Top weekend picks
“`High School Musical’ Dance-Along,” 7 p.m. Friday, Disney Channel: This plucky bubble gum musical has turned out to be a surprise phenomenon; its soundtrack album is at the top of the charts. In an understandable effort to cash in on its popularity, the Disney Channel is rebroadcasting the popular movie, with a twist: Four of its stars (Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel) will be on hand in new segments aired during breaks to help teach kids watching at home the dance steps from two of the show’s musical numbers. First, there will be rudimentary instruction on the moves for “Get’cha Head in the Game,” which airs about 20 minutes into the movie, and then subsequent breaks will offer step-by-step instruction for “We’re All in This Together,” including one slow-motion run-through. The idea is that youngsters at home can dance along with the finale, followed by a reprise opportunity when the four star instructors perform the number one more time in an encore. Parents can sit back and enjoy the sugary tunes and wonder what the fuss is about.
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“How William Shatner Changed the World,” 7 p.m. Sunday, History Channel: Yes, it’s really true, Capt. James T. Kirk of the Enterprise is responsible for many of the gadgets and technology we know and love today. How so? Well, this utterly disarming and even hilarious special shows how the “Star Trek” fans of the ’60s and beyond were often inspired by the outer space show to create in real life the gadgets and gizmos they saw on their TV screens. That cell phone of yours? Marty Cooper, former chief engineer for Motorola, talks about how he wanted nothing more than to make a cool “Star Trek” communicator. Other inventors, scientists and computer-world types talk about how “Trek” influenced the careers they chose and the cool stuff they invented as a result of being obsessed with all things Spock and Kirk. This is not your average, dry cable documentary; host Shatner, a delightful ham at heart, has a huge amount of fun narrating this special, and the science stuff is doled out with a hearty sense of humor (one that uses vintage “Trek” clips to their full absurdist potential). Even fans without a lingering affection for all things “Trek” will probably get a kick out of this special, which has an interesting point underneath all the fun: Science fiction often directly influences science fact.
Also on the tube
“Warrior Queen Boudica,” 7 p.m. Friday, History Channel: The History Channel’s usual style — semicheesy re-enactments and talking-head historians — is employed for this solid retelling of the tale of legendary Boudica, who nearly changed the course of British history. After 20 years of peace with the Romans, when her royal husband died, the Romans decided to tame Boudica and her Iceni tribe. Bad move (especially the decision to publicly flog the queen; that rarely goes over well). The queen was most definitely not amused, and ended up nearly breaking the back of the professionally trained Roman legions sent to conquer her.
“The Cutting Edge” and “The Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold,” 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, ABC Family: Snark if you want, but the formulaic sports romance “The Cutting Edge,” which came out in 1992, had its share of fans (digging figure skating helped one appreciate this icy version of “Flashdance”). The ABC Family sequel stars Christy Carlson Romano of “Kim Possible” as the daughter of the characters in that earlier film; she teams up with an “extreme in-line skater” (That’s a sport? Who knew?) after her solo skating career is sidelined by an injury.
“Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” 6 p.m. Sunday, Animal Planet: The venerable nature series returns for its fourth season on Animal Planet with an outing among killer whales as they hunt for elephant seals and king penguins. Next week: a look at the rare leopards of the Kalahari Desert.
“Blackbeard: Terror at Sea,” 7 p.m. Sunday, National Geographic Channel: A sometimes strange mix of acted storytelling and historical narration, this program nevertheless offers an absorbing look at the most dastardly of 18th Century pirates and boasts a snarling, mustache-twisting turn from James Purefoy (Marc Antony in “Rome”), re-creating a nasty character not to be denied his dark Romantic appeal.
“Chicago’s Western Suburbs: From Prairie Soil to Prairie Style,” 7 p.m. Sunday, WTTW- Ch. 11: Leave it to that local, peripatetic and indefatigable guide Geoffrey Baer to find matters of interest in our seemingly bedroom-esque western ‘burbs, but there you are. Sleepy? Nope. Think Frank Lloyd Wright, Al Capone, Billy Graham and John Belushi. This is another in Baer’s entertaining and informative series exploring Chicago-area terrain, architecture and history, and is a repeat from its Tuesday premiere.
“The West Wing,” 7 p.m. Sunday, WMAQ-Ch. 5: Things heat up as this series continues its final countdown. On Sunday, a nuclear scare in San Andreo rattles Alan Alda’s camp and inspires that of rival presidential candidate Jimmy Smits, and the result is an ever-tightening race. Meanwhile, who’d want the job? After all, a Sino-Russian conflict looms.
“Anything to Win: Tonya Harding — Her Story,” 7 p.m. Sunday, GSN: As if to send Winter Olympics watchers a video hangover, this documentary reminds us of the Games’ ugliest episode and promises an “emotional” interview with Harding. Just make sure you watch your knees.
“Cheerleader Nation,” 9 p.m. Sunday, Lifetime: Hovering moms? Check. High school girls with body-image issues? Check. Cattiness and stiff competition? Check. Yep, we must be in the land of top-flight cheerleaders, who are no longer the pompom shakers of yesteryear but fierce athletes participating in an extremely competitive sport. This addictive series follows the Dunbar High School team from Lexington, Ky., as it tries for an unheard-of third consecutive national championship. Like Bravo’s “Sports Kids Moms and Dads,” one walks away impressed at the kids’ athleticism and commitment, but also a little scared of the parents’ overinvolvement and the amount of stress caused by a supposedly enjoyable extracurricular activity for young people. Still, this promises to be one intriguing ride.