Grim anniversaries recalled; ‘Sharknado’ recycled
There’s a lot of past in our future. Despite the onslaught of head-turning current events, news and documentary series are still driven by grim anniversaries. This month marks the 40th anniversary of the capture of the Son of Sam killer and the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Commemorative specials abound.
The true-crime network ID presents “Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer” (9 p.m. Saturday, TV-14). Last week, the Smithsonian Channel aired a “Lost Tapes” episode on the same story. While “Lost” emphasized the Son of Sam phenomenon as a news event, “Hunt” puts the emphasis on detective work, highlighting the around-the-clock investigation into the serial killer who left six dead and seven wounded over the course of 1976 and 1977. It also shows how far criminal profiling and forensics have come over the past four decades.
› While terrorism has come to be seen as a post-9/11 experience, “Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies” (9 p.m. Saturday, CNN) recalls frequent airline hijackings and violent terrorism during the 1980s, including the murderous takeover of EgyptAir Flight 648 in 1985.
› As the title implies, “George Lopez: The Wall, Live From Washington” (10 p.m. Saturday,
HBO) will be carried on a live feed from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The title also makes clear that the comic’s fourth stand-up special for HBO will accent the current administration’s plans to build a wall on the Mexican border and the frequent demonization of Hispanic Americans during and after the 2016 election campaign.
The comic, sitcom and voiceover star has never been shy about expressing his political feelings or in asserting his ethnicity. Or his patriotism.
Past specials include “Tall, Dark & Chicano” and “America’s
Mexican.” He was an enthusiastic participant in the 2009 special “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” and was featured in the 2010 special “America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theater.”
› There are many ways to look at “Sharknado 5: Global Swarming” (8 p.m. Sunday, Syfy, TV-14). Probably as many as there are has-beens making cameos in the TV movie.
Four years and four sequels ago, “Sharknado” was a silly throwaway that turned into a social media phenomenon. Success breeds repetition just as familiarity breeds contempt. What was fun the first and maybe the second time around now seems beaten to a pulp.
“Sharknado” installments have trashed American cities and the heartland. So, it’s natural that the fifth helping takes on the world. The preposterous plot kicks off with an ancient “Sharknado”-related lair buried deep beneath Stonehenge. The violation of that secret occult chamber unleashes a you-know-what.
Look out for a cyclone of familiar faces as well as some that have been altered, tucked and lifted beyond recognition. Highlights of this thundering romp include Chris Kattan as the British prime minister, Fabio as the pope and Charo as the queen of England. Listen for a lot of rather wobbly foreign accents. Clay Aiken brings a chim-chimcher-ee gusto to the role of a British tech wizard.
Despite the marketing tag line, “Make America Bait Again!” this “Sharknado” never rises to the level of satire or commentary.
At the same time, it may be a symptom of a cultural trend at the dead center of our current events. It does, after all, rely on the absurdity of watching D-level reality stars in positions of authority facing world-challenging crises while spouting nothing deeper than zingy one-liners. As such, it may hit too close to home for some to find amusing.
› “The Amazing Race” host celebrates his native New Zealand from dizzying heights. “Flying High With Phil Keoghan” (8 p.m. Sunday, Smithsonian) shows off stunning landscapes from the vantage point of helicopters, hot air balloons and even a World War I biplane.
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
› Nerds save the day in the 2014 comic book adaptation “Big Hero 6” (8 p.m., ABC).
› John Savage stars in the 2017 shocker “Empire of the Sharks” (8 p.m., Syfy, TV-14).
› An annual rite of the preseason, the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony (7 p.m., ESPN and NFL) bestows legendary status on veterans Morten Andersen, Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jerry Jones, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kurt Warner. Live from Canton, Ohio.
› Abused by her husband, a sensitive poet takes up with a fan of her work who turns out to be the wrong guy in the 2017 shocker “The Perfect Soulmate” (8 p.m., Lifetime).
› Washington heads for Yorktown on “Turn: Washington’s Spies” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-14).
› Sarah learns of Helena’s fate on “Orphan Black” (9 p.m., BBC America, TV-MA).
› A snow plow buries two boys in their snow fort on “20/20: In an Instant” (10 p.m., ABC, repeat).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.