On TV: Eisenberg to host 'SNL'

‘SNL' ‘Network'

Jesse Eisenberg, who stars as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network,” plays host to NBC's “Saturday Night Live” at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, on WMAQ Channel 5. Kanye West collaborator Nicki Minaj is the musical guest, promoting her own hit album, “Pink Friday.”

TCM's Oscar trivia

Turner Classic Movies launches its annual “31 Days of Oscar” festival on Tuesday, Feb. 1. This year, it programs around Academy Award trivia topics, such as W.S. Van Dyke being the only director to have four Oscar nominees at the same ceremony, including “The Thin Man” at 10:15 a.m. Directors who directed themselves to acting nominations follow, including Orson Welles' “Citizen Kane” at noon and Charlie Chaplin's Hitler spoof “The Great Dictator” at 2 p.m.

Crimestoppers' TV

The PBS series “Pioneers of Television” takes a new look at old crime dramas at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, on WTTW Channel 11. It goes back to “Dragnet” and “The Untouchables,” but then forward to other pioneers like Bill Cosby of “I Spy” and “Police Woman” Angie Dickinson.

Waste Watchers

The original ‘Grit'

With the Coen brothers' “True Grit” remake gathering all kinds of honors, Henry Hathaway's 1969 original has been widely dismissed. Yet, with its scenic outdoor locations, it still stands up as a fine late-era studio Western. John Wayne won his only Oscar with his hammy lead performance as Rooster Cogburn, but Kim Darby isn't bad, and even Glen Campbell is tolerable. And look for Robert Duvall as the original “Lucky” Ned Pepper. It's at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, on AMC.