The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching

30 for 30: Little Big Men

The Little League World Series had been long dominated by teams from Asia when, in 1982, a group of schoolyard friends from Kirkland, Wash., took the field for the championship game. Emmy-winning sports documentarian Al Szymanski places the contest in the context of an America still reeling from the Iranian hostage crisis, economic malaise, and an assassination attempt on President Reagan. He also reveals what has happened to those Little Leaguers since. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m., ESPN

Border Wars

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As debate over federal and state immigration laws continues to rage, this series following the activities of real-life Customs and Border Protection personnel returns for a second season. In “Checkpoint Texas,” a rookie agent and his dog find 1,000 pounds of marijuana in an 18-wheeler; a group of illegal crossers lead agents on a four-hour chase; and a mother and daughter are rescued after being abandoned by smugglers. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 9 p.m., National Geographic Channel

Masterpiece: Mystery! Inspector Lewis, Series IV

In “The Dead of Winter,” the latest episode in this worthy follow-up series to the U.K.’s much-loved Inspector Morse, a body is found on a bus, drawing Lewis (Kevin Whately) from his base in Northern England to an Oxford estate that was the childhood home of his partner, Hathaway. Sunday, Sept. 5, at 9 p.m., PBS

Giuliani’s 9/11

New interviews with Rudolph Giuliani are woven together with news clips and amateur footage to form a compelling chronicle of the decisions made by the then–New York City mayor in response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Witness: D.C. 9/11, a companion special documenting the attack on the Pentagon, follows at 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, at 9 p.m., National Geographic Channel

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

For his series’ 100th episode, the chef-turned-author returns to Paris, site of the show’s premiere, and visits some of that city’s culinary landmarks with Eric Ripert, chef of New York City’s top-ranked Le Bernardin. Preceding the episode, at 9 p.m., the retrospective special “What Were We Thinking?” takes a lighthearted look back at highlights of the culinary travel series. Monday, Sept. 6, at 9 p.m., Travel Channel

Other highlights

A Surprise in Texas: The 13th Annual Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

Last year, the world’s most prestigious piano contest drew 29 young virtuosos from 14 countries to Forth Worth, Texas. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 9:30 p.m., PBS; check local listings

My Trip to al-Qaeda

This unique blend of performance and documentary adapts Lawrence Wright’s one-man play about his research for The Looming Tower, his best-seller about the terrorist group and the 9/11 attacks. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 9 p.m., HBO

The Rivals

This documentary follows high school football teams from two Maine communities—one affluent, the other hardscrabble—through their 2007 seasons. Saturday, Sept. 11, at 9 p.m., Smithsonian Channel