By Michael Janusonis It's clear to see why Spike Lee chose to make the screen version of James McBride's novel, Miracle at St. Anna. The plot revolves around four heroic African-American soldiers who are trapped behind Nazi lines in the Italian countryside during World War II.

DON'T MISS: "SLEEPER CELL: AMERICAN TERROR" _ Still topical and still very gripping, this miniseries drama picks up where it left off after a turbo-charged first season.

By DALE MCGARRIGLE; OF THE NEWS STAFF The most valuable thing that premium cable channels bring to the TV landscape is the ability of their original programming to tackle hot-button issues, such as organized crime, drugs and homosexuality.