BBC’s ‘Byron’ looks at poet’s wild life
Sex, scandal and shattered taboos loom large in the opulent British television biography of the romantic “Byron” (6 p.m. tonight, BBC America).
Johnny Lee Miller (“Trainspotting”) portrays the artist as a mercurial young man given to serial womanizing and a taste for the forbidden. The film begins with Byron’s return from Greece and the Balkans and the rapturous reception to his book of poetry, “Childe Harolde’s Pilgrimage.”
Don’t go looking for a recitation of “Childe” or an explanation of the worth of Byron’s poetry. “Byron” treats its hero as the primordial rock star, complete with a stable of female groupies, many from the nicest homes.
Lady Caroline Lamb (Camilla Power) throws herself at the poet, and he obliges her and dumps her in short order. Little wonder she called him, “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”
This biography emphasizes his outsized personality traits that fascinated and repelled his acquaintances and readers for more than two centuries.
Speaking of scandals, Nashville’s primordial “bad girl” Tanya Tucker gets her own show, “Tuckerville” (10 p.m. tonight, TLC). The 26-episode documentary reality series will chronicle the singer’s life as a single mother of three as she attempts to maintain a recording career.
Tucker may be the face that launched a thousand tabloid headlines, but her expectations are more modest these days: “There’s no way to be a great mother, a great performer, a great businesswoman, a great housekeeper, a great cook and a great lover. You just can’t do it all, but you do the best you can.”
The character of Sherlock Holmes has always been rather distant and above it all. But as realized by Rupert Everett (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”) in the “Masterpiece Theatre” presentation “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking” (8 p.m. Sunday, KSPS) the sleuth of Baker Street reaches new heights of elusive hauteur. In fact, in the opening scenes of his handsome production, Holmes can be found puffing on a pipe in a Chinese opium den, drifting off to his own personal oblivion.
With a panel that sounds like the opening of an old joke, the news special “The Ethical Edge” (6 p.m. Sunday, MSNBC) invites a priest, a rabbi and two advice columnists to weigh in on small daily decisions with ethical overtones.
Tonight’s highlights
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger headline the 2002 Oscar-winning musical “Chicago” (8 p.m., NBC).
The Chicago White Sox host the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series (4:30 p.m., Fox).
The president’s (Harrison Ford) plane is hijacked in the 1996 thriller “Air Force One” (8 p.m., ABC).
Martina McBride performs on “Grand Ole Opry Live!” (8 p.m., GAC)
The news series “My First Place” (9 p.m., HGTV) showcases the joys of owning a home for the first time. It also offers helpful tips and cautionary tales for the first-time homebuyer.
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): a man who lived on the edge gets bumped off.
Catherine Zeta-Jones hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Franz Ferdinand.
Sunday’s highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): interviews with the American sergeant who spent four decades in North Korea; Michael Jordan; and musical savants.
Toby takes a legal hint on “West Wing” (8 p.m., NBC).
Game 2 of the World Series with Houston at Chicago (4:30 p.m., Fox).
Randy Travis sings on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8 p.m., ABC).
Rosie O’Donnell appears on “Inside the Actors Studio” (8 p.m., Bravo).
“Storm Stories” presentation “Facing Cancer at the South Pole” (5:30 p.m., Weather Channel) recalls efforts to save Dr. Jerri Nielsen, stationed in Antarctica.
An abused wife confronts her tormentor in the 2002 drama “Enough” (9 p.m., CBS), starring Jennifer Lopez.
Murder in the cathedral on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9 p.m., NBC)
Susan’s agent (Wallace Shawn) disappoints her on “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m., ABC)
Undercover in a cult on “Crossing Jordan” (10 p.m., NBC)
A patient’s religious tradition may prevent needed treatment on “Grey’s Anatomy” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
AMC celebrates the 25th anniversary of “Friday the 13th” (6, 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday, AMC), with an enhanced letter-boxed presentation of the slasher movie favorite.