{alltv} PBS and Jimmy Smits gear up for 'A Capitol Fourth'

Independence Day in Washington, D.C., is becoming an annual event for actor Jimmy Smits— but it's anything but routine.

For the third straight year, the Emmy and Golden Globe winner will host PBS' A Capitol Fourth (live, 8 ET/tape delay PT, check local listings), the musical and fireworks extravaganza marking its 30th year on broadcast TV.

"It's an emotional high because you've got 250,000 to 300,000 people there watching, and it's live TV — so you can't go up on stage and just wing it — there's a little pressure there and you don't want to screw up," Smits says. "Even when you rehearse the day before, there might be 30,000 people watching. You just try not to sweat it."

This year's Capitol entertainment lineup to help celebrate the nation's 234th birthday includes Gladys Knight, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, John Schneider, classical pianist Lang Lang and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Smits, 54, arrived in Washington this week to visit daughter Taina, a local high school special-education teacher, and his grandchildren. He's also doing some research for Outlaw, the NBC fall series he stars in as a Supreme Court justice who quits to return to practicing the law.

The visit is "great family time — doing a couple of tours and being with the kids and the cousins," Smits says.

American Idol runner-up David Archuleta will be making his first Capitol appearance, performing the national anthem.

"I love getting a chance to sing a really special song, and what better place to do it than an event like this?" says Archuleta, 19. He's also set to perform Stand by Me.

Producer Jerry Colbert, who has overseen all 30 Capitol shows, says he never tires of the event.

"It's like steering an aircraft carrier in a storm: You've got big stars, thousands of people, live cannons going off with the 1812 Overture and fireworks. It's moving and an incredible experience," Colbert says. "When this is over, you're high for the next year."

This year's $3 million production features 20 cameras to help re-create the live viewing experience for TV. And Colbert leaves little to chance — there's even an Air Force meteorologist to plot the weather. "Rain is our No. 1 enemy," he says.

Beyond the fireworks Sunday on PBS (8 ET/PT), NBC (9 ET/PT) and CBS (10 ET/PT):

• America: The Story of Us. History Channel re-airs its six-part series Sunday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET/PT.)

• The Revolutionary War. Military Channel's repeats its multi-part look at the USA's fight for independence Sunday
(9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET/PT).

• John Wayne All-American Weekend. AMC showcases several of the actor's films through Sunday, including tonight's The Wings of Eagles (10:30 ET/PT), Saturday's Operation Pacific (12:30 p.m. ET/PT) and Sunday's The Cowboys (8 ET/PT).

• Band of Brothers. Spike's Monday airing of HBO's WWII saga runs 9 a.m. to midnight ET/PT.