There will be far less soaring gospel singing at the John McCain Memorial (CSPAN, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, 10 p.m.) than there was at Aretha Franklin’s epic-length home going Friday. But there will be twice as many Presidents — Barack Obama and George W. Bush at the National Cathedral (while Bill Clinton spoke at Aretha’s funeral). It can’t possibly be as long as the Detroit event. But at least it will be widely televised (Aretha’s was largely online). And Neil Simon and Robin Leach won’t have TV funerals at all apparently.
A news special “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls” (CNN, 9 p.m.) quotes the late senator’s favorite author in the title, Ernest Hemingway.
But here’s a sweet way to remember the senator: a replay of the October 2002 “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) that he hosted, when the White Stripes were musical guest.
College football comes from out of nowhere to completely takeover the full day of programming including just about all of prime time, with Louisville vs. Alabama (ABC, 8 p.m.), Michigan at Notre Dame (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) and Akron at Nebraska (Fox, 8 p.m.). Plus there are dozens of other games on cable, listed below. But isn’t this weird: A whole Saturday night without one scripted offering, new or in rerun?
The imported Thai series “Monkey Twins” (Netflix streaming) concerns a fighter joining up with an officer to go after organized crime.
An imported Australian series, “Sisters” (Netflix, streaming), about a woman who learns how many siblings she may actually have, since her father was a prolific sperm donor.
A 10th season begins with two consecutive episodes of “My Cat from Hell” (Animal Planet, 9 and 10 p.m.) starting the eccentric feline tamer Jackson Galaxy.
Last year’s animated “Ferdinand” (HBO, 8 p.m.) makes its premium cable debut.
A chain of beauty stores in L.A. gets help from “Mind Your Business with Mahisha” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Extreme couponing becomes one of the “Pink Collar Crimes” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
The deep-sea submersible on “Planet Earth: Mission Galapagos” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) looks at the elusive ocean mola.
The backyard gets a landing pad on “The Vanilla Ice Project” (DIY, 10 p.m.).
With all the biting bugs, being “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) sounds like no fun at all.
One of the “Real Housewives of Potomac” goes to “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
“The Most Haunted Towns” (Travel, 10 p.m.) include McDonough, Ga., site of a deadly train crash.
Before the Pirates of the Caribbean series, there were other films about the same subject, such as the 1942 ‘The Black Swan” (TCM, 8 p.m.) with Tyrone Power and the 1935 “Captain Blood” (9:45 p.m.) with Errol Flynn. The midnight noir film on Turner Classic Movies is “The Locket” (midnight), then comes two featuring Dennis Hopper, “Easy Rider” (1:45 a.m.) and “The American Friend” (3:30 a.m.).
College football at noon includes Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma (Fox), James Madison at North Carolina State (ESPNU), Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (ESPN), Oregon State at Ohio State (ABC), Texas vs. Maryland (Fox Sports 1), Villanova at Temple (ESPNews) and Houston at Rice (CBS Sports).
Then at 3:30, the games include Austin Peay at Georgia (ESPN), Central Michigan at Kentucky (ESPNU), Tennessee vs. West Virginia (CBS), Washington vs. Auburn (ABC) and Washington State at Wyoming (CBS Sports).
Later, it’s North Carolina at California (Fox, 4 p.m.), Boise State at Troy (ESPNews, 6 p.m.), Cincinnati at UCLA (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Stephen F. Austin at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), Texas-San Antonio at Arizona State (Fox Sports 1, 10:30 p.m.), BYU at Arizona (ESPN, 10:45 p.m.) and Navy at Hawaii (CBS Sports, 11 p.m.).
Baseball includes Detroit at Yankees (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and Tampa Bay at Cleveland (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.).
There is third round play at the U.S. Open (ESPN2, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.).
Auto racing includes NASCAR’s VFW 200 (NBC, 3:30 p.m.) and the Grand Prix of Portland (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Run the Jewels plays “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).