What's On TV
Friday 8/4
My Best Fiend (IFC, 8-10 p.m.): German filmmaker Werner Herzog retraces the story of his most difficult star, the late Klaus Kinski, through the five films they made together. Kinski's flamboyant eccentricities may seem to be the subject of the film, but it's just as surely about an important director's creative process. Those interested in film history will find this strange documentary about their explosive relationship very different from most movie stories. Mature themes, some harsh language.
Saturday 8/5
Organizing From the Inside Out, with Julie Morgenstern (PBS, check local listings): For all of us clutterbugs, here's genuine help from an expert who understands that order saves time and money, and contributes to serenity.
Sunday 8/6
E! True Hollywood Story - Eight is Enough (E!, 9-10 p.m.): One of the most popular of all television family shows was abruptly canceled after five years because of a troubled cast. The series's story was based on the creator's own family experiences. But Hollywood is a hard place to grow up, as this documentary aptly demonstrates. Stars Dick Van Patten. Gossipy, but interesting to TV history buffs.
One Kill (Showtime, 8-9:35 p.m.): Anne Heche and Sam Shepard star in this military thriller. The "fatal attraction" of a major for his female captain ends in his death and her court-martial. But the story is really about women in the military and a marine's principles. Some harsh language and mature situations.
Tuesday 8/8
The Artists' Specials: Winslow Homer: An American Original (HBO, 6:15-7:15 p.m.): Opening a window on the world of the arts for families is the best thing about this charming, intelligent series. Winslow Homer became one of America's most important 19th-century artists. This dramatic biography begins during the Civil War as he recovers from his duties at the front illustrating battles for a magazine. Snippets from Homer's letters in voice-over help tell the story.
Playing the Field (BBC America, 10-11 p.m.): The second season of this drama about a women's soccer team called the Castlefield Blues. The stories for the ensemble cast are sometimes a tad melodramatic, but often witty and revealing. As the team gains fame, some of them put a rock group together, the manager gives birth, and one player faces her own flaws.
Thursday 8/10
Family Television Awards (CBS, 8-9 p.m.): Country singer Reba McEntire hosts this important event, which recognizes family-friendly TV programs.
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