Stand back. The start of television’s all-important May sweeps ratings period opens with a bang Sunday when Fox rolls out its comedy guns.
“Animation Domination” lines up, all in a row, episodes of “King of the Hill,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The Simpsons” (twice), “Family Guy” and “American Dad,” 5-9 p.m. on KDVR-Channel 31.
“The Heartbroke Kid,” in which an overweight Bart Simpson gets sent to “Serenity Ranch – A Forced Starvation Facility,” is the 350th “Simpsons,” making it TV’s longest-running current comedy.
The second “Simpsons” features the voices of Ray Romano and Stephen Hawking.
Fox will do new versions of “Animation Domination” on May 8 and 15, which certainly can’t hurt viewership for Channel 31’s news, beginning at 9.
Historical note: Most comedy episodes ever? “Ozzie and Harriett,” 435; “My Three Sons,” 380.
Other weekend highlights:
Today
Rep. Bob Beauprez talks about his gubernatorial ambitions on “The Aaron Harber Show” (9 p.m., KBDI-Channel 12, repeating at 2 p.m. Sunday).
After 10 years and 227 episodes, “JAG” sails into the sunset with “Fair Winds and Following Seas,” its last episode (8 p.m., KCNC-Channel 4), with one lingering question: Will love bloom for “Mac” (Catherine Bell) and Harm (David James Elliott)?
Saturday
Kenneth Branagh offers a warm, passionate and humane portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in “Warm Springs” (6 p.m., HBO). Cynthia Nixon, who bears little resemblance to the first lady, plays Eleanor Roosevelt.
Those who haven’t seen it get another shot at “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” a magical movie evening for the whole family (7 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Sunday
Andie MacDowell and Rosie O’Donnell co-star in “Riding the Bus With My Sister,” Rachel Simon’s true story of a teacher and her retarded sister who ride buses nine hours a day (8 p.m., Channel 4). Anjelica Huston directed.
Birth-control pills play a pivotal role in the lives of Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), Gabrielle (Eva Langoria) and their gardener in “Fear No More” on the primetime soap “Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m., Channel 7).
Around the dial
KFMD 95.7-FM debuted Wednesday as a bilingual station aimed at 18-to-34-year-old Latinos. … Colorado Public Radio’s four-year commitment to supporting opera in Colorado won it a Bravo! Award from Opera America, to be presented in Detroit on May 8. … Plum TV, television for rich people, has acquired Aspen’s TV-16 from the Aspen Skiing Co. … Quotable: “I think Mr. Smithers picked me for my motivational skills. Everyone always says they have to work twice as hard when I’m around!” – Homer Simpson.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
