Tuesday, May 13, 8-10:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Steel Magnolias" (1989). Some sassy Southern belles (Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah) share the joys and sorrows of a friend (Sally Field) and her headstrong, diabetic daughter (Julia Roberts) in comic and supportive banter at the beauty shop and during key events involving marriage, birth and death. Adapted by Robert Harling from his play and directed by Herb Ross, the movie is a rollicking tear-jerker with polished performances and a refreshing focus on women friends who are more seasoned than sexy. Some sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Tuesday, May 13, 8-9 p.m. EDT (PBS) "A Walk to Beautiful." The story of three Ethiopian women, rejected and ostracized after they suffered injuries in childbirth, and their journey to a special hospital in Addis Ababa, the capital, where they find solace and hope. A "Nova" presentation (TV-PG -- parental guidance suggested).

Tuesday, May 13, 9-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Storm Over Everest." World-renowned climber and filmmaker David Breashears travels to Mount Everest to tell the story of a 1996 storm that resulted in the worst climbing tragedy in Everest's history. It is the story of 11 climbers, with eyewitness accounts of their astonishing survival in the world's most unforgiving environment. A "Frontline" presentation.

Wednesday, May 14, 10-11 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "John Paul II and His Friend." This Polish documentary explores the close relationship between Pope John Paul II and his Jewish friend, Jurek Kluger; the two lost touch after childhood and became fervently reacquainted in their adult years.

Friday, May 16, 8-10 p.m. EDT (Fox) "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004). Failed laugher about a bunch of scrappy misfits (led by Vince Vaughn) who form a dodgeball team to compete in a high-stakes tournament in Las Vegas to save their rundown neighborhood gym from being taken over by a state-of-the-art competitor (owned by Ben Stiller). As directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, "Dodgeball" follows a tried-and-true David-vs.-Goliath formula, but its love-yourself-for-who-you-are message is weighed down by its puerile brand of crass comedy. Recurring crude and sexual language and humor, an instance of rough language and profanity, and same-sex kissing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Friday, May 16, 9:30-11:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Lilies of the Field" (1963). When an itinerant jack-of-all-trades (Sidney Poitier) stops to help a group of German nuns newly arrived in New Mexico, his cheerful generosity is disdained by the stern, demanding Mother Superior (Lilia Skala) until he builds them a chapel with the aid of the local Mexican-American community. Directed by Ralph Nelson, the movie's simple little story of the triumph of faith coupled with good will has enormous charm in the winning performances of the two principals, some good-natured comedy and an infectious theme song that will leave viewers humming "Amen." The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Saturday, May 17, 8-10 p.m. EDT (HBO) "Evan Almighty" (2007). Delightful contemporary spin on the Noah story, as a TV anchorman turned congressman (Steve Carell) is instructed by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark in light of an impending flood, much to the skeptical consternation of his colleagues on Capitol Hill (John Michael Higgins, Wanda Sykes and John Goodman), his wife (Lauren Graham) and his three young sons. Imparting an overall message about how one act of random kindness can change the world, director Tom Shadyac and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk skillfully combine slapstick, sentiment and surprising reverence -- these elements beautifully embodied in Carell's seriocomic central performance -- while the paired animals and the flood effects are wonderfully done. A smattering of mildly crass language, humor, irreverence and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Saturday, May 17, 8-11 p.m. EDT (ABC) "Hitch" (2005). Entertaining, if not totally convincing, old-fashioned romance about a highly successful "date doctor," Alex ("Hitch") Hitchens (Will Smith), who helps shy men woo the women they love but are too timid to approach. He falls for a gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) who just happens to be on the trail of an heiress (Amber Valletta) who is dating one of Hitch's clients, the rotund and bumbling Albert (Kevin James), leading to predictable complications. Andy Tennant's film is a refreshing throwback to the lighthearted fare that Hollywood used to produce, nicely devoid of gratuitous sexual situations, possesses a good moral tone, and contains appealing performances, but the script just misses being a total success because of some implausible plot turns, while the broadness of some gags undermines the realistic foundation so essential to the best comedies. A few instances of profanity, rough, and crude language, one brief sexual situation, and adult thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Saturday, May 17, 8-9 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "An Empire Conquered." Joseph Campanella hosts this docudrama about the heroic martyrs who lived and died during the turbulent early years of Christianity.

Sunday, May 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "In Concert: Monteverdi: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary." Jacqueline Leary-Warsaw hosts this performance by the Gachinger Kantorei and the Bach-Collegium, conducted by Helmuth Rilling.

Sunday, May 18, 8-11 p.m. EDT (CBS) "43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards." Live broadcast from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosted by singer Reba McEntire and featuring performances by nominees Kenny Chesney and George Strait, among others.

Monday, May 19, 9-10 p.m. EDT (History) "Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest." Documentary look at the historical reality, as well as the myths and legends, surrounding each of the artifacts sought by the titular character. The program introduces real-life historians and archaeologists who have devoted their careers to these very mysteries.

