all day: Movies

Barbet Schroeder (“Reversal of Fortune”) directs his first non-English-language film in 16 years, returning to Colombia, the country of his youth, for “Our Lady of the Assassins.” It is the controversial story of a writer who comes back to Medellin to die, but finds himself strangely experiencing life once more through his emotional connection with the young men who ply the violent trade of the city’s drug cartels. German Jaramillo stars; Fernando Vallejo adapted his novel, “La Virgen de los Sicarios.”

* “Our Lady of the Assassins,” rated R for strong violence, language, sexuality and drug content, opens Friday exclusively at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A., (310) 478-6379.

3 pm: TV Museum

When “Saturday Night Live” got its start in 1975, the producers asked Albert Brooks-then known as the “anticomic”-to act as host. Brooks asked for a different role instead: in-house filmmaker. Years before he directed his first feature, 1979’s “Real Life,” Brooks created short satires about show business for “SNL.” In From Albert Brooks to the TV Funhouse: Selected Short Films From “Saturday Night Live,” the Museum of Television and Radio has compiled Brooks’ films, as well as those of his successors, Gary Weis and Tom Schiller. Rounding out the 90-minute program are guest films from Robert Altman, Aviva Slesin, Tim Robbins and Walter Williams (creator of Mr. Bill) and samples from the current “SNL” shorts “TV Funhouse” and Adam McKay’s absurdist shorts.

* From Albert Brooks to the TV Funhouse: Selected Short Films From “Saturday Night Live,” Museum of Television & Radio, 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. Screenings are Wednesdays through Sundays at 3 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Free. Suggested donation, $3 to $6. (310) 786-1000.

7:15 pm: Pop Music

One person who was probably happy when next week’s Latin Grammys were moved from Miami to Los Angeles is Juanes, a little-known singer-songwriter from Colombia whose seven nominations have made him a sudden sensation. And now he won’t have to fly cross-country for the event after the Watcha 2001 tour. The annual rock en espanol extravaganza, which also features Molotov, Los Amigos Invisibles and others, hits the Universal Amphitheatre on the way to its finale Sunday in San Jose. * Watcha 2001, Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 7:15 p.m. $19 to $64. (818) 622-4440.

8 pm: Pop Music

Gillian Welch grew up the daughter of writers for Carol Burnett’s variety show, but when her own muse kicked in, it took her far from Television City. Now the singer and her partner David Rawlings are in the front ranks of modern disciples of traditional Southern music. She returns to her hometown buoyed by last week’s Country Music Assn. nominations for “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” a project in which she was a driving force. * Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 8 p.m. $20. (323) 936-4790.

8 pm: Theater

Warner Shook directs Somerset Maugham’s theatrical masterpiece “The Circle,” a social satire about the ups and downs of a prominent family in 1920s high society. Will Lady Kitty’s son forgive her for abandoning him for her lover 30 years ago? Is his own wife about to follow suit? Carole Shelley, Biff McGuire and Paxton Whitehead star.* “The Circle,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends Sept. 30. $19 to $52. (714) 708-5555.

8:30 pm: Jazz

New Orleans jazz legend Pete Fountain and his New Orleans Jazz Band join forces with Dr. John to bring the Big Easy to the Hollywood Bowl for two shows this weekend. * Pete Fountain and his New Orleans Jazz Band and Dr. John, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, $3 to $85. (323) 850-2000.

Freebies

* The Mike Melvoin Trio performs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 5:30 p.m. (323) 857-6000.

* The Rudy Regalado Latin Jazz Band kicks off a Beverly Hills concert series in the city parking lot, 241 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 5:30 p.m. (310) 285-2438.