Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET
This new Netflix documentary – another move forward into HBO-type programming territory, with its first nonfiction effort – is a family affair all the way but a good one. The subject of The Battered Bastards of Baseball is a 1970s Class A baseball club called the Portland Mavericks – at the time they played, the only independent minor-league outfit not affiliated with a major league team. Instead of a farm team for the bigs, the Mavericks were an unruly bunch of mostly overage dreamers, castoffs and rebels (the movie’s title comes from a team description by its most famous player, former major league pitcher Jim Bouton, whose tell-all book Ball Four told enough to make the Mavericks the only team that would take him, at least for a while). The story of this team is worth telling because of how they played on the field, how competitors played against them, and what the team meant to the city, its players, and especially its owner, former actor Bing Russell. Bing’s much more famous Hollywood movie-star son, Kurt, is one of the people telling his dad’s story on camera – and the brothers telling the story behind the camera, as directors, are Maclain and Chapman Way, Bing Russell’s grandsons. Telling you why this documentary is so satisfying would ruin too many of the surprises – but do check out this very affectionate and entertaining tale of the best-named club in baseball – true Mavericks, who, according to one proud player, “led the league in stubble.” Available any time.
Public Television, Check local listings
The session of the U.S. Supreme Court that just ended wrapped up its latest round of rulings by making some important rulings on telecommunications, campaign finance reform, birth control and other hugely significant topics. Two-thirds of the Court’s rulings were unanimous, the first time that’s happened since the 1950s. What’s going on, and why? On this weekend’s new edition, Bill Moyers interviews two veteran Supreme Court watchers: Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times and Daliah Lithwick, a senior editor and columnist at Slate. For dates and times when this series runs in your area, check the Moyers & Company website. Check local listings.
Starz!, 8:00 p.m. ET
This 2013 Disney film now ranks as the world’s top-grossing animated movie of all time, and its soundtrack is, by far, the biggest-selling U.S. album of 2014. “Let It Go,” the anthemic power ballad driving much of this success, won the Oscar for Best Original Song – and tonight, Frozen premieres on Starz. Kristen Bell provides the speaking and singing voice of Anna, and Anna’s older sister, Elsa, the one who gets to sing “Let It Go,” is played by the wickedly talented, one and only Adele Dazeem. Well, that’s according to John Travolta, anyway. Actually, Elsa is played by Broadway star Idina Menzel, formerly the star of Wicked. That musical captured the imagination of a new generation of Broadway theatergoers – but Frozen captured just about an entire new generation, period. Tune in and see, and hear, why.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
Stanley Kubrick directed and co-wrote this intense, disturbing 1957 movie about soldiers who defy what seem to be recklessly risky orders in World War I, and are targeted for their actions. Kirk Douglas stars, and the actor was so impressed with Kubrick’s handling of this film that Douglas called in Kubrick to direct Spartacus three years later. This is less of a war film than an early anti-war film, and is all the stronger for it. And it’s followed, at 9:45 p.m. ET, by one of the earliest and best anti-war war movies ever made (also about WWI), 1930’s All Quiet on the Western Front.
TNT, 8:00 p.m. ET
Orange Is the New Black fans, take note: This 2011 outing of Castle features a very smart, pre-Orange turn by Laura Prepon, who guest stars as an actress named Natalie Rhodes. She shows up at the precinct to research a movie role – just as author Rick Castle (series star Nathan Fillion) did when he first met up with Det. Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) in the series pilot. But now, Natalie is there to research the role of Nikki Heat, the heroine of Castle's successful cop novel – and a character based on Beckett. So Natalie is shadowing Beckett, and absorbing more of her mannerisms, and looks, every time she shows up. It’s a cleverly written hour, and a very playfully performed one, especially by Katic and Prepon.