‘Off to War’ resumes modern tale
The award-winning documentary series “Off to War” (10 p.m. tonight, Discovery Times) returns with seven new episodes. “Off” has followed the 39th Brigade of the National Guard from Clarksville, Ark., throughout its 18-month deployment in Iraq.
The series captures soldiers during both violent firefights and downtime, at play and at church. It also shows how soldiers cope with the ongoing hostility of the people they were sent to liberate.
“Off” spends about a third of its time back home in Arkansas, chronicling the efforts of wives, girlfriends and family members to live without loved ones, raise funds for the troops and rally support for their cause. A wounded soldier contends with rehabilitation and red tape as medical bills mount and his former employer tries to deny him pension benefits.
A minister-turned-soldier discovers via frantic phone calls from his wife that the church he founded has been taken over by rival pastors.
As the series draws to a conclusion, it will focus on returning soldiers, both healthy and wounded, and their process of adjustment to their old way of life.
A pampered wife (Kristin Dattilo) decides to surprise her fiance (Michael Lowry) by following him to Switzerland, only to discover that he’s really involved in political intrigue in an unstable Latin American country called “Coronado” (9 p.m. tonight, Hallmark).
Few of us go looking for brain surgeons in a stock-car pit team, but that’s just what you’ll find on “NASCAR: Driven to Extremes” (7 p.m. Sunday, CNN), a special featuring Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The former White House speechwriter and neurosurgeon spends time with veteran driver Rusty Wallace examining the physical and mental demands of NASCAR.
“Adult Swim” (Midnight Sunday, Cartoon Network) introduces three strange new animated series. “Squidbillies” follows the lowbrow antics of a backwoods sea creature given to hard drinking and a hot temper.
Consisting of simple drawings and stick figures, “12 oz. Mouse” pushes the envelope of minimalist animation. An offshoot of “Space Ghost: Coast to Coast,” “Perfect Hair Forever” sends up Japanese anime conventions as only “Adult Swim” can.
Tonight’s highlights
NASCAR racing (4 p.m., NBC).
Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, with Chicago at Los Angeles (4:30 p.m., Fox).
Hurley struggles with his past on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).
Garth Brooks performs before a live audience for the first time since his 2000 retirement on “Grand Ole Opry Live” (8 p.m., GAC).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): a man stands trial three times for his wife’s murder.
The war on drugs takes its toll on “Commander in Chief” (10 p.m., ABC).
Sergio Mora and Peter Manfredo Jr., the top two fighters from the NBC sports reality series “The Contender,” face off in a live rematch (8 p.m., ESPN).
“Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC) features “The Best of David Spade.”
Sunday’s highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): a former NFL linebacker discusses steroid use; the power of drug growers in Afghanistan; and the sighting of a rare woodpecker long considered extinct.
Scheduled on “Dateline” (7 p.m., NBC): an interview with Melissa Etheridge; and a “serial groom” leaves heartbroken brides in his wake.
CJ gets some unsettling news on “The West Wing” (8 p.m., NBC).
Chicago and Los Angeles meet in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series (4:30 p.m., Fox).
Elton John appears on the two-hour 11th-season premiere of “Inside the Actors Studio” (8 p.m., Bravo). For the record, Elton John is not an actor.
Chuck Norris stars in “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire” (9 p.m. Sunday, CBS). Violent and predictable.
Egypt offers many temptations on “Rome” (9 p.m., HBO).
Tension behind bars on “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m., ABC).
Jenny McCarthy hosts the five-part special “101 Craziest TV Moments” (10 p.m., E!, continues at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday).
Samuel L. Jackson cameos as himself on “Extras” (10:30 p.m., HBO).