Indy 500 Heads Memorial Day Lineup

Television celebrates Memorial Day weekend with documentaries, movies, a patriotic concert and a famed auto race.

American Movie Classics’ latest documentary, “Hollywood Commandos,” airing at 5 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, chronicles the documentaries and training films produced during World War II by the First Motion Picture Unit. Clark Gable, James Stewart, Alan Ladd, William Holden and Ronald Reagan were among the stars of these films. The program, hosted by Ron Reagan Jr., features clips from some of the 300 films produced by the unit, and also interviews its cameramen, directors, writers and actors.

AMC kicks off its two-day Memorial Day movie salute, Sunday at 7 a.m. with John Huston’s classic “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison,” starring Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum.

TNT’s 36-hour movie marathon, “Operation TNT,” begins Sunday at 9 a.m. with the sturdy 1958 Clark Gable-Burt Lancaster submarine flick “Run Silent, Run Deep.”

KCET-TV Channel 28 airs three World War II documentaries Sunday: “A Fighter Pilot’s Story,” at 2 p.m., followed by “Honor Bound: A Personal Journey,” at 5 p.m., and “The Men Who Sailed the Liberty Ships,” at 6 p.m.

Memorial Day wouldn’t be Memorial Day without the Indianapolis 500. ABC presents live coverage of the 82nd running of the legendary auto race Sunday at 8 a.m. on Channel 7.

World War II veteran Ossie Davis hosts PBS’ “National Memorial Day Concert,” airing at 8 p.m. Sunday on Channel 28. This year, the special from Washington commemorates the 80th anniversary of America’s involvement in World War I. Tony Danza, James Earl Jones, Charles Durning, Sylvia McNair and Martina McBride are among the performers.

Other weekend fare:

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Today

Geena Davis hosts the Lifetime special “Breaking Through: Women Behind the Wheel,” at 7 p.m., which examines the obstacles female auto racers have had to overcome. Shirley Muldowny, Janet Guthrie and Lyn St. James, the only woman to be named Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500, are among the drivers profiled.

Halle Berry and Sinbad host “The 10th Anniversary Essence Awards,” at 8 p.m. on Channel 11. Bill and Camille Cosby, Whitney Houston, Muhammad Ali and gymnast Dominique Dawes are among the honorees at the ceremony, which recognizes the achievements of African Americans. Stevie Wonder is set to perform an original song dedicated to the late Ennis Cosby.

Cartoonist Scott Adams, the creator of the popular “Dilbert,” appears in a cameo on “Babylon 5,” at 9 p.m. on KCOP-TV Channel 13, as a man who warns security chief Garibaldi about a plan to take control of the galaxy.

Cinemax presents the Oscar-winning documentary “Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien,” at 10 p.m. Janet Yu’s acclaimed short subject looks at the world of O’Brien, a paralyzed writer who has spent four decades in an iron lung.

The No. 1 late-night series, NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” celebrates its fifth anniversary at 11:35 p.m. on Channel 4. Jerry Seinfeld and Garth Brooks are Leno’s guests.

Friday

Alex Trebek and Tawny Little host KCOP’s live special “Light Magic at Disneyland,” airing at 8 p.m. The program covers the premiere of the Magic Kingdom’s latest attraction.

Cristina Ferrare and Michael Burger of the Family Channel’s “Home and Family” host “Luau on Maui: A Home and Family Special,” at 8 p.m.

Saturday

“Book ‘em, Danno!” The Family Channel has dusted off the longest-running cop show in TV history, “Hawaii Five-O,” which aired from 1968-80 on CBS. It will show back-to-back digitally remastered episodes tonight through Monday at 8 p.m. The series joins the prime-time schedule May 27 at 9 p.m.

Anthony Clark, the star of NBC’s recently canceled “Boston Common,” is the host of Comedy Central’s “Comic Cabana,” which kicks off with an hour premiere at 11 p.m.

Sunday

James Brolin is the host of Fox’s new summer series “Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction,” airing at 7 p.m. on KTTV-TV Channel 11. The hour series dramatizes bizarre incidents that are inspired by actual events or dreamed up by the show’s staff.

Anthony LaPaglia headlines Showtime’s “The Garden of Retion,” at 8 p.m. LaPaglia plays a cowardly priest living in Italy during World War II who is given one last chance to do something heroic. The drama, which also stars Embeth Davidtz, is based on an O. Henry short story.

LaPaglia is competing with himself this evening as ABC presents the first two hours of the three-part installment of “Murder One,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. This case finds attorney Jimmy Wyler (LaPaglia) defending Clifford Banks (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a self-confessed serial killer of 17 ex-cons. The series continues Monday and Thursday at 9 p.m.

“Fun House,” airing at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel, chronicles one of the oldest and best-loved entertainment attractions. Following at 10 p.m. is the documentary “Amusement Parks: The Pursuit of Fun.”