Tuning in: On TV this week.
Saturday May 7
Ordinary Miracles (Hallmark Channel, 9-11 p.m.): Jaclyn Smith stars as a surprisingly tolerant judge at a juvenile court. When a bright but difficult teenage girl is given up to the court by her foster parents, the judge takes on the guardianship herself. In this thoughtful rendering of the familiar lost-kid plot, the writers leave room for plausible growth (and reformation) in the characters portrayed.
Confessions of an American Bride (Lifetime, 9-11 p.m.): Determined to have the perfect "princess" wedding, Samantha Hoyt (Shannon Elizabeth), a young advertising executive, has everything planned. When the looming wedding begins to look more like a nightmare, what with all the new in-laws at each other's throats, Sam is momentarily distracted by an old beau. Ms. Elizabeth charmingly carries this familiar stuff to its romantic-comedy ending.
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (IFC, 9-11 p.m.): Film and TV buffs will enjoy this engrossing documentary by Xan Cassavetes about the historic impact of the Los Angeles-based cable channel of the 1970s and '80s. Jerry Harvey, the mover and shaker behind Z Channel, was an eccentric programmer whose knowledge and love of the cinema saved many a low-budget film gem from obscurity.
Elvis by the Presleys (CBS, 8-10 p.m.): This documentary features interviews with Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, wife and daughter of the "King of rock," along with close friends and relatives. Well-made and intelligent, the film reveals a fragile side of a rock icon. Anyone who cares about American pop culture will find this film enlightening.
