TV picks for Feb. 3-4: 'Altered Carbon,' Simone Biles, 'Puppy Bowl'

"The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar" is the kind of rah-rah story that Olympics fans need these days. Too bad someone forgot to tell the screenwriter. The cast is in fine spirits, particularly Tisha Campbell-Martin as the gold medalist's grounded grandmother, but too often the actors sound like they're reciting from Biles' Wikipedia page. Those looking for inspiration will be better off tracking down a commemorative box of Wheaties.

7 p.m. Saturday, Lifetime

Animals seeking permanent homes have turned Super Bowl weekend into the best platform to plead their cases. "The Dog Bowl" kicks off the drive (7 p.m. Saturday, Animal Planet). Then its more established partner "Puppy Bowl XIV" (2 p.m. Sunday, AP) will be on tap right before the spotlight shifts to humans. Cat lovers have "Kitty Bowl V" (11 a.m. Sunday, Hallmark) with Beth Stern and Boomer Esiason calling the action.

Death takes a holiday in "Altered Carbon," a new sci-fi series set in a future where consciousness is stored in the spines of new bodies. James Purefoy and Will Yun Lee star in this ultra-graphic adaptation of Richard K. Morgan's 2002 novel.

Now streaming on Netflix