WORTH NOTING ON TV

* WEDNESDAY

Now (NBC, 9:00-10:00 p.m.): TV news magazines are a popular genre. The newest is "Now," hosted by Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric, which premieres tonight. Topics include a profile of Bette Midler, white supremacist Randy Weaver, and an interview with the adoptive parents of Baby Jessica, the two-year-old returned to her biological parents by court order.

Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times (CBS, 9:00-11:00 p.m.): It's a Western complete with the typical Western cliches - bad guys, good guys, madams. This one centers around the story of an ex-bandit who returns to his small Texas town. "Ned Blessing" is a summer series based on a 1992 TV movie. Bill Witliff, who adapted Lonesome Dove for television, wrote and directed this program. Brad Johnson stars as Ned. In the first episode, he confronts a lawless family who has taken control of the town.

The Fugitive (NBC, 10:00-11:00 p.m.): Those who want a little background before they see the just-released movie "The Fugitive" can tune in to the first and last episodes of the original television series for a primer. The series, which ran from 1963-67, starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, a man wrongly convicted for killing his wife. After escaping from a train wreck, the series focuses on Kimble's efforts to find the one-armed man whom he saw commit the murder. At the same time, he is pursued by Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse). The first episode will be broadcast tonight, and the two-part finale, which ranks just behind the finales of "M.A.S.H." and "Dallas" as the most-watched television program in history, will be presented Thursday, Aug. 19 and Saturday, Aug. 21.

National Governors' Association Annual Meeting (C-SPAN, 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.): Viewer call-in programs and a closing plenary on reinventing government.

Please check local listings for these programs.