‘Mansquito’ marked by stark violence
The weekend belongs to former child and teen actors starring in wildly different roles, from bug-fighting cops to bed-hopping publicists.
The Sci Fi network has carved out an impressive audience with its often-campy exploitation action films, like “Larva” and “Dragon Storm” (7 p.m. tonight, Sci Fi). Tonight, Corin Nemec (“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”) stars in the gory horror offering “Mansquito” (9 p.m., Sci Fi).
“Mansquito” begins in a secret lab, where a convicted murderer has been sent to test a new serum to cure a West Nile-like virus. After a bloody shootout the convict escapes, but not before being infected with a deadly strain of bug juice.
As you might expect, he quickly morphs into half-man, half-insect and all killer.
Musetta Vander plays the shapely scientist briefly taken hostage by the violent con and who later shows signs of bugging out. Nemec is the intrepid detective who just so happens to be her boyfriend.
Will he catch the violent vermin in time to save his main squeeze before she sprouts antennae? I’ll never tell.
Caution: “Mansquito” is very violent. This bug leaves a bloody trail of body parts and carnage in his winged wake.
Melissa Gilbert (“Little House on the Prairie”) and Lindsay Wagner (“The Bionic Woman”) star in “Thicker than Water” (9 p.m. tonight, Hallmark) as two women who discover family bonds under the big-sky horse country of rural Montana.
Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Party of Five”) stars in the title role of the original comedy “Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber” (8 p.m. tonight, Oxygen).
John Stamos (“Full House”) returns to episodic comedy with the promising and frequently charming sitcom “Jake in Progress” (9 and 9:30 p.m., Sunday, ABC).
A high-powered New York publicist, Jake Phillips (Stamos) is on top of the media-savvy world. Every night is another gala event filled with parties, A-list celebrities, velvet ropes and meaningless flings.
In Sunday’s two episodes, Jake gets set up on a blind date (9 p.m.) who turns out to be an old lover he’s already forgotten. Then (9:30 p.m.) Jake’s famous designer clients “The Three Gaymigos” are rocked to discover that one of their number is a closeted straight man.
After Sunday’s preview, “Jake” will air regularly on Thursday nights opposite “Survivor.” That’s a tough place in the schedule, but “Jake” has the makings of a nearly extinct commodity – a sitcom that’s actually appointment TV.
The gags come fast and furious on “Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show” (9:30 p.m., Sunday, Fox). They range from mildly suggestive to downright G-rated.
The show’s very first gag involves two men decked out in medieval armor checking into a motel.
“We’d like a room for two knights,” they say.
Tonight’s highlights
Tom Cruise stars in director Steven Spielberg’s 2002 thriller “Minority Report” (8 p.m., ABC) set 50 years in the future.
Betrayed, a Roman general (Russell Crowe) takes on the empire in Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator” (8 p.m., TNT).
A 21st-century gumshoe (Harrison Ford) hunts down a rogue cyborg in the 1982 fantasy “Blade Runner” (4 p.m., FX), also directed by Ridley Scott.
Ted Nugent and actress Andrea Parker discuss their passion for target practice on “Celebrity Hobbies” (8 p.m., DIY).
Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (10 p.m., CBS): New evidence may clear a teen convicted of killing his parents.
A missing teen alleges that she was held hostage by cops on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).
Sunday’s highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS): interviews with George Lucas and Enron’s Ken Lay; religious strife in the Netherlands.
Palookas punch their way toward a big prize on “The Contender” (8 p.m., NBC), now in its regular slot.
A high-powered journalist (Bruce Greenwood) changes priorities after his wife (Madeleine Stowe) is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 2005 drama “Saving Milly” (9 p.m., CBS).
A recipe for murder on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9 p.m., NBC).
An apparent epidemic may have a more criminally mundane explanation on “Crossing Jordan” (10 p.m., NBC).
An old adversary (Carl Reiner) returns on “Boston Legal” (10 p.m., ABC).