Tuning In

Values forum on CNN

CNN will host a forum with the two Democratic presidential candidates focused on faith and values topics, the network confirmed Monday.

Yet according to the Hollywood Reporter, “The Compassion Forum,” which will air Sunday from 8 to 9:30 p.m., won’t be a traditional debate. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will attend and spend about 40 minutes each answering questions but won’t be onstage at the same time.

CNN anchor Campbell Brown and Newsweek editor Jon Meacham will moderate the forum, which is sponsored by Faith in Public Life. The event will take place at Messiah College, a Christian college near Harrisburg, Pa.

The focus of the forum will be on issues such as the global AIDS crisis, poverty and human rights. Some of the questions will come from the audience, which will be made up of faith leaders from all over the country who have been invited.

“These are issues that have not gotten as much attention in the campaign. It’s an opportunity to talk to the candidates in a little different way than you would get in a debate,” said Sam Feist, CNN’s political director.

John McCain has also been invited, but it isn’t clear whether he will attend. In any event, Mr. McCain will be invited to a planned future forum that will also be televised with the eventual Democratic nominee.

Reality show for Pam

Former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson is the latest celebrity to land an unscripted series deal with E! Entertainment Television, signing on for what the network says is “an observational documentary series … with the style and intimacy of a feature.”

Set to bow this summer, the half-hour series — simply, if somewhat tentatively, titled “Pamela” — was shot on film stock by World of Wonder Productions, the creative team behind the documentary features “Inside Deep Throat” (2005) and “The Eyes of Tammy Faye ” (2000), MediaWeek.com reports.

Martha in D.C.

The District will be highlighted on “The Martha Stewart Show” this morning at 10 on WJLA ABC-7. Local gal and National Public Radio correspondent Cokie Roberts will be on hand to discuss her new book, “Ladies of Liberty,” a tome about influential American women in history, and she’ll also offer tips on how to bake a Dolly Madison layer cake. Then Martha will take a look at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, now in full bloom through Sunday.

CBS is No. 1

Although Fox’s “American Idol” and ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” dominated last week, CBS drew 20.6 million viewers to the return of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Associated Press reported yesterday.

For the week, CBS averaged 11.5 million viewers, Fox had 9.6 million, ABC 7.6 million and NBC 6.3 million. Following were the CW with 2.2 million, My Network TV with 960,000 and ION Television 510,000.

Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with 3.8 million viewers, Telemundo had 990,000, TeleFutura 550,000 and Azteca 90,000.

For the week of March 31 through April 6, the top five shows, their networks and viewerships were: 1)”American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 26.1 million; 2) “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 24.8 million; 3) “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 20.58 million; 4) “Dancing With the Stars” (Monday), ABC, 20.56 million; and 5)”Dancing With the Stars” (Tuesday), ABC, 17.2 million.

On tap tonight …

• Idol Gives Back (7:30 pm., Fox5-WTTG): The altruistic Emmy-winning arm of the ratings behemoth returns with a star-studded showcase for a worthy cause — to benefit various U.S. and international charities. Celebrities on the bill include Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg.

• American Masters: Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun (9 p.m., WETA-Channel 26):Writer, cultural anthropologist, chronicler of folk roots and ethnic traditions, daughter of former slaves, Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most celebrated — and most controversial — figures of the Harlem Renaissance. She attained unique success in all areas, but her words and her conclusions were often mired in contention. The author was called everything from flamboyant to outrageous, unpredictable to bodacious, and she ultimately died a pauper’s death in total obscurity. Now considered a lioness of black literature (with such works as “Their Eyes Were Watching God”) her story is told through rare archival footage along with interviews with Alice Walker, Dorothy West, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Maya Angelou and others.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse and Kelly Jane Torrance from staff, Web and wire reports