Brotherly love The Blues Brothers, at least one version of them, reunite when Dan Aykroyd guests on Jim Belushi's "The Defenders" (7 p.m. Friday, WCCO, Ch. 4). Aykroyd plays a judge who is charged with drug possession, most likely remnants from his party days with Jim's late brother. The setup promises some courtroom fireworks, but if the two suddenly break into "Soul Man," I'm calling a mistrial.
Newman's own You can keep Fast Eddie Felson and Butch Cassidy. When it comes to the best Paul Newman role, I'm sticking with Frank Galvin, the broken-down attorney who sobers up for one last stand in 1982's "The Verdict" (7 p.m. Saturday, FMC). David Mamet wrote the crackerjack script. Now if only Dan Aykroyd had played the judge.
Broken-hearted After my bitter breakup with Tony the Tiger, I never thought I'd give up my heart for a cat again, but "Broken Tail: A Tiger's Last Journey" (7 p.m. Sunday, KTCA, Ch. 2) had me purring. Filmmaker Colin Stafford-Johnson chronicles his dedication to Broken Tail and how the creature mysteriously disappeared from his home and wandered through Rajasthan, India, until its gruesome death. Wonderful photography and a heartbreaking tale add up to an unforgettable documentary.
Backstage pass I'm a fan of Kenneth Bowser's documentaries about the history of "SNL," but his latest, "Saturday Night Live Backstage" (8 p.m. Sunday, KARE, Ch. 11), feels like a collection of leftovers from past specials. The title is also a bit misleading -- the cameras never really capture any action behind the curtains. Al Franken, Chevy Chase, Tina Fey and John McCain are among those sharing memories.
NEAL JUSTIN
