(ALL TIMES ET)

8:30PM, SUN | ABC
83rd Annual Academy Awards – James Franco (a Best Actor nominee for 127 Hours) and Anne Hathaway co-host this year’s Oscar ceremony, in which Colin Firth‘s performance in The King’s Speech is considered the shoo-in winner for Best Actor. The bigger drama of the night could come from the changes made to the telecast, including the producers’ decision to abandon the idea of a traditional stage set. Instead, a series of digital projections will make the Kodak Theater stage look like it’s constantly changing. And, as usual, there’s the red carpet parade of fashions – always one of the main reasons for tuning into the Oscars – which begins airing at 7PM on ABC.

8PM, SAT | Fox
Cops – Tonight’s episode: “Morons on Parade #4.” Delightful for its title, and for the fact that it was preceded by #1, #2 and #3.

9PM, SAT | SYFY
Area 51 – Bruce Boxleitner and Jason London star in this week’s made-for-Syfy flick (directed by Sean Connery‘s son Jason) about the famed Area 51, which turns into an alien battle zone when the Air Force gives into public pressure and allows members of the media to visit the secret base.

9PM, SAT | FOOD NETWORK
Unwrapped – A new episode on comfort foods includes a visit to the Lay’s potato chip factory, a peek at how Haagen Dazs ice cream is made and the secrets behind the delicious cinnamon buns made by a New York City bakery.

10PM, SAT | IFC
Independent Spirit Awards – Community and The Soup funny guy Joel McHale hosts this Oscar eve movie awards show that some film fans prefer to the “big show” on Sunday.

10PM, SAT | CNBC
Til Debt Do Us Part – In back-to-back new eps, Gail helps one couple whose car obsession has resulted in a hefty debt load, and another that has relied too much on parents willing to help them pay off their bills.

8PM, SUN | CBS
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business – The Australian Outback proves to be especially taxing for Mike‘s dad Mel.

9PM, SUN | HBO
Big Love – Including tonight’s “‘Til Death Do Us Part,” there are just four episodes left until the series finale, and things get increasingly more contentious between Bill and the ever more unhinged Alby.

9PM, SUN | SHOWTIME
Californication – Oh, Hank. Just when the cash-strapped writer gets a paying gig polishing the dialogue on a zombie flick, he jeopardizes the paycheck by (of course) hitting on a woman who’s connected to the movie’s star.

10PM, SUN | CBS
CSI: Miami – A high school bully is stoned to death and the CSIs have to figure out which of her victims is responsible.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– Tina Fey and Steve Carell make one funny couple in Date Night (Sat., 8PM, HBO);
– High Stakes Poker (Sat., 8PM, GSN) begins its seventh season with new host Norm McDonald;
– George and Nina try to help a teen vampire on Being Human (Sat, 9PM, BBCA);
– Karl visits Brazil and its beaches on An Idiot Abroad (Sat., 10PM, Science);
– On My Fair Wedding With David Tutera (Sun., 9PM, WE), David has his hands full trying to find a venue and rework a pink-and-hearts wedding theme, with just three weeks to go before the couple’s big day;
– Frank claims he’s going to stop drinking on Shameless (Sun., 10PM, Showtime).

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• Filed in Award shows, TV Picks
• Tags: 83rd Annual Academy Awards, Area 51 Syfy, Big Love, Californication, Cops, CSI: Miami, Independent Spirit Awards, James Franco Oscar host, The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business, Til Debt Do Us Part, Unwrapped

(ALL TIMES ET)

9:30PM, SUN | SHOWTIME – 1ST SEASON FINALE
Episodes – With the Pucks! pilot finished, Sean and Beverly get ready to return to England. But when Sean goes to Matt’s house to say goodbye, he makes a shocking discovery that could put personal and professional relationships in serious jeopardy.

10PM, SAT | COMEDY CENTRAL
Patrice O’Neal: Elephant in the Room– The funny guy (and The Office guest star) riffs on everything from safe sex to being harassed.

8PM, SUN | CBS – 18TH SEASON PREMIERE
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business – 11 former teams return to take another shot at the one meeeeellion dollar prize, including Kent and Vyxsin, brothers Jet and Cord and last season’s father and daughter team, Gary and Mallory.

8PM, SUN | ABC
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – Dane Cook, Terry Fator and Duff Goldman help the team give a couple – including a soldier who was wounded during a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas – their dream wedding and a new home.

8PM, SUN | FOX
The Simpsons – Halle Berry is the guest voice as Bart and Homer become the stars of Hollywood awards season when Homie stars in Bart’s film project: Angry Dad.

9PM, SUN | HBO
Big Love – Everyone’s against Barb’s pursuit of the priesthood, but she’s willing to do whatever she has to to make it happen, including divorcing the increasingly hapless Bill.

9PM, SUN | ABC
Desperate Housewives – Keith asks Bree to move to Florida with him, so he can be closer to his son.

9PM, SUN | NBC
Saturday Night Live Backstage – The new two-hour special is packed with fun fan scoop, including clips of favorite skits, interviews with the cast and various celebs’ commentary (including recent scene stealer Jon Hamm) on what it’s like to host the classic comedy series.

9PM, SUN | FOOD NETWORK – 1ST SEASON FINALE
Worst Cooks in America – Who are you rooting for: Team Joshie or Team Georg?

10PM, SUN | BRAVO
Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion, Part II – Kim and NeNe are still getting into it as the cast discusses season three with Andy Cohen, but Khandi also lets Kim know how fed up she is with her taking advantage of Khandi with her cheesy singing career.

Worth flipping to during commercials:
– In the Primeval fourth season finale (Sat., 8PM, BBCA), Danny pops in with a warning for the team;
– Annie is stuck in purgatory in the Being Human third season premiere (Sat., 9PM, BBCA);
– Jerseylicious: Inside the Jungle (Sun., 8PM, Style) takes fans behind the scenes at the Gatsby Salon;
– In the series premiere of Secret Service Files (Sun., 8PM, NGC), agents raid a Bogota counterfeit plant where more than $25 million in fake U.S. money is made every year;
– The East tries to repeat as NBA All-Star Game (Sun., 8:30PM, TNT) champs;
– Abby tries to get one of her partners to take Hank’s case when she has to recuse herself on Californication (Sun., 9PM, Showtime);
– Chris becomes a puppeteer on Family Guy (Sun., 9PM, Fox);
– Mack Trucks CEO Denny Slagle is this week’s Undercover Boss (Sun., 9PM, CBS);
– Justin Timberlake guest stars on The Cleveland Show (Sun., 9:30PM, Fox);
– Horatio’s ultimate foe, the man who killed his wife, returns on CSI: Miami (Sun., 10PM, CBS).

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• Filed in Real Housewives, Saturday Night Live, TV Picks, TV Specials
• Tags: Big Love, Desperate Housewives, Episodes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Justin Timberlake The Cleveland Show, Patrice O'Neal: Elephant in the Room, Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion Part II, Saturday Night Live Backstage, The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business, The Simpsons, Worst Cooks in America finale