Weekend TV : World Cup Showdown Tops the Schedule

The monthlong World Cup soccer tournament comes to a climax Sunday when Brazil and Italy play for the championship at the Rose Bowl, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on ABC (Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42).

Tonight at 6 on cable’s TNT, Grammy winner Toni Braxton, Andrew Shue (“Melrose Place”), CBS’ Pat O’Brien, Sinbad and All-4-One will appear on “Hollywood Backstage at the World Cup,” broadcast live from the back lot of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The New York set will be transformed into a street festival.

The crisis in Haiti and U.S. health-care reform will be popular topics of conversation on the weekend’s public affairs programs.