As Easter nears, TV networks are paying attention.
They have sprawling epics from Hollywood’s past, plus shows that are more recent. They pack the final weekend (April 3-5), but also have some things a week earlier.
A couple of these are on the big networks: Fox has “The Faithful” movies on Sundays; ABC has its annual repeat of “The Ten Commandments” (shown here) on April 4, the night before Easter.
But the real flurry is on smaller channels, ones that exist on cable or satellite or online or on digital sub-channels carried by local stations.
Here are some of the choices. The times are ET, but that varies. For Fox or History, for instance, an 8 p.m. ET show is also 8 p.m. PT; for Turner Classic Movies, an 8 p.m. show is 5 p.m. PT.
DRAMA SERIES
— “Mary” debuts March 27 on Fox Nation, as part of Martin Scorsese’s “The Saints” series. (Previous episodes, starting with Joan of Arc, are also on the streamer. This one is introduced by Scorsese, who reflects on Easters growing up in New York’s “Little Italy” neighborhood.
— “The Faithful: Women of the Bible” continues from 8-10 p.m. March 29 and April 5 on Fox. The March 22 opener had Minnie Driver as Sarah. The second film has her great-niece Rebekah, sparking a sibling rivalry among her sons. The third views Rebekah’s nieces, Leah and Rachel; once inseparable sisters, they compete in love.
— “The Chosen” has filmed five of its seven seasons, with three episodes currently on BYUtv: Prior to the Last Supper (9 p.m. March 26) …. The Last Supper, 9 p.m., March 29; 9 p.m. April 1; 6 p.m., April 5) … and the aftermath (7:05 p.m., April 5).
— “Jesus of Nazareth” (1977), the acclaimed Franco Zeffirelli mini-series, noon to 8 p.m. April 3, Movies. Also, split over two days on FMC (Family Movie Classics) — 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 2 and 3.
— ‘Moses the Lawgiver” (1974), 8 p.m. April 3 to 3 a.m., Movies.
— “The Bible” (2013) mini-series, 2 p.m. to midnight April 4, History, with the final hours repeating from noon to midnight to 4 a.m.
“THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” (1956)
Cecil B. DeMille’s epic — with Charlton Heston as Moses — is marking its 70th anniversary:
— On ABC: 7-11:44 p.m., April 4.
— On UPtv three times: 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. March 29 and 4 p.m. April 3.
“BEN-HUR” (1959)
It’s Heston again, but with one difference: Unlike most of the epics, this scored big at the Academy Awards, winning a then-record 11 Oscars, including best picture:
— FMC, 8 p.m., April 1; 2:30 and 8:15 p.m. April 2.
— Then four times on April 5: noon on Turner Classic Movies, 3 p.m. on FMC: and twice on Movies, 12:30 and 8 p.m..
“THE ROBE” (1953)
This drew five Oscar nominations, including ones for best-picture and then-newcomer Richard Burton. It won for its sets and costumes.
— FMC, 8 p.m. April 1; 12:30 and 8:15 p.m. April 2.
— Then twice — 6 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. — April 5 on Movies.
MORE EPICS
— UPtv on April 3: “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965), 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; “Mary, Mother of Jesus” (1999), 2 p.m. and midnight.
— FMC on April 4: “Barabas” (1962), 7:45 p.m.
—Turner Classic Movies on April 5: “The Silver Chalice” (1954), 3:45 p.m.; “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima” (1952), 6:15 p.m.; “King of Kings” (1961), 10 p.m.
OTHER FAITH-BASED FILMS:
— On BYUtv: “The Other Side of Heaven 2” (2019), 3 p.m. April 3; “The Prince of Egypt” (1990), 6 p.m., April 4.
— “Rescued by Faith” (new film), 8 p.m., April 4, Lifetime.
— “Southern Gospel” (2023)m noon April 5, UPtv.
DOCUMENTARIES and DOCUDRAMAS
— “The Messiah,” a seven-part series, reruns at 1 p.m. weekdays on BYUtv, March 25-27 and March 30 to April 3.-
— “Jesus: His Life” is on Story TV, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,April 4; repeating 4 p.m. to midnight and, in part, midnight to 6 a.m. Then it’s on History, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5
— “Biography: Jesus” is 2-4 p.m. April 5 on Story TV, repeating from 10 p.m. to midnight
— “Biography” Mary of Nazareth” is 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 5 on Story TV..
— “Mysteries of the Bible” is on Story T V April 5, ftrom 6-8 a.m. ET, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
MUSIC
— “Grace Notes” music special, 7 p.m., March 29, BYUtv.
— “American Idol” has its contestants do songs of faith; 8-10:02 p.m. March 30, possibly repeating April 5.
— “Travis Tritt Country Chapel,” 9 a.m. April 5, UPtv.
FEEL-GOOD FILMS
— UpTV has the pioneer films that begin with with Katherine Heigl’s “Love Comes Softly” (2003). That’s 1-11 p.m. March 29 and 1-7 p.m. April 4.
— Family musicals are on BYUtv — “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971), 8:57 p.m. April 2; “The Sound of Music” (1965), 8:10 and 11:16 p.m. April 5.
— Freeform also has “Sound of Music,” at 6:45 p.m. April 5.
— And in the midst of its biblical films April 5, Turner Classic Movies pauses for “Easter Parade” (1948) at 8 p.m.. It has little to do with Easter, but does have Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and splendid Irving Berlin songs.