Olympic trials continue through Sunday
Tonight’s might-see
Olympic trials, 8-9 p.m., NBC.
We’re near the finals now, forming the U.S. Olympic team. Tonight has swimming; Sunday (7-9 p.m.) concludes the swimming and track-and-field trials.
Tonight’s might-see II
“A Gunfighter’s Pledge,” 9-11 p.m., Hallmark.
A fierce killer has escaped, as killers always seem to do in cowboy films. Now he’s after the sheriff (Luke Perry) who killed his brother.
Meanwhile, a rancher frets. His family has owned this land for generations, but now it’s no longer part of Mexico. A businessman (C. Thomas Howell) wants to take it away.
These stories are related in a fairly solid movie.
“Gunfighters Pledge” builds strong expectations, then stumbles. The shoot-out is poorly filmed; the ending is contrived. Still, it’s a decent conclusion to Hallmark’s cowboy marathon. Perry, from small-town Ohio, projects a quietly decent man, plunging into chaos.
Other choices include:
“The Magnificent Seven Ride” (1972), 10 a.m., Hallmark. The second day of the cowboy marathon begins with Lee Van Cleef in a rare hero’s role.
“Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Lindsay Lohan plays a sophisticated, Manhattan teen suddenly moving to New Jersey. She grumbles, gripes, then obsesses about seeing a rock star.
“The Unit,” 8 p.m., CBS. Grey is behind enemy lines with a female Israeli soldier.
“Eli Stone,” 10 p.m., ABC. Eli has been demoted to the second spot, next to Maggie, in a case involving a doctor from his brother’s hospital. Meanwhile, his former fiancee believes a concert by the real George Michael will end Eli’s visions.
“Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m., NBC. Last week’s rerun of the first “SNL” was a handy reminder of how the show has changed. “Weekend Update” was barely a blip and sketches were brief, making room for six songs, comedians and more. Now it’s back to modern times. Jon Bon Jovi hosts, with Foo Fighters as musical guests.
Sunday’s must-sees
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” 8-10 p.m., ABC; and/or “Nick News: Coming Home: When Parents Return From War,” 9 p.m., Nickelodeon.
Both shows tell of soldiers returning home from Iraq.
A Kansas man lost his leg during his second hitch in Iraq. Now the “Extreme Makeover” team rebuilds his home.
Meanwhile, “Nick News” looks at the broader picture of waiting for a parent. Like other Linda Ellerbee productions, this is thorough and honest. It views soldiers who returned unharmed and ones who were seriously wounded. It also takes an unflinching look at post-traumatic stress and the parents who retreat into solemn silence.
Sunday’s might-sees
“Happy Feet” (2006, 7 p.m.) and “The Simpsons Movie” (2007, 9 p.m.), HBO.
The weekend wraps up with an animated double feature.
First are dancing penguins, then talking Simpsons. Like the TV “Simpsons,” the movie is erratic, with hilarious moments.
Other choices include
Olympic Trials, 7-9 p.m., NBC. We’re to the finals now in swimming and track-and-field.
“Million Dollar Password,” 8 p.m., CBS. Things turn youthful, with MTV’s Damien Fahey and “High School Musical” co-star Monique Coleman.
“Baseball’s Golden Age” debut, 8 p.m., FSN. This show spends way too much of its half-hour hyping itself, telling how it’s using color film from way back. That’s true and once we get to the good stuff – the actual film, the memories of players and fans – it’s engaging.
PBS’ “Masterpiece Mystery: Inspector Lewis: Expiation,” 8 p.m., KSPS; 9 p.m., KCDT. After two excellent tales, “Lewis” goes overboard with its final story of the season. A well-liked Oxford housewife kills herself. That leads to a dizzying excess of secrets and deceptions.
“Factory,” 10 p.m., Spike. Blue-collar comedy series are rare, so let’s try this one. It focuses on four likable co-workers. Tonight, one buys a car and another wants to propose; both plans go astray in fairly funny ways.