives Showbiz Today's Jim Moret a break from anchoring CNN's O.J. overkill.

Perhaps the only thing more horrifying than reading an Edgar Allan Poe story is trying to sit through the cheesy documentary travesty EDGAR ALLAN POE: TERROR OF THE SOUL (PBS, check local listings), part of the usually stellar - American Masters series. Generally unenlightening comments from critics and Ruby Dee's overblown narration are interspersed with dramatizations of Poe's life and tales. Director Joyce Chopra continues her post-Smooth Talk descent by providing truncated, silly renditions of "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado," humiliating Treat Williams, John Heard, and Rene Auberjonois (Deep Space Nine) in the process. But most absurd of all are the pointless scenes in which a faux Poe (Anthony Maggio) seems tormented mainly by his That Girl-style hairdo. Do yourself a favor: Read the books instead. -Bret Watson

Choice Reruns Remember when Michael (Thomas Calabro) was nice? When Billy (Andrew Shue) first became roomies with Alison (Courtney Thorne-Smith)? When Melrose Place sucked? Fox gives us a chance to appreciate what a really good show melrose place (Fox, March 27, 8-9:30 p.m.) has become by re-airing its putrid 1992 pilot. Watch in horror as Amy Locane struggles hopelessly with a Southern accent and Vanessa Williams succumbs to jive dialogue. (Whatever happened to those two, anyway?) Little did we know that Heather Locklear would come along and elevate the show's acting level.