TV picks for April 12: 'Last Days of Knight,' 'Scarface,' 'All-Star Flip'

April 11, 2018 at 8:14PM
Al Pacino stars in 1983's "Scarface."
Al Pacino stars in 1983’s “Scarface.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

A whole new ballgame

ESPN is launching its new streaming service with "The Last Days of Knight," a documentary that's less about Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight and more about CNN producer Robert Abbott bragging about how he helped bring Knight down. Still, watching Knight belittle anyone who gets in his way will make your jaw drop. The film is not scheduled to air on regular television anytime soon, a decision that may cause some sports fans to hurl a chair.

ESPN+ ($4.99 a month, available through the ESPN app and espn.com)

Bring it on!

If watching old favorites on "Trading Spaces" doesn't earn you enough pop-culture points, upgrade to the new series "All-Star Flip." Gabrielle Union ("Bring It On") and NBA star Dwyane Wade renovate a Miami house, with the profits going to charity. The only thing that would make this sweeter is if Union ends up accusing rival designer Kirsten Dunst of stealing her ideas.

8:30 p.m., HGTV

Hello, old friend

Those who've seen Al Pacino's new HBO film, "Paterno," might be taken aback by how few lines the actor gets to say. Never fear; Tony Montana is still here. 1983's "Scarface" has Pacino delivering a barrage of dialogue, most of which is unspeakable within four miles of an elementary school. The cult hit was directed by Brian De Palma, who was originally slated to direct "Paterno" until Barry Levinson stepped in.

5 p.m., IFC

Texas Tech basketball coach Bobby Knight shouts instructions to his team as they play Arkansas Little Rock in the first half of a basketball game in the 2006 College Basketball Experience Classic in Lubbock, Texas, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) ORG XMIT: TXTG107
Knight (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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