Tuning in: On TV this week.
Saturday Feb. 28
Trust (BBC America, 10-11 p.m.): This enthralling British law drama is a lot better than most of ours - after "Trust," "The Practice" sure looks banal. Robson Green ignites the whole ensemble with his flinty good looks and sharp wit. The first episode introduces us to the clan in the corporate-law office where Stephen (Green) spends most weekends, keeping his family on hold. Lots of money is at stake, but it's really the fun of the chase that defines these characters.
The 75th Academy Awards (ABC p.m., 8p.m.): Don't miss Billy Crystal's trademark opening monologue and musical performances by Sting, Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox, and the 'Mighty Wind' folk duo.
The Mystery of Natalie Wood (ABC, 8-11 p.m.): In her day, there was no bigger star than Natalie Wood. Like so many women who made it to Hollywood, she had a lousy childhood, with a backstage mother pushing her to become famous. This film, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, also traces her marriage to Robert Wagner and her death. So what happened on that yacht of theirs that ended her life so abruptly? There is less mystery here than self-indulgence and superstition.
Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (TCM, 8-9 p.m.): Assembled, written, and directed by film critic Richard Schickel, this tribute to one of the great comic icons of early cinema is short on criticism and a little long on adulation. Still, Charlie's antics are as funny as ever. TCM also runs a Chaplin film festival through the month.
