The ambitious documentary series “Blackboard Wars” (OWN, 9 p.m.) follows efforts to improve John McDonogh High School in New Orleans through the efforts.
It’s up to a tough principal Marvin Thompson to help save a school scarred by failing academic standards and a spate of violence, drug use, homelessness and teenage pregnancy.
Waiting for the other shoe to fall on the “History of the Eagles” (Showtime, 8 p.m.)? After spending two hours of the band’s original incarnation Friday, part two tonight concerns the days since the 1980 breakup, when they decided to regroup for a lucrative tour in the mid-90s. Trouble was, Glen Frey and Don Henley decided they deserved more money than the others.
In the original film “Pastor Brown” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) Salli Richardson -Whitfield stars as a pastor’s daughter who grants her father’s dying wish to run the congregation despite her past as an exotic dancer. Shot four years ago and featuring appearances from R&B stars Monica and India. Arie, it was tied up in the courts for years before tonight’s premiere.
The slam dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills challenge are all part of “NBA All-Star Saturday Night” (TNT, 8:30 p.m.) from Houston.
What may have been the biggest flop in Hollywood history, “John Carter” (Starz, 9 p.m.) comes to premium cable. With a $200 million loss, it did worse than the previous record holder, “Waterworld” (Enore, 9:50 p.m.), which, coincidentally, is also on tonight.
Also on premium cable tonight: “The Lucky One” (HBO, 7:15 p.m.) and “Safe House” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
In the new sitcom “Wendell & Vinnie” (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.), funnyman Jerry Trainor of “iCarly” plays Vinnie a bachelor who becomes guardian of his nephew. It joins “Marvin Marvin” (Nickelodeon, 8:30 p.m.) and “Supah Ninjas” (Nickelodeon, 9 p.m.).
Reruns of “American Ninja Warrior” (NBC, 8 p.m.) with some previously unseen footage does not constitute a new episode.
A NASCAR race, the Sprint Unlimited (Fox, 8 p.m.) in Daytona Beach gets some prime time network space.
A culture clash is in store when the Clampets of “My Big Redneck Vacation” (CMT, 9 p.m.) visit a Muslim family in Dearborn, Mich.
A series of robberies are investigated on a new “Ripper Street” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
An “AC360 Special – Killer Cop: Inside the Hunt for Christopher Dorner” (CNN, 8 p.m.) looks at the week’s manhunt for the killer in California that ended in a cabin fire.
The singer prepares for a runway show for Betsey Johnson and the debut of her musical “Kinky Boots” on “Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual” (WE, 9 p.m.) before the first season finale at 9:30.
“An Idiot Abroad” (Science, 10 p.m.) travels to Chichen Itza, Mexico.
TVLand starts to move to sitcoms you may actually want to watch with a marathon of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (TVLand, 11 p.m.) that heralds the addition of its syndicated reruns to the network.
Oscar winning and nominated films of the 1950s from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are on Turner Classic Movies tonight with the four hour “Ben-Hur” (8 p.m.), which won 11 Oscars, followed by “North by Northwest” (midnight), “Bad Day at Black Rock” (2:30 a.m.), “The Sheepman” (4 a.m.) and “The Naked Spur” (5:30 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Kent State at Ohio (ESPNU, 11 a.m.), Villanova at Connecticut (ESPN, noon), Xavier at Dayton (ESPN2, noon), Pittsburgh at Marquette (CBS, 1 p.m.), Rutgers at DePaul (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), Saint Joseph’s vs. La Salle (NBC Sports, 1 p.m.), Virginia Tech at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Purdue at Indiana (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Army at Navy (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.), Creighton at Evansville (ESPNU, 3 p.m.), Missouri at Arkansas (ESPN, 4 p.m.), UCLA at Stanford (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), Butler at Fordham (CBS Sports, 4 p.m.), Mississippi State at LSU (ESPNU, 5 p.m.), Duke at Maryland (ESPN, 6 p.m.), Detroit at Valparaiso (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), Temple at Massachusetts (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.), Princeton at Harvard (NBC Sports, 7 pm.), Baylor at Kansas State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Georgia at Mississippi (ESPN2, 8 p.m.), Memphis at Marshall (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Texas at Kansas (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Arizona State at Colorado (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), San Diego State at UNLV (NBC Sports, 9 p.m.) and New Mexico State at Utah State (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
It’s a big night for Alabama Shakes. the roots bands plays on a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) with Gary Clark Jr. and later is musical guest on a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) hosted by Christoph Waltz. In a strange new twist, they’re rerunning a one-hour version of last week’s Justin Bieber hosted show at 10 p.m.