Aug. 21: What's on HDTV today

What we're watching and why:

If you're a NASCAR fan, there are two live races for your high-definition, crash-watching pleasure today. First, the Nextel Cup GFS Marketplace 400 starts at 2:30 p.m. on TNT-HD. Then the NASCAR Grand National Division NAPA Auto Parts 150, from Pikes Peak International Raceway, airs at 6 p.m. on HDNet.

Here are some other HDTV programs showing on selected networks today, all in Eastern time:

ABC: Desperate Housewives (10 p.m.)

CBS: Cold Case (8 p.m.), Living with the Dead (9 p.m.)

NBC: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (9 p.m.), Crossing Jordan (10 p.m.)

Fox: Malcolm in the Middle (7 p.m.)

WB: O (8 p.m.)

ESPN-HD: Baseball Tonight (7 p.m.), MLB: Padres at Braves (8 p.m.), SportsCenter (11 p.m.)

ESPN 2-HD: Little League World Series (8 p.m.)

TNT-HD: NASCAR Racing: Nextel Cup GFS Marketplace 400 (2:30 p.m.)