Oscar weekend gets a kickstart with The Independent Spirit Awards (IFC, 10 p.m.), a decidedly more casual affair honoring many films you may not have heard of, but could be worth putting in our film queue (keep a pen handy to jot titles down).

“The Artist” is tied for most nominations, but with “Take Shelter,” which was ignored by the Oscars. Also nominated for best feature film were “50/50,” “Drive” and “The Descendents.”

“The Descendents,” “Beginners,” “Drive” and “Martha Marcy May Marlene” each had four nominations. Seth Rogen hosts the event from Santa Monica.

The other big event of the night is from Orlando in the NBA All-Star Saturday Night (TNT, 8:30 p.m.), with its slam-dunk competition, the three-point shootout and, new this year, the Jeremy Lin pun contest.

Having already been adapted to U.S. television, the original British “Being Human” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) begins its fourth season by really shaking things up, with new cast members, lots of confusing adventures and a completely new premise that involves shooting forward in time 35 years, with the fate of the world riding on the fate of a baby versus some bad vampires known as the Old Ones.

It’s about time she stepped out on her own: the new TV movie “Witchslayer Gretl” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) looks at the siblings who skipped into the forest as kids in the famous nursery rhyme, now all grown up. Better yet: Gretl (who has lost her e along the way) is played by Shannen Doherty.

College hoops today include Vanderbilt at Kentucky (CBS, noon), Villanova at Georgetown (CBS, 2 p.m.), Missouri at Kansas (CBS, 4 p.m.) and Syracuse at Connecticut (ESPN, 9 p.m.).

A big contrast among the new movies on premium cable: Martin Lawrence’s “Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son” (HBO, 8 p.m.) and Julie Taymor’s version of “The Tempest” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) with Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, Alan Cumming, Russell Brand, David Strathairn and Alfred Molina.

The 31 Days of Oscar on Turner Classic Movies winds up in California with “The Grapes of Wrath” (8 p.m.), “Bound for Glory” (10:15 p.m.), “Harry and Tonto” (1 a.m.), “The Stunt Man” (3 a.m.) and “The Strip” (5:15 a.m.).

Robert Earl Keen and Hayes Carll play a Texas songwriters’ night on a replay of  “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).

The Charlie Day-hosted “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) is rerun. Maroon 5 is the musical guest.