Besides maintaining a nifty comic turn on “Parks and Recreation,” Rob Lowe is starting to become a go-to guy for pulpy Lifetime movies torn from tabloid headlines. After playing Drew Peterson last year for the network, he’s back playing the prosecutor in “Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
He’s part of a nifty cast that includes Elizabeth Mitchell of “Lost” and “Revolution” and Oscar Nunez of “The Office.” It’s all about the trial. The actress who plays Casey Anthony is mostly seen reacting in court; there’s no flashbacks. Rather, the awful Nancy Grace, who coined that weird term “Tot Mom,” is on the screen far more often.
It’s followed by a panel discussion, “Behind the Headlines” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) updating the case.
Similarly, though on another network, is a special report of “Dr. G: Inside the Caylee Anthony Case” (TLC, 10 p.m.) that follows a couple of episodes of “Untold Stories of the E.R.” (TLC, 8 and 9 p.m.).
In tonight’s only other original film, Kathryn Morris of “Cold Case” fame playes a New York divorcee who goes home to New Jersey to help her dad run his bakery in “The Sweeter Side of Life” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.)
Premium cable movies tonight include “This Means War” (HBO, 8 p.m.) with Tom Hardy and Chris Pine. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (Starz, 9 p.m.), “Bloodrayne: The Third Reich” (TMC, 9 p.m.) and “Fast Five” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
After the hubbub of Lance Armstrong, Oprah goes back to shows like “Staten Island Law’ (OWN, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) and “Six McGhees” (OWN, 10 and 10:30 p.m.).
“Pit Boss” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) and “Pit Bulls and Parolees” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.)
A long line of Disney animation today includes “Hercules” (ABC Family, 4 p.m.), “Aladdin” (ABC Family, 6 p.m.), “Cinderella” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.) and “Alice in Wonderland” (ABC Family, 9:45 p.m.).
Hockey season finally starts with Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (NBC, 3 p.m.) and New York Rangers at Boston (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Whole lotta men’s college hoops today including VMI at Coastal Carolina (ESPNU, 11 a.m.), Maryland at North Carolina (ESPN, noon), Connecticut at Pittsburgh (ESPN2, noon), Nebraska at Penn State (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), St. Bonaventure at Temple (CBS Sports, 1 p.m.), Wake Forest at Virginia Tech (Fox, 2 p.m.), West Virginia at Purdue (CBS, 2 p.m.), Missouri at Florida (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Columbia at Cornell (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.), Akron at Kent State (ESPNU, 3 p.m.), Oregon at UCLA (CBS, 4 p.m.), Syracuse at Louisville (ESPN, 4 p.m.), Creighton at Wichita State (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), Hofstra at George Mason (NBC Sports, 5 p.m.), St. Joseph’s at Pennsylvania (ESPNU, 5 p.m.), Ohio State at Michigan State (ESPN, 6 p.m.), UNLV at Colorado State (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Marquette at Cincinnati (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Gonzaga at Butler (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Kentucky at Auburn (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Utah at Washington (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Norah Jones plays from her latest album on a new ‘Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
In the first new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) in more than a month, Jennifer Lawrence hosts, fresh from her Golden Globes win. The Lumineers are musical guests.