Small Screen Avoids Full-Court Press

As CBS again gives up the night for NCAA basketball, the remaining choices for non-fans are varied.

ABC has fresh episodes of two new family series, “Muppets Tonight” and “Aliens in the Family,” and basic cable screens Oscar-winning “Rain Man” (1988), TBS at 5:05.

NBC offers an alternative of two solid hours of non-fiction programming.

On “Unsolved Mysteries” at 8, handwriting experts analyze the suicide note left behind by White House legal counsel Vincent Foster. The report looks into claims that it’s a forgery.

“Unsolved” brings in its own expert to render an opinion on the letter’s authenticity.

In another segment, “Unsolved” profiles crime novelist James Ellroy, who has been haunted since childhood by his own mother’s unsolved murder.

And in a story rescheduled from an earlier date, two survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing attempt to find the rescuers who saved their lives.

At 9, “Dateline NBC” updates the story of director Jim Abrahams (“Airplane”) and his quest to save the life of his young son Charlie, who suffered from a rare form of epilepsy. Two years ago, Abrahams discovered an article published in 1939 in the American Journal of Medicine outlining the “Johns Hopkins Diet” for controlling seizures.

Remarkably, he located the researcher and adopted the regimen. The diet did what doctors were unable to do: stop Charlie’s seizures.

“Dateline” returns to see how he’s doing and to see what kind of attention the diet is getting. A publicist says “Dateline” has received over 1,000 inquiries regarding the treatment.

Highlights

“Basketball,” CBS at 4:30: Regional semifinal play tips off in Lexington, Ky., and Denver. CBS will air a doubleheader.

“Sliders,” FOX at 8: The latest parallel world encountered by the displaced comrades is one in which land west of the Mississippi is the Nation of Texas.

It’s a rough-and-tumble place where Quinn (Jerry O’Connell) inadvertently gains a reputation as a gunslinger.

“Muppets Tonight,” ABC at 8:30: Billy Crystal pays a visit in this laugh-filled episode that features parodies of “When Harry Met Sally” and “City Slickers.”

“Aliens in the Family,” ABC at 9: There’s more nonsense in this sitcom as baby Bobut punishes his nanny Sally’s (Julie Dretzin) two-timing suitor. Also, Adam (Chris Marquette) tries to catch a flu bug that will spare him from a pounding as a member of the school wrestling team.

“Homicide: Life on the Street,” NBC at 10: A stirring repeat involves a teen shooting that turns out to be a case of mistaken identity. Strong performances by Rhonda Stubbins White and Gay Thomas as the mothers of the youths involved make this an outstanding episode.

This series surpasses all others when it comes to focusing on criminals and their victims. Its take on urban violence isn’t about making the detective stars out to be heroes.

Cable Calls

“Figure Skating,” ESPN at 4:30: From the World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, it’s the original dance competition. (ABC’s coverage continues Saturday at 4:30 with the pairs’ finals and in prime time at 8 with the ladies’ and ice-dancing finals.)

“Rain Man” (1988), TBS at 5:05: Director Barry Levinson and Dustin Hoffman won Oscars for their contributions to this engaging film about a self-centered hotshot (Tom Cruise) who attends his father’s funeral and discovers that he has an autistic savant brother (Hoffman). Winner for Best Picture, it’s a perfect way to gear up for Monday’s Academy Awards.

“The Hunter” (1980), TNT at 9:10: This film is known for two things: It’s Steve McQueen’s last picture and, unfortunately, his worst. He plays a contemporary bounty hunter who becomes the hunted in an ugly case of revenge.

Ben Johnson, Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold and LaVar Burton co-star.

Talk Time

“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Actor Robert Duvall, Lacey Chabert (“Party of Five”) and comedian Gerry Swallow.

“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Loni Anderson (“The Louie Show” and musical guest Anthrax.

“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Tennis star Andre Agassi, actor-comedian Norm MacDonald and music group Extreme. Repeat.