Anyone watching HBO over the last month has been bombarded with promos for Grey Gardens, a docudrama that is based on an actual documentary. The 1975 masterwork by Albert and David Maysles traced the weird existence of Edith Bouvier Beale and her middle-aged daughter Edie, the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy, who had somehow reached a state where they were living in a decrepit mansion in the Hamptons, sharing their home with the local wildlife.

Interest in the Beales grew after the recent Broadway musical adaptation of Grey Gardens, and now it's HBO's turn (Saturday, 8 p.m.). Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore play the Beale women over a 40-year stretch, contrasting their high society days to their eventual squalid fates, without ever completely unraveling the mystery of how Point A became Point B. Their discovery by the Maysles brothers is a key part of the story, a decision not everyone will find wise. But the star turns of the two leads are almost guaranteed to be remembered at Emmy time.

Also this week:

Monday: 24 (Fox, 9 p.m.): So we're to understand that the only thing standing in between Jack and certain death is medical intervention that involves estranged daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert)? Better start carving that tombstone right now. Also, Tony tries to extricate himself from Starkwood, while Hodges (Jon Voight) continues to pull rank on President Taylor.

Tuesday: Deadliest Catch (Discovery, 10 p.m.): Alaska, the What2Watch State of the Year in 2008, comes back in a big way with the season premiere of TV's dampest show. The beginning of crab season is threatened due to financial situations involving all the boats, and illnesses that have taken their toll on captains Phil Harris and Keith Colburn.

Wednesday: Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch (Bravo, 9 p.m.): With Tim Gunn having officially decamped to Lifetime, Griffin is now the undisputed patron saint of Bravo. Her latest standup special, filmed in Portland, Ore., is highlighted by Griffin's latest accounts of her experiences at awards shows, which give her the opportunity to lampoon celebs. Let's hope she has a better spring than her ex Steve Wozniak.

Thursday: Harper's Island (CBS, 10 p.m.): The murder mystery debuted to decent ratings, but oftentimes it's the second week that will show whether or not viewers are sucked in. Would-be bride Trish bumps into an old boyfriend on the island, Abby meets someone who is obsessed with the island's history of unsolved murder, and I don't think it's giving anything away to say that someone else dies.

Friday: Prison Break (Fox, 9 p.m.): I've had my differences with this series over the years, but as it is now counting down to its finale, I will try to cut it some slack...unless they start bringing back more people from the dead, in which case it's no holds barred. The return episode finds that formerly deceased Sarah joining Michael on a journey to Miami, while Lincoln gets a warning from Christina.

Sunday: Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): I've been waiting on this animated series about beleaguered high school teachers for nearly a year, due to the involvement of producer Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development). In the pilot, Knob Haven High is facing budget cuts unless the football team can achieve sudden success and thus get alumni interested in contributing. How Friday Night Lights of them.

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