Tuesday, May 20, 10-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "A Dream in Doubt." Hate crimes and the American dream in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. Terrence Howard hosts this "Independent Lens" film by Rana Singh Sodhi (TV-PG/L -- parental guidance suggested; infrequent coarse language).

Wednesday, May 21, 9-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Depression: Out of the Shadows." A 90-minute documentary about clinical depression is followed by a half-hour panel discussion with mental health experts, hosted by Jane Pauley, to discuss the issues raised in the film. The documentary tells the dramatic stories of people of different ages, from diverse backgrounds, who live with various forms of clinical depression -- and explores its causes and treatments (TV-PG -- parental guidance suggested).

Wednesday, May 21, 8-10:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Ocean's Eleven" (1960). Slack crime caper in which a group of World War II paratroop veterans (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Richard Conte, et al.) join in simultaneously robbing five Las Vegas casinos, then lose the loot in a ghoulish twist ending. Producer-director Lewis Milestone drags out the proceedings with less than witty dialogue by the principals and a misuse of cameos (notably by George Raft, Red Skelton and Angie Dickinson). Rationalization of robbery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Thursday, May 22, 10-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice." The story of the Phoenix Mars Lander, scheduled to land on Mars May 25 (TV-G -- general audience).

Thursday-Friday, May 22-23, 10-11:30 p.m. EDT each night (EWTN) "St. Rita." This drama about the life of Rita of Cascia, the saint of the impossible and advocate of desperate cases, reveals the great faith of a woman who endured many hardships and difficulties on her journey to God.

