I found out some time ago that the best thing about Oscar weekend is actually the Film Independent Spirit Awards (IFC, 5 p.m.) that comes the night before. The relaxed event at a tent in Santa Monica often features better films, a relaxed atmosphere and enough self-deprecation to hire people like Kumail Nanjiani and Kate McKinnon to host. Get a pen and paper ready — you’ll want to jot down the names of films to track down at a later date. The event, which initially airs live, reruns at 10 p.m.
And if #OscarSoWhite, that’s not the case at the 2016 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards (OWN, 10 pm.), taped Thursday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel honoring Debbie Allen, entertainment lawyer Nina Shaw and Tracee Ellis Ross. Leon Bridges performs and Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Nick Cannon, Ryan Cooler and Zendaya make appearances.
Results from the South Carolina Democratic Primary (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, 8 p.m.) are reported on the usual news outlets.
The two hour “O.J. Simpson Trial: The Real Story” (Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.) touts itself as working more directly with the facts than the current FX miniseries.
Prime time is largely sports with Golden State at Oklahoma City (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) in the NBA and Detroit at Denver (NBC, 8 p.m.) in a rare Saturday night outdoor hockey game from Coors Field. Otherwise it’s reruns with “Rosewood” (Fox, 8 p.m.), “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS, 8 p.m.), “Lucifer” (Fox, 9 p.m.), “NCIS” (CBS, 9 p.m.),
On the made for TV thriller “Suicide Note” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) Kirby Bliss Blanton stars as a college student investigates her roommates suspicious suicide. Could she have been the victim of domestic abuse?
The earthquake disaster movie “San Andreas” (HBO, 8 p.m.) with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes its debut on premium cable, as does the thriller “Cop Car” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) with Kevin Bacon.
The shooting death of a Seattle wine steward is investigated on “48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
If you missed public TV’s double bill Friday night, “Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings). and the “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) on Fats Domino, they’re both on tonight.
“Mythbusters” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) take requests.
Greff is attacked by a troll on “Beowulf” (Esquire, 10 p.m.).
As Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar actually reaches the Oscars, the films are more recent winners including “Breaking Away” (8 p.m.), “Diner” (10 p.m.), “Apollo 13” (midnight), “Philadelphia” (2:30 a.m.) and “Rachel, Rachel” (4:45 a.m.).
Men’s college basketball today includes Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPN, noon), Rhode Island at Dayton (ESPN2, noon), Butler at Georgetown (CBS, noon), VCU at George Washington (NBC Sports, 12:30 p.m.), Oklahoma at Texas (CBS, 2 p.m.), Arizona at Utah (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Illinois State at Wichita State (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Villanova at Marquette (Fox, 2 p.m.), William and Mary at James Madison (NBC Sports, 2:30 p.m.), Kentucky at Vanderbilt (CBS, 4 p.m.), Notre Dame at Florida State (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), Maryland at Purdue (ESPN, 4 p.m.), UCLA at Stamford (Fox, 4:30 p.m.), Kansas State at Iowa State (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), North Carolina at Virginia (ESPN, 6:30 p.m.), Gonzaga at BYU (ESPN2, 8 p.m.), Florida at LSU (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.), Fresno State at New Mexico (ESPN2, 10 p.m.) and UCIrvine at UC Davis (ESPN2, midnight).
Pro basketball also has Miami at Boston (NBA, 5 p.m.) and San Antonio at Houston (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Ed Sheehan and Valerie June play a replay of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) is a rerun, with Ronda Rousey hosting and Selana Gomez the musical guest.