History -- the channel formerly known as History Channel -- calls it the biggest production in its history.

It is the 12-part, 12-hour "America The Story of Us," which will debut next year.

The epic history lesson will explain how "key events, people and locations" are linked in U.S. history, the channel says.

History honcho Nancy Dubuc announced the program. She also went into hyperbolic mode, calling the program "not only the biggest project History has every undertaken -- it is THE definitive event of the genre, underlining History's ownership. This series is bigger than us, it is far broader than TV, and we are thrilled to embark on this journey."

How nice for you. Will viewers say the same thing?

A hopeful sign: The producer/director is Jane Root, a former president of Discovery Channel.

But that title ... could somebody work on that? It sure is awkward.

The major events pile up Sunday night. And I hope they all look as good as Vanessa Williams (pictured). More about her in just a bit.

After Thursday's thrilling Game Four between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, Game Five of the NBA Finals qualifies as can't-miss television. The game starts at 9 p.m. Sunday on ABC.

But there are other programs deserving of attention. Discovery Channel's "When We Left Earth," one of the year's best, continues at 9 p.m. Sunday. This six-hour documentary salutes NASA's 50 years. Hour three (at 9) explores Apollo 11 and man's landing on the moon. The program features Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who are both in wonderful form. The fourth hour (at 10) explores later Apollo missions and is just as inspiring as hour three. The program concludes June 22. If you love this program, you can share your memories at http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/nasa/audio-messages/audio-messages.html.

This has been a sad television season. The broadcast networks couldn't produce a breakout hit among their new fall series, then the writers' strike cut off the flow of new episodes. Reality -- oh, joy -- is plugging many programming holes.

This week illustrates the situation. There will be new episodes of a few favorite series. Fox has a new "Prison Break" on Monday. CBS has fresh "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY" on Wednesday. ABC has a new "Ugly Betty" on Thursday. NBC has "Friday Night Lights" on Friday. For many other series, reruns will be all you'll get.

The midseason series are most lucky: They have banked fresh episodes. NBC's "Law & Order" could be the standout because viewers seem to be giving that long-running drama another look at 10 p.m. Wednesdays.

As for the heavy reality diet ... Is the resurgence of "The Celebrity Apprentice" reason for excitement? I don't think so, but NBC seems overjoyed. NBC has "American Gladiators" and "Deal or No Deal" on Monday, "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday, "Deal or No Deal" on Wednesday and "1 vs 100" on Friday.

If you need a break from Christmas movies and specials, try "The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth."

The two-hour film debuts at 8 p.m. Sunday on The History Channel. Filmmaker Tom Jennings draws on "American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies," a 2004 book by Michael W. Kauffman.

Kauffman, a top expert on the Lincoln assassination, is the son of Russ and Jo Ann Kauffman of Orlando.

Tom Hanks plays him in a movie opening this weekend. But if you want the real Charlie Wilson -- the subject of "Charlie Wilson's War" -- look to The History Channel.

The documentary "The True Story of Charlie Wilson" premieres from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday on the channel.

The program features interviews with Wilson and Aaron Sorkin, the creator of "The West Wing" who wrote the movie's script.

The movie is based on "Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History." The book was written by the late George Crile, a producer for "60 Minutes."

Wilson, a Texas congressman, in the 1980s helped the Mujahideen in Afghanistan defeat the invading Soviet Union. The documentary features Mujahideen leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as former Red Army commanders.

Walt Disney World is putting on the holiday glitz this week.

The big production? The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. ABC will air the event from 10 a.m. to noon on Christmas Day.

Hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will be taping this weekend. Many performers have already recorded their performances.  The show will bring on favorites from Disney's "High School Musical and" "Hannah Montana."

The show will open with a big production number featuring celebrities from "Dancing With the Stars": Sabrina Bryan, Helio Castroneves, Drew Lachey and Central Florida's Joey Fatone. Jon Secada will sing holiday favorites as they dance.

Topics from Oprah Winfrey to Katie Couric to "The War" have celebrities talking at the television critics' tour. Here's just a taste of what was being said Sunday.

Former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw likes Ken Burns' epic documentary "The War" about World War II. "I think it's brilliant," said Brokaw, who wrote "The Greatest Generation" about World War II veterans. "I am eager for America to see it. And I hope all of you feel the same way that I do. My big concern is whether we still, in this country, have the patience for that kind of an investment, and I think that we should."

"The War" runs 15 hours, and PBS will present the program during two weeks in September. Brokaw promoted "1968," a documentary for The History Channel.

You could spot some familiar faces in "The Spanish-American War: First Intervention." The three-hour program premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday on The History Channel.

We heard from several people who participated in this documentary containing re-enactments. Michael Ray Davis of Orlando says he plays Adm. George Dewey in the show.

The 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry of Florida, a re-enactors' group that teaches disadvantaged teens to ride horses, is also featured. 

A History Channel series will feature a Melbourne veteran in its Friday premiere.

Boots Blesse, an ace fighter pilot during the Korean War, will appear in "Dogfights." The series debuts at 10 p.m. and offers firsthand accounts of air battles from the World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

"Dogfights" joins news programming that The History Channel will offer Friday. "Shootout" begins its second season at 8 p.m. and focuses on Iwo Jima.

"The Lost Evidence" starts its second season at 9 p.m. with a look at Gen. Douglas MacArthur's drive to liberate Luzon, in the Philippines, from Japan during World War II.

Were the Mayas on the money in saying the world will end in 2012?

Arlen Chase, a University of Central Florida anthropology professor, says no. He'll share his views in "Decoding the Past: Mayan Doomsday Prophecy" at 9 p.m. Thursday on the History Channel.

Chase dismisses Maya propecies that the end is coming six years from now.

"Nothing is going to happen," Chase said in a release.

He also praised the program ... so let's have him play TV critic.