Not much “must-see TV” to see now that the frenzy for ratings is over, but “Empire Falls” is an exception.
A dynamite cast that includes Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, Robin Wright Penn, Aidan Quinn, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joanne Woodward brings author Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book to life.
The story centers on Miles Roby (Harris) and his life and relationships in a dying town on the Maine coast. The HBO two-parter airs at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Other weekend highlights:
Friday
Jim Carrey is his whacked-out self in “Me, Myself & Irene,” the 2000 movie about a cop with two personalities, both of whom fall in love with Renee Zellweger (7 p.m., KDVR-Channel 31).
Betty White guests as a woman who has a heart attack on the Savages’ doorstep in the episode “Saving Old Lady Riley” on “Complete Savages” (7:30 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Saturday
“Colorado Getaways,” in its 18th year as an in-state travelogue, wanders from Wild Basin to the Morrison Nature Center in Aurora. Jim Benemann hosts at 6:30 p.m. on KCNC-Channel 4.
It’s a repeat but all is not lost if you missed the last episode of “Lost,” in which some of the castaways try a raft journey (7 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Sunday
“M*A*S*H,” the 1970 movie that spawned the television series, was much darker and more graphic. Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland star as the surgeons trying to bring sanity to madness (6 and 8 p.m., AMC).
The 60th anniversary of the bloody battle for Iwo Jima in World War II and a tribute to late host Ossie Davis are featured in the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C. (7 and 8:30 p.m., KRMA-Channel 6).
Monday
Sen. John McCain’s 1999 autobiography, “Faith of My Fathers,” about his 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam airs. Shawn Hatosy as McCain (6 and 8 p.m., A&E).
Around the dial
Pierre Wolfe does his travel/food show “The Good Life” from the Colorado Microbrewery Beer Tasting at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, starting at 12:15 p.m. Saturday on KRCN 1060-AM … Craig Eliot, meteorologist with KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, begs to differ. It was his station, he says, that launched the first 24-hour weather channel in Colorado in April 2004 … Guitarist Todd Mohr discusses his favorite topic, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, on “The Aaron Harber Show” (9 tonight, KBDI-Channel 12) … Marin Alsop conducts her final concert as music director laureate of the Colorado Symphony live on KVOD 90.1-FM, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. … Quotable: “I didn’t like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions – the curtain was up.” – Groucho Marx.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
