‘Lackawanna’ deserves silver screen
Based on an acclaimed off-Broadway one-man show by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “Lackawanna Blues” (8 p.m. tonight, HBO) offers a full-throated song of praise for a strong woman at the center of a fractured community.
S. Epatha Merkerson (“Law & Order”) stars as Nanny, a former maid from rural Virginia who established a rooming house for fellow emigrants from the segregated South.
Featuring stunning choreography and brilliant editing, the scene shifts to the birth of Ruben (Marcus Carl Franklin), the play’s narrator and central character.
After Ruben’s parents’ marriage dissolves, he comes to live with Nanny and grow up in her eccentric household, including Pauline (Macy Gray in an impressive performance), an addled beauty who will dance with a man one minute and cut his throat the next; an unstable Vietnam veteran; a blind blues musician; a murderer; an audaciously mannish woman; and other characters Nanny rescued from streets, bars and mental wards.
Directed with dynamic authority by stage veteran George C. Wolfe (“Caroline, or Change”), it is one of the rare TV films that cries out for theatrical release. I wish I had seen on a big screen.
Directed by Spike Lee, “Sucker Free City” (8 p.m., tonight, Showtime) follows several overlapping stories of crime and desperation in San Francisco’s changing neighborhoods.
Sandra Bernhard (“Roseanne”) guest-stars on “Crossing Jordan” (10 p.m., Sunday, NBC). She plays a Boston detective who shares a peculiar flirtation with Bug (Ravi Kapoor).
Martin Short (“Primetime Glick”) is never afraid of looking ridiculous. He appears on “Arrested Development” (8:30 p.m., Sunday, Fox) as sleazy family friend “Uncle” Jack, a former film star left paralyzed in a freak weightlifting accident. Too vain to use a wheelchair, Jack is carried around by a dim German bodybuilder.
Pure silly fun, but not for the kids.
To paraphrase Janis Joplin, fans of “American Dreams” (8 p.m. Sunday, NBC) had better “get it while they can.” Last week, NBC announced that it was cutting back the number of episodes it would air of this ‘60s-period musical showcase. Even more ominously, the network moved the show to Wednesday nights at 8 p.m., making it a sacrificial ratings lamb up against “American Idol” on Fox and “Lost” on ABC.
“Fly with Me: The History of the Flight Attendant” (8 p.m., Sunday, Discovery Times) chronicles the history and mythology of the stewardess, from the sexy sirens depicted in the 1960 best seller “Coffee, Tea or Me?” to the more mundane, security-conscious atmosphere on today’s flights.
Today’s highlights
Can’t wait for the Oscars? Check out their British equivalent at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (12:10 p.m., BBC), presented live and without commercials. The BAFTA Awards will be rebroadcast at 6 p.m.
NASCAR racing (5 p.m., Fox).
New frontiers in heartache on the 2002 animated special “A Charlie Brown Valentine” (8 p.m., ABC).
“Save Our History: Voices of Civil Rights” (8 p.m., History) chronicles a 35-city tour to add voices to an oral history of the struggle for racial equality.
The honey pot runneth over in the animated holiday special “Winnie the Pooh, a Valentine for You” (8:30 p.m., ABC).
Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings”) stars in the 2005 time-travel fantasy “Slipstream” (9 p.m., Sci Fi).
Tori Spelling stars in the 2005 cable romance “Family Plan” (9 p.m., Hallmark).
Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley and the rest of the gang reconvene for the “Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion” (9 p.m., ABC).
Jason Bateman hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Kelly Clarkson.
Sunday’s highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): an interview with Jose Canseco about his controversial book detailing steroid abuse in major league baseball; adoption and African American babies; Central Park’s popular new art installation.
Homeless families find shelter on a two-hour “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m., ABC).
Five Grammy nominees – The Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani (performing with Eve), Los Lonely Boys, Maroon5 and Franz Ferdinand – will perform the opening number together on “The 47th Annual Grammy Awards” (8 p.m., CBS). Usher will also perform.
On back-to-back episodes of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (NBC, TV-14), murder rides sidesaddle (8 p.m.), and Christopher Noth guest-stars (9 p.m.).
Cupid works overtime on “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m., ABC).
Meat-eaters feel the heat on “Boston Legal” (10 p.m., ABC).