(This is an updated version of the story, now focusing strictly on April 1-5)
As Easter nears, TV networks are paying attention.
They have sprawling epics from Hollywood’s past, plus shows that are more recent.
A few of the shows are on the big networks. ABC has its annual “Ten Commandments” repeat Saturday (April 4); Fox has its third and final “The Faithful” movie on Easter Sunday.
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 many of the choices, all times ET:
DRAMA SERIES
— “Mary” debuted recently 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” concludes from 8-10 p.m. Sunday on Fox. The finale views 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: The Last Supper episode airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Sunday, with the follow-up hour at 7:05 p.m., Sunday.
— “Jesus of Nazareth” (1977), the acclaimed Franco Zeffirelli mini-series, noon to 8 p.m., Friday on the channel called Movies. Also, split over two days on FMC (Family Movie Classics) — 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ,Thursday and Friday.
— “Moses the Lawgiver” (1974), 8 p.m., Friday to 3 a.m., Movies.
— “The Bible” (2013) mini-series, 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, History, with the final hours repeating from 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 UPtv, 4 p.m., Friday.
— On ABC: 7-11:44 p.m., Saturday.
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“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., Wednesday,
— Then four times Sunday: 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, 12:30 and 8:15 p.m., April Thursday.
— Then twice — 6 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. — Sunday on Movies.
MORE EPICS
— UPtv on Friday: “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 Saturday: “Barabas” (1962), 7:45 p.m.
—Turner Classic Movies on Sunday: “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. Friday; “The Prince of Egypt” (1990), 6 p.m., Saturday.
— “Rescued by Faith” (new film), 8 p.m., Saturday, Lifetime.
— “Southern Gospel” (2023), noon Sunday, UPtv.
DOCUMENTARIES and DOCUDRAMAS
— “The Messiah,” a seven-part series, reruns at 1 p.m. weekdays on BYUtv, through Friday.
— “Jesus: His Life” is on Story TV, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Saturday; 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., Sunday
— “Biography: Jesus” is 2-4 p.m. Sunday on Story TV, repeating from 10 p.m. to midnight
— “Biography: Mary of Nazareth,” 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Story TV..
— “Mysteries of the Bible” is on Story T V on Sunday, ftom 6-8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
FEEL-GOOD FILMS
— UpTV has the pioneer films that began with “Love Comes Softly.” That concludes from 1-7 p.m. Saturday.
— Family musicals are on BYUtv — “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971), 8:57 p.m. Thursday; “The Sound of Music” (1965), 8:10 and 11:16 p.m. Sunday.
— Freeform also has “Sound of Music,” at 6:45 p.m. Sunday
— And in the midst of its biblical films Sunday, 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.