Asteroids and Fairy Tales Highlight Made-for-TV Fare

Four new movies premiere on TV this weekend, including an ambitious four-hour biography of George Wallace and a family film starring an Oscar-winning actress, Diane Keaton.

Keaton makes a rare TV appearance in the Disney Channel’s “Northern Lights,” Saturday at 7 p.m. She plays a New York sophisticate who comes to the small New England town of her late, estranged brother to collect her inheritance--which turns out to be her brother’s 9-year-old son.

Gary Sinise, who played Harry S. Truman two years ago, stars in TNT’s “George Wallace,” Sunday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., a two-part, four-hour drama about the controversial, pro-segregation Alabama governor who made a run for the presidency in 1972. The conclusion airs Tuesday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m.

Connie Sellecca, Ed Marinaro and William Devane star in “Doomsday Rock,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on the Family Channel. The thriller deals with the race to explode an asteroid in space before it reaches and destroys the Earth.

Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill and David Conrad star in “Snow White: A Tale of Terror,” Sunday at 9 p.m., Showtime’s dark fantasy based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale.

Today

PBS’ “The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty,” at 9:15 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, looks at the music, life and mystique of the cult band led by the late Jerry Garcia.

Friday

VH1’s “Dance, Dance, Dance With the Pointer Sisters,” at 10 a.m., is a retro ‘80s party featuring Wang Chung, Dead or Alive, Lisa Lisa and A Flock of Seagulls.

Saturday

CBS’ “Crayola Kids Adventures” presents “Tales of Gulliver’s Travels,” at 9 a.m. on Channel 2. Adam Wylie stars as the 12-year-old Dr. Lemuel Gulliver.

“Hora Cero,” at 11 a.m. on KMEX-TV Channel 34, is a hard-hitting and emotional hourlong report looking at the deportation crisis facing tens of thousands of Central Americans in the wake of changes to federal immigration law. The program includes testimony from some families who have had their lives altered by the law as well as advice for those whose immigration status is in question.

Brent Musberger hosts ABC’s live telecast of the final game in the Little League World Series, at 12:30 p.m. on Channel 7.

Nickelodeon’s enormously successful animated series “Rugrats” returns at 8 p.m. with new episodes.

The popular comedian-turned-movie-actress Janeane Garofalo headlines her own “HBO Comedy Hour,” at 10 p.m.

Sunday

TBS’ two-part “Pirate Tales,” at 6 p.m., looks at the infamous men and women who plundered the high seas between the 16th and 18th centuries. Roger Daltrey is on hand as the 17th century pirate William Dampier. The conclusion is Tuesday.

VH1’s new series, “Behind the Music,” at 9 p.m., looks at the personal and intimate lives of music artists. The premiere episode spotlights Milli Vanilli and MC Hammer.