‘Bambi’ on Disney Channel; Elsewhere: Love and Death

Get out your hankies because one of the all-time weep fests, “Bambi,” is coming to the small screen this weekend. It can be seen Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Disney Channel.

Several made-for-TV flicks also premiere this weekend, including HBO’s bio-pic “Gia,” Saturday at 9 p.m. Recent Golden Globe winner Angelina Jolie (“George Wallace”) stars as Gia Carangi, the successful, uninhibited supermodel who died of complications of AIDS in 1986 at the age of 26. Mercedes Ruehl, Elizabeth Mitchell and Faye Dunaway also star.

Charles S. Dutton and Courtney B. Vance play brothers in the 1950s-era racial drama “Blind Faith,” Sunday at 8 p.m. on Showtime.

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Campbell Scott star in CBS’ “The Love Letter,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 2. The “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentation is based on a story by Jack Finney (“Time and Again”) about a letter that brings a woman of the 1860s together with a man of this century. The romance was directed by Dan Curtis, who created the cult fantasy daytime drama “Dark Shadows.”

Yasmine Bleeth of “Baywatch” fame trades in the beach for NBC’s “The Lake,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 4. She plays a nurse who discovers that a lake outside her hometown possesses strange powers.

Edward James Olmos, Lorraine Bracco and Vincent D’Onofrio star in ABC’s “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. This remake of the 1974 classic thriller deals with four ruthless terrorists who hijack a New York City subway train and demand $5 million in exchange for hostages.

Elsewhere this weekend:

Today

Janine Turner plays a wife involved in a custody battle with her husband (Esai Morales) in ABC’s “Circle of Deceit,” at 9 p.m. on Channel 7. Joanna Cassidy also stars.

Friday

“The Discovery News Special Report: Ultimate Performance: The Science Behind Olympic Competition,” at 9 p.m., examines how science and technology will help athletes enhance their performance and overcome physical challenges during the coming Winter Olympics.

Saturday

Dick Clark and Suzanne Whang host NBC’s new series “TV Censored Bloopers ‘98,” at 8 p.m. on Channel 4. The hourlong comedy features gaffes from TV and movies.

Gerald Lavert, Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill host the musical special “R&B; ‘97: Year in Review,” at midnight on Channel 9.

Sunday

Peter Graves and Lisa Feinberg are the hosts of “Return of the Champions IV,” at 1:45 p.m. on Channel 2. The special brings together the Olympic champion skiers of yesteryear with those of today.

George Takei of “Star Trek” fame narrates A&E;’s “The Martial Arts,” at 5 and 9 p.m. The documentary looks at the religious, philosophical and business aspects of self-defense.

Dorothy Hamill, Oksana Baiul and Brian Boitano are scheduled to perform on “Champions on Ice Winter Tour,” at 6 p.m. on TBS.

PBS’ “Nature: “Gremlins: Faces in the Forest,” at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28, profiles the marmoset, the smallest monkey in the world.

The Discovery Channel kicks off its “A Week Down Under” showcase at 8 p.m. with the premiere of “Crocs Down Under.” Discovery’s look at life in the Australian Outback continues nightly at 8 through Feb. 7.

E! Entertainment Television presents the documentary “Roman Polanski: The E! True Hollywood Story,” at 8 p.m.

“The Great Lifetime Makeover,” at 10 p.m., surprises several Lifetime viewers with beauty make-overs. Alexander Wentworth hosts.

“Hollywood Landmarks,” at 10 p.m. on E!, visits such favorite haunts as the Brown Derby, the Chateau Marmont and Mann’s Chinese Theater.