Worth Noting on TV

WEDNESDAY

An Ice Cream Show (PBS, 9-10 p.m.): This documentary, narrated by Rick Sebak of Pittsburgh's WQED, serves up a double dip of history and trivia on America's favorite summertime treat. (For instance, Americans eat enough ice cream every year to fill the Grand Canyon.)

The show travels from Penn State, home of what has to be the sweetest college course around, to Hawaii, where they serve red beans with their shave ices (sno-cones to us mainlanders). Other ice cream hot spots include a Florida drive-through stand shaped like a soft-serve cone, and Robin Rose Ice Cream in Venice, Calif., which has a traffic school in back so you can sample rose petal ice cream while brushing up on the rules of the road.

Nick News

(Nickelodeon, 8-8:30 p.m.:) Actress and comedienne Rosie O'Donnell joins a panel of 10 kids to discuss society's obsession with appearance and explore the true meaning of self-worth. Journalist Linda Ellerbee hosts the Emmy-awarding news show for kids.

THURSDAY

48 Hours (CBS, 10-11 p.m.): Shannon Faulkner, the Citadel's first female cadet, reveals new information about her sudden exit from the South Carolina military college.

Spelling Bee (ESPN2, 4-6 p.m.): ESPN2 deviates from its all-sports format to bring you letter-by-letter coverage of the national Scripps-Howard spelling bee.

Entertainment Tonight (CBS, 7:30 p.m.): After almost a decade, co-anchor John Tesh is leaving the celebrity-news show to concentrate on his musical career. Tonight is the New Age composer's final appearance.

Women's Golf

(ESPN, 5-7 p.m.) First-round play begins in the US Women's Open in Southern Pines, N.C.

FRIDAY

College World Series (ESPN, 4-7 p.m.): It's opening night for the 50th annual "College World Series." Game 1 airs live from Omaha, Neb.

*Please check local listings for these programs.