Lives of Dandridge and Nelson; Howser Visits Inland Wineries

Two biopics, a western starring Sam Elliott and a drama starring Oscar winner Sally Field are among the new TV movies scheduled for this weekend.

The Disney Channel’s latest film, “Genius,” Saturday at 7 and 8:30 p.m., deals with a 14-year-old college student who decides to enroll in high school at the same time.

Halle Berry tackles the role of the famed African American singer, dancer and actress in HBO’s new biopic “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” Saturday at 9 p.m. Despite her talent, Dandridge had to fight rampant racism in Hollywood in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Still, she was the first African American to be nominated for a best actress Oscar for 1954’s “Carmen Jones.”

Sam Elliott and Arliss Howard star in the latest TNT western, “You Know My Name,” Sunday at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight. Elliott plays legendary Oklahoma lawman Bill Tilghman. Howard is the evil federal agent.

Heidi Noelle Lenhart and Gregory Harrison star in the Fox Family Channel comedy “Au Pair,” Sunday at 8 p.m.

Sally Field and Judy Davis star in Showtime’s “A Cooler Climate,” Sunday at 8 p.m. Field plays a divorced surgeon’s wife who trades her affluence for a housekeeping job and ends up helping her employer through a separation of her own.

Jamey Sheridan, Sara Botsford and Gregory Capakis star in the VH1 biopic “Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol,” Sunday at 9 p.m.

Series

AMC’s new four-part miniseries, “The Lot,” tonight and Friday at 5 and 10 p.m., focuses on the lives of seven characters on a fictitious Hollywood studio lot. Jonathan Frakes is among the stars.

On KCET’s “Life & Times Tonight,” tonight at 7, co-host Val Zavala reports on the San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market. At 8 p.m., Huell Howser takes “California’s Gold” to Hearst Castle and Morro Bay.

Comedy Central’s new series, “Frank Leaves for the Orient,” tonight at 10:30, centers on a man (Stan Cahill) who attempts to change his boring life by moving to Japan. Before he can go, though, he must tie up loose ends with friends and loved ones.

Lifetime kicks off the second season of its sitcom “Oh Baby,” Saturday at 10 p.m., with single mom Tracy (Cynthia Stevenson) breast-feeding her newborn son. Following at 10:30 p.m. is “Ruby,” a new comedy series starring Ruby Wax conducting interviews of the rich and famous.

The Sci-Fi Channel offers a viewers’ choice marathon of “Alien Nation,” Sunday at 4 p.m.

Huell Howser visits two inland empire wineries on “California’s Gold,” Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on KCET-TV.

“Assignment E! With Leeza Gibbons: Hollywood’s Obsession With You,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television, is the first of a new quarterly series examining issues influencing entertainment.

“The E! True Hollywood Story” offers a behind-the-scenes look at the classic TV series “Bewitched,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on E! Entertainment Television.

“Independent Lens,” Sunday at 11 p.m. on KCET-TV, is a new series showcasing the work of independent producers. The first installment features the Oscar-winning “Visas and Virtue” as well as “I Am Viet Hung.”

Specials

The busy Leeza Gibbons hosts two more episodes of UPN’s “Teen Files,” tonight at 8. The back-to-back hours deal with liquor and tobacco.

Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Lauryn Hill and Mike Tyson are set as presenters on UPN’s “The Source Hip-Hop Awards,” Friday at 8 p.m. LL Cool J and TLC’s Lisa Lopes are the hosts.

The PBS “American Masters” documentary “Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley,” Friday at 9 p.m. on KCET-TV, pays tribute to female composers Dorothy Fields, Kay Swift, Dana Suesse and Ann Ronell.

“Emmylou Harris: Spyboy,” Friday at 10 p.m. on KCET-TV, features the Grammy Award-winning singer performing current and past hits.

PBS repeats the acclaimed six-hour documentary “The Farmer’s Wife,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on KCET-TV and KVCR. David Sutherland’s film chronicles the emotional and financial hardship of a Nebraska couple.