SUNDAY'S MUST-SEE

"The War" debut, 8, 10:30 p.m., PBS. On a global scale, World War II seems impossible to grasp. It cost 50 million lives, with the world's future in balance. Filmmaker Ken Burns will try to tell that story over 16-plus hours, spread over two weeks. However, he'll also bring it down to a personal level. Burns focuses on four spots — Mobile, Ala.; Sacramento, Calif.; Waterbury, Conn.; and Luverne, Minn. That last one brings a bonus: Americana was defined with tersely elegant clarity by Al McIntosh, then editor of the Rock County Star Herald. After an overview, "The War" views pre-war life in each town. Then it traces the U.S.'s first year in the war, with 35,000 Americans killed; eventually, that would increase tenfold.

"The Simpsons," 8 p.m., Fox. After sampling the good life, Homer wants it all. So he hires a life coach and takes a chance. Naturally, he soon fails. The result is a fairly good episode, with a few terrific moments.

OF NOTE

"Curb Your Enthusiasm," 7 p.m., HBO. Larry's behavior hits bottom, in a funny episode involving funeral flowers.

"Desperate Housewives: Secrets & Lies," 8 p.m., and "Brothers & Sisters: Family Album," 9 p.m., ABC. Both shows start their seasons next Sunday. First, here are recaps.

"Cold Case" season opener, 8 p.m., CBS. Previous episodes rippled with the music of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. Now comes Nirvana; the story probes a triple murder in 1994.

"Family Guy," 9 p.m., Fox. The family steps into a "Star Wars" take-off that's slick, clever and entertaining.

"Shark" season opener, 9 p.m., CBS. The season starts with Stark's life in chaos. His daughter is on the opposite coast; the old district attorney (Jeri Ryan) has been defeated by a crafty new one (Kevin Pollak). Now an explosive start (literally) grabs our attention. It's a good episode, despite an absurd plot twist near the end.