Friday, May 23, 8-10 p.m. EDT (Fox) "Cheaper by the Dozen" (2003). Fitfully amusing comedy about a family with 12 children veering out of control when Mom (Bonnie Hunt) must go on a national book tour, leaving Dad (Steve Martin) to hold down the very rebellious fort while the demands of his university football coaching job allow scant time for his unhappy youngsters. The family-first message follows director Shawn Levy's predictable parade of pranks, pratfalls and parenting problems, including dismay over their 22-year-old daughter moving in with her boyfriend. A discreetly implied affair, occasional toilet humor and brief slapstick violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Saturday, May 24, 8-10 p.m. EDT (HBO) "300" (2007). Noisy, testosterone-charged telling of the legendary battle between ancient Sparta's meager 300 soldiers led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) against the vast Persian army headed by the fearsome Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), while Sparta's queen (Lena Headey) futilely attempts to sway a corrupt politician (Dominic West) to bolster her husband's troops. With Frank Miller's graphic novel as a springboard, director and co-writer Zack Snyder takes a highly stylized approach -- most of the film is shot in sepia tones, with the impossibly buffed soldiers facing off against digitized weapons, creatures and seemingly thousands of Persians -- soon grows tiresome, though the pervasive battlefield violence is somewhat tempered by the often artful cinematography. Much slow-motion fighting with bloodshed, impalings and decapitations, an adulterous episode with an implied rough sexual encounter, brief upper-female and rear nudity, innuendo, some exotic dancing with a lesbian kiss during a brief orgy sequence, and skimpy male attire throughout. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Saturday, May 24, 9-11 p.m. EDT (Showtime) "Black Snake Moan" (2007). Extremely lurid, but ultimately redemptive, melodrama set in rural Tennessee about an aging blues singer (Samuel L. Jackson) who nurses a badly beaten nymphomaniac (Christina Ricci) back to health, and gets her to overcome her drug and sexual addictions, conquering his own inner demons in the process. Writer-director Craig Brewer pulls out the stops with an intentionally florid style, while the impressive performances of the leads -- as well as those of John Cothran as a benevolent preacher, S. Epatha Merkerson as an empathetic friend and Justin Timberlake as an emotionally damaged soldier who loves the young woman -- overcome the more outrageous plot elements. The high quotient of sex, violence and foul language -- which walks the finest of lines between morally objectionable and dramatically valid -- will seriously limit the film's appeal to audiences, Catholic and otherwise. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, racial epithets, strong sexuality including a couple of graphic encounters without nudity, premarital situations, upper-female nudity elsewhere, violence and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Saturday, May 24, 10 p.m.-midnight EDT (Cinemax) "Disturbia" (2007). Reasonably suspenseful thriller in the tradition of Hitchcock's "Rear Window" about a teen (Shia LaBeouf) -- under house arrest after an emotional outburst stemming from his dad's death -- who begins to spy on the neighbors, eventually suspecting one (David Morse) of being a serial killer. Director D.J. Caruso ("Taking Lives") handles his serial-killer theme with relative restraint, with the emphasis squarely on suspense. Some violence including two murders, an image of a corpse and some discreet shots of other dead bodies, a disturbing car accident, some crude and crass language and profanity, skimpy costuming, underage drinking, suggestive dancing, brief suggestions of infidelity and underage viewing of pornography. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Sunday, May 25, 8-10 p.m. EDT (HBO) "Recount." Kevin Spacey stars in a made-for-TV film, based on the true story of the 2000 presidential election, said to explore the human drama of the characters involved in events that would determine the leadership of the country. It also stars Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr., Laura Dern, John Hurt, Denis Leary, Bruce McGill and Tom Wilkinson. Sunday, May 25, 8-9:30 p.m. EDT (PBS) "National Memorial Day Concert (2008)." Annual concert from the National Mall. Hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna and featuring a mix of dramatic readings, documentary footage and live musical performances, along with an all-star lineup of dignitaries, actors and musical artists (TV-G -- general audience). Monday, May 26, 8 p.m.-midnight EDT (AMC) "The Longest Day" (1962). The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, is re-created on an epic scale in this dramatization of the operational preparations, behind-the-line activities and mostly the ferocious battle itself, with particular attention to the American landings at Omaha Beach. Directed by Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton and Bernard Wicki, the result is an absorbing account of D-Day from both sides of the battlefield, with convincing portrayals of men in combat from an international cast headed by John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Henry Fonda. Wartime violence seen in the context of a righteous cause. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. Monday, May 26, 10 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EDT (TCM) "The Eagle Has Landed" (1976). Director John Sturges' lethargic adventure yarn based on the fictional premise involving a German plot to kidnap Winston Churchill during World War II is a conventional spy melodrama. Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Donald Sutherland star in the suspenser, which is marred by some graphic violence, sexual byplay and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Tuesday, May 27, 9-10 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Crimes at the Border." In a joint project with The New York Times, "Frontline/World" correspondent Lowell Bergman investigates the business of human smuggling across the busy ports of entry between Mexico and the United States. Tuesday, May 27, 10-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "New Year Baby." A Cambodian-American filmmaker journeys to Cambodia to find out why her family's history was buried in secrecy for so long. Terrence Howard hosts (TV-PG -- parental guidance suggested). Wednesday, May 28, 7-7:45 p.m. EDT (HBO) "David McCullough: Painting With Words." A look at the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography that inspired the miniseries "John Adams." Wednesday, May 28, 9-10 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Maestro: Portrait of Valery Gergiev." An exclusive look from "Great Performances" at conductor Valery Gergiev, artistic and general director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, and principal conductor of the London Symphony (TV-G -- general audience). Wednesday-Saturday, May 28-31, 10 p.m.-midnight EDT each night (EWTN) "Teresa de Jesus." Eight-hour miniseries on the life of the great saint and mystic Teresa of Avila; it begins in Ortigosa in the summer of 1538, introducing Teresa of Ahumada, as she was then known. Spanish with English subtitles. Wednesday, May 28, 10:15 p.m.-12:30 a.m. EDT (TCM) "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962). Fine political spine-tingler with Laurence Harvey playing a Korean War POW transformed by Red Chinese hypnosis into a deadly instrument of assassination before his return to the United States during a presidential campaign. By the time an ex-POW buddy (Frank Sinatra in a solid performance) figures out the reason for his strange behavior toward wife and family, a major manhunt and race with time are on. Director John Frankenheimer has fashioned a superior suspense movie with a growing intensity that adults and older teenagers may appreciate. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (PG-13) Friday, May 30, 8-10 p.m. EDT (Fox) "Little Black Book" (2004). Leaden romantic comedy about an aspiring TV journalist (Brittany Murphy) who decides to snoop into her live-in boyfriend's (Ron Livingston) past love life, only to discover that the embers of some of his former flames are still burning. As directed by Nick Hurran, the lackluster film waffles between being a relationship farce and a show-biz satire, both of which fall flat. Some sexual humor and scattered rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Saturday, May 31, 8-11 p.m. EDT (ABC) "The Rookie" (2002). Uplifting charmer based on the true story of 35-year-old Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a small-town Texas high-school chemistry teacher and baseball coach who gets a second chance at the big leagues and becomes the oldest rookie baseball player in 40 years. In spite of a few sags in momentum, director John Lee Hancock's film pulls on the heartstrings, nudging the audience to think about forgotten dreams while pleasing and inspiring without discernible violence, sex or crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was G -- general audiences. All ages admitted. Saturday, May 31, 10 p.m.-midnight EDT (Cinemax) "Talk to Me" (2007). Formulaic but still touching and inspiring biographical drama of a prominent Washington radio personality and activist (a fine Don Cheadle) from the Vietnam-Watergate era to his death in 1984. Director Kasi Lemmons uses the redemptive power of friendship and strong performances by a cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor as a radio-station executive, Martin Sheen, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Cedric the Entertainer to create an evocative period piece about second chances. Pervasive rough, crude and crass language and several instances of profanity, sexual encounters with partial nudity, innuendo, alcohol abuse, rioting, infidelity, domestic discord and assorted fighting. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Friday, May 30, 8-10 p.m. EDT (ABC) "2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee." Tom Bergeron hosts live from Washington. Saturday, May 31, 10-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) (check local listings) "Good Evening Ev'rybody: In Celebration of Louis Armstrong." A never-before-released concert performance of Louis Armstrong -- and other musical greats, including Dizzy Gillespie and Mahalia Jackson -- at the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival (TV-G -- general audience).