Sideshow Stars: The True Story

Discovery, 9 a.m.

In the 19th century, ruthless carnival tycoons made a killing by exploiting unfortunate souls they billed as "freaks," like the three-legged man, the wolf boy or, most famously, the Elephant Man. This Canadian-made documentary pinpoints the medical conditions afflicting these individuals, in part by using animation and computer-generated special effects.

Fabulous Life of...

MuchMoreMusic, 9 a.m.

Four back-to-back episodes will hammer home the truth that while celebrities may live in the same world as the rest of us, they're on completely different planets. The opener, for instance, looks at how stars like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow pamper their offspring, dropping mountains of money on throwaway toys, more than most parents will shell out for their kids' college education. The next three episodes look at, in order, teenage stars, millionaire moguls and massive entourages.

Biography

A&E, 10 a.m.

So overwhelming has Michael Jackson's odd behaviour been in the past decade that it's difficult to remember a time when he was spoken of with respect and almost with awe. This episode shines the spotlight back on that long-gone time, featuring clips of his hottest songs, his coolest dance moves and interviews with his family, Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight.

X-Weighted

Slice, 11 a.m.

This episode actually recalls the plot of an old Love Boat episode, as a woman who works as a fitness instructor struggles with weight gain herself. Her problem is easily found: After a day at the gym, she overeats at night, but the cure is not so forthcoming. Doubling her dismay is the realization that she's getting older, which only increases her desperation to become a mother soon. -- Ken Carriere