When a helicopter pilot (Meg Ryan) is posthumously considered for the Medal of Honor, Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is assigned to investigate. His findings about events leading to her death during the Gulf War will determine if the first woman to be nominated for the honor is worthy of the award. While he tries to uncover the truth, Nathaniel must deal with his guilt over an order he gave that resulted in the deaths of soldiers.

Two rockin' Lewises -- Jerry Lee and Huey -- are among the special guest performers as conductor Erich Kunzel and the National Symphony Orchestra return to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the nation's birthday. Also scheduled to perform are "American Idol" alum Taylor Hicks, Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, and sopranos Hayley Westenra and Harolyn Blackwell. Of course, fireworks and the "1812 Overture" conclude the show.

For some folks, there's nothing like a holiday in New York: the Macy's parade at Thanksgiving, Radio City at Christmas, Fifth Avenue at Easter. For those who want to celebrate this American-as-apple-pie holiday in the Big Apple without leaving home, the folks who bring us the big balloons at Thanksgiving oblige with a New York-size fireworks show. Natasha Bedingfield, Jordin Sparks, Kenny Chesney and Katharine McPhee are slated to perform.

Echoes of "Network" abound in this dark 2006 comedy written and directed by Jake Kasdan, son of Lawrence ("The Big Chill"). David Duchovny stars as a writer pitching a pilot for a television series. It starts out as a sensitive treatment of a family dealing with suicide ... until the network suits get their hands on it. Sigourney Weaver does a memorable turn as the network president. Judy Greer and Ioan Gruffudd also star.

With all the awards given out for acting, singing and other relatively superficial pursuits, the idea behind this special is certainly refreshing. It's got star power, to be sure, but philanthropic celebrities share the spotlight with emergency workers who risk their lives to save others and ordinary folks who do their part to brighten their corners of the world. Dean Cain hosts.

What Yul Brynner did for the King of Siam and Rex Harrison did for Henry Higgins, Robert Preston did for Harold Hill -- making the character so thoroughly his own on both stage and screen, he's the standard against which all other "Music Men" are judged. In the 1962 film version, Shirley Jones plays Marian, the proper small-town librarian with poor luck in attracting men -- until con man Hill comes to town with plans for a marching band.

Woo-hoo! It's a holiday weekend of racing at Daytona International Speedway, with the fireworks beginning in the Nationwide Series' Daytona 200. Last year, rain doused the celebration and postponed the race until the next day, then Kyle Busch made sure there wasn't any on-track fireworks by leading 65 of the 102 laps for a rather routine win. Sprint Cup's hottest driver is back to defend his title before he races here Saturday night in the Sprint Coke Zero 400.

"Watch out for that treeeee!" This 1997 live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon stars Brendan Fraser as George, the accident-prone vine-swinger. After rescuing a lovely tourist (Leslie Mann) who is having some doubts about her snobby fiance (Thomas Haden Church), George follows the young woman to San Francisco. But he heeds the cry of his jungle friends when they are threatened by poachers. John Cleese and Richard Roundtree also star.

Hey, anyone can do the "stick 'em up and empty the cash register" thing; these thieves have a better idea. Don (Rob Morrow) and his fellow agents investigate a string of deadly robberies at restaurants. The thieves are using customers' credit cards to run up charges at a bogus online store and fill their offshore bank accounts. It's up to math whiz Charlie (David Krumholtz) to figure out where the laundering is taking place in "Take Out."

Memo to Lifetime: If you must do a Christmas-in-July movie marathon stunt, at least pick some Christmas movies that aren't bloody depressing. Inspired by one of the most saccharine holiday songs ever recorded, this 2002 weeper stars Rob Lowe as a lawyer with an attitude in need of adjustment. He gets it from a little boy (Max Morrow) with a Very Special Christmas Wish for his ailing mom. Pass the insulin.

Some like it at the U.S. Capitol, some like it in Manhattan, and some like it on the Charles River. Fans of Boston's traditional Fourth of July celebration can catch conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra from the comfort of their living rooms -- no traffic, no crowds, lots of good music and, of course, fireworks. The traditional holiday concert culminates in a rousing rendition of the "1812 Overture."