What's on TV

SHOWS FOR AUG. 2-8

Saturday 8/2

The Films of Frank Darabont (Encore, 11 a.m.-noon): "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile" are both based on stories by Stephen King. Director Frank Darabont, who adapted them both, teased out all the moral light he possibly could and then added more of his own to these important, humane American films. It is great to hear him talk about his work and to hear from the actors who played in his films. He made "The Majestic" as an homage to Frank Capra, so it won't surprise fans too much to learn that Darabont's favorite film is "It's a Wonderful Life." TV-PG

Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American (Westerns Channel, 8-9 p.m.): Moving images of native Americans were among the first ever recorded on film. This documentary chronicles the stereotyping of native Americans in the movies - and also attempts by filmmakers such as John Ford and Kevin Costner to give more profound depictions of Indians. The film leaves out some of the most controversial films (like "Little Big Man") and rather unfairly attacks some films which were meant to be sympathetic. But director Chris Eyre ("Smoke Signals," "Skins"), actress Elaine Miles ("Northern Exposure"), and Prof. Ward Churchill of the University of Colorado shed the most light on the subject. The documentary kicks off a festival of double features every Thursday night through August beginning at 8 p.m. TV-PG

Wild Card (Lifetime for Women, 9-10 p.m.): The opening episode of this bright new dramedy finds Zoe Busiek (Joely Fisher) learning how to be a mom and an insurance-fraud detective all at once after a life of carefree self-centeredness. Her sister's children need her and they need their late mother's insurance money. It's great to see the elegant Rae Dawn Chong back as Fisher's boss. TV-PG

THURSDAY 8/7

All the Presidents' Movies (Bravo, 7-10 p.m.): Even US presidents need to take a break from policy, and what better way than with a motion picture in their own private screening room? This three-hour special takes a look at US presidents as movie buffs. J.F.K. watched "Roman Holiday" during the Cuban missile crisis, Nixon loved musicals, and George W. Bush got a kick out of "Austin Powers." TV-PG

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