‘Chocolate Factory’ has Burton stamp
Tonight’s must-see
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), 8:30-11 p.m., ABC.
Three immense talents combined. Tim Burton directed, Johnny Depp starred, Danny Elfman added a great score.
At the core is Roald Dahl’s story about an eccentric candy man (Depp). He gives five kids – only one of them worthy – a tour of his factory.
This is a fable, odd and offbeat, so some viewers will shrug. Others, kids and grown-ups, will consider it wonderful.
Tonight’s Must-See II
“Bernard and Doris,” 8 p.m., HBO.
Loosely based on real life, this film begins with Doris Duke (Susan Sarandon) as a restless heiress, forever firing staffers. Then Bernard Lafferty (Ralph Fiennes) arrives.
Fresh from alcohol rehab, he’s a penniless butler. He would become Duke’s platonic friend, confidante and heir.
Bob Balaban has directed this beautifully, getting richly restrained performances. He emerges with a balanced portrait of two people who are flawed, but likable.
Other choices include
“A Charlie Brown Valentine,” 8 p.m., ABC. Assembled from “Peanuts” cartoon strips, this 2002 cartoon gives Charlie Brown another chance to meet the little red-haired girl.
Auto racing, 5 p.m. Fox. The NASCAR season gets off to an early start, with the Budweiser Shootout in Daytona Beach. It’s a short one (70 laps, two hours), but includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., competing against the team built by his late father.
“Shark,” 8 p.m., CBS. In this rerun, the murder victim is the wife of a tough judge who twice tried to disbar Sebastian.
“iCarly,” 8 p.m., Nickelodeon. The show’s teen star, Miranda Cosgrove, introduces Nickelodeon’s “Crush Week,” leading into Valentine’s Day. Here’s a pleasantly adequate episode in which Miranda’s friend goes giddy over a questionable guy.
Sunday’s Must-See
“The 50th Annual Grammy Awards,” 8-11:30 p.m., CBS.
Yes, the Grammys are important, mixing music’s best.
Album nominees are Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock and Foo Fighters. Singles: Winehouse’s “Rehab,” Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Foo’s “The Pretender,” Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable,” Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around … Comes Around.”
More impressive, each year, are the show’s performances.
Tonight brings an epic gospel number, plus Rihanna linking with a reunion of The Time. An all-star youth orchestra backs the Foo Fighters. Also performing: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Feist, Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and more.
Sunday’s Must-See II
“Nature: Crash: A Tale of Two Species,” 7 p.m., KSPS, 8 p.m. KUID.
The horseshoe crab is an ugly creature that has been around for 350 million years. The red knot shorebird is an obscure one.
These two are oddly linked, in a story that covers 10,000 miles. Director-narrator Allison Argo tells it beautifully.
Other choices include
Pro Bowl, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox. With the real season over now, football’s best players settle back for fun in Hawaii.
Grammy red-carpet, E and TV Guide Network. The writers aren’t picketing, so there will be red-carpet glitz. The TV Guide Channel starts its previews at 4 p.m., E at 5.
“Six Degrees Could Change the World,” 5 and 7 p.m., National Geographic Channel. No more soft-sell; this documentary takes a scary look at global warning and the possible effects if the average temperature rose 6 degrees Celsius. The approach is tough and controversial, but the visuals are plush and beautiful.
“Masterpiece: Pride and Prejudice” opener, 9 p.m., KSPS. This miniseries had its U.S. debut in 1995 on A&E now PBS has its chance, as part of its “Complete Jane Austen” package. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth star in a three-week tale, intelligent and gracefully paced.
“The Wire,” 9 p.m., HBO. Last week ended with a shoot-out that left Omar leaping from a top-floor apartment, then disappearing. Tonight, he begins a revenge vendetta. Meanwhile, McNulty continues his bizarre scheme, faking a serial killer.
“Breaking Bad,” 10 p.m., AMC. For Walt, the dying chemistry teacher who set up a drug lab, this is a crucial point: He must clean up the remains of one thug - and deal with another, who is still alive. Stick with this; it ends powerfully.