It makes sense that head “Jackass” Johnny Knoxville would be interested in the antics of his predecessor Evel Knievil — enough certainly to be producer of a documentary on the life of a person who, in Johnny Carson’s words, “is probably the only man in history who’s become very wealthy by trying to kill himself.”
Attempting to jump the fountains at Ceasar’s Palace almost did that, as he splatted into the parking lot asphalt. And his Snake River Jump certainly didn’t go as planned. Filmmaker Daniel Junge covers the man and myth in “Being Evel” (History, 9 p.m.) , a documentary that got its debut at Sundance a year ago.
Speaking of evel, or rather evil, it’s the first season finale of “Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz, 9 p.m.) a series that has had something of a climax every week, with its penchant for over the top gore and surprise. But there are likely extra buckets planned for the first season finale of the series starring Bruce Campbell.
Luke Perry stars as a Hollywood cowboy who doesn’t know all that much about being a cowboy when he visits a dude ranch on the made-for-TV “Love in Paradise” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.). The romance co-stars Emmanuel Vaguer.
Also new tonight, Ashley Bell of “United States of Tara” stars as a new mother who makes a wrong choice of friend on “Don’t Wake Mommy” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), a thriller also starring Sara Rue and Denise Crosby.
A new season starts for “Sex Sent Me to the E.R.” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
“Pit Bulls & Parolees” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) reaches its 100th episode, so it’s followed by a look behind the scenes of the show.
Kym wants to teach Joshua how to ski on “Raising Whitley” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Maureen suffers a personal tragedy on a new episode of “Spotless” (Esquire, 10 p.m.).
“The Dead Files Revisited” (Travel, 10 p.m.) returns to Deadwood, S.D.
Preparing for Sunday’s second season, two hours of last season’s “Galavant” (ABC, 8 p.m.) are shown.
“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (HBO, 8 p.m.), with Richard Gere, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, bill Nighy and Dev Patel, makes its premium cable debut. Also debuting tonight is the thriller “Child 44” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) with Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Joel Kinsman and Noomi Rapace.
There are three films by Michael Ritchie tonight on Turner Classic Movies: his well known “The Candidate” (8 p.m.), his lesser-known “Smile” (10:15 p.m.) from 1975 and his concert movie of Bette Midler, “Divine Madness” (12:15 a.m.). Later comes two horror films from 1985: “Night Train to Terror” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
“Species” (TMC, 9 p.m.) meets “Species II” (TMC, 11 p.m.) and “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” (Sundance, 8 p.m.) aligns with “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” (Sundance, 10:30 p.m.).
College football bowl games today include Penn State vs. Georgia (ESPN, noon) in the TaxSlayer Bowl, Kansas State vs Arkansas (ESPN, 3:20 p.m.) in the Liberty Bowl, Oregon vs. TCU (ESPN, 6:45 p.m.) in the Alamo Bowl and West Virginia vs. Arizona State (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.) in the Cactus Bowl.
There is a lot more men’s college basketball, though, with DePaul at Seton Hall (Fox Sports 1, 11 a.m.), West Virginia at Kansas State (ESPNU, noon), Houston at Temple (ESPNews, noon), Saint Joseph’s at Richmond (NBC Sports, 12:30 p.m.), Butler at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.), Texas at Texas Tech (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Tennessee at Auburn (CBS, 2 p.m.), Dayton at Duquesne (NBC Sports, 2:30 p.m.), Michigan State at Minnesota (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), Morehead State at Murray State (CBS Sports, 3 p.m.), St. John’s at Providence (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.), Baylor at Kansas (CBS, 4 p.m.), TCU at Oklahoma State (ESPNews, 4 p.m.), Tulsa at Cincinnati (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Saint Louis at Rhode Island (NBC Sports, 4:30 p.m.), Notre Dame at Virginia (ESPN2, 5 p.m.), George Mason at VCU (CBS Sports, 5 p.m.), Marquette at Georgetown (Fox Sports 1, 5:30 p.m.), Memphis at South Carolina (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Iowa State at Oklahoma (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Connecticut at Tulane (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), South Florida at SMU (ESPNews, 7:30 p.m.), Georgia at Florida (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), LSU at Vanderbilt (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), New Mexico at Fresno State (CBS Sports, 9:30 p.m.), Villanova at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), San Diego State at Utah State (ESPNU, 10 p.m.) and Gonzaga at San Francisco (CSPN2, 11 p.m.).
Women’s games include Richmond at La Salle (CBS Sports, 11 a.m.), Ohio State at Maryland (CBS, noon) and South Florida at East Carolina (CBS Sports, 1 p.m.).
Pro hockey has Phoenix at Sacramento (NBA, 5 p.m.) and Houston at San Antonio (NBA, 8:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Islanders at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Alabama Shakes and Vintage Trouble play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
The Ryan Gosling-hosted “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with Leon Bridges is rerun.