Holiday weekend, starting with war

As we pause this weekend to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, TV also takes time to salute them -- and to offer holiday weekend entertainment alternatives. Among them:

MILITARY MOVIES/SHOWS

Memorial Day War Marathon (8 p.m. Friday-6 a.m. Tuesday, Turner Classic Movies). "Run Silent, Run Deep" with Clark Gable leads a four-day lineup of military titles spanning 52 years of moviemaking. Highlights include Abbott & Costello's "Buck Privates" (Saturday at 2:30 p.m.), Lew Ayres in "All Quiet on the Western Front" (Sunday at 10:45 a.m.), John Wayne's "The Green Berets" (Monday at 9:45 a.m.), and Sean Connery, Robert Redford and Laurence Olivier in "A Bridge Too Far" (Monday at 5 p.m.).

M*A*S*H (Friday night at 2 a.m.-Saturday 8 a.m., Saturday night at 2 a.m.-Sunday 8 a.m., Sunday 9 p.m.-Monday 6 a.m., Monday 8 p.m.-Tuesday 6 a.m., TV Land). Classic two-parters and other favorite episodes in overnight blocks, plus 1972 series pilot (Sunday at 8 p.m.), "M*A*S*H 20th Reunion" (Sunday at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.), "M*A*S*H 30th Reunion" (Sunday night at 2 a.m., Monday night at 11 p.m.), 1983 finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (Monday 8-11 p.m.).

USO marathon (Monday 6 a.m.-5 a.m., Fox Movie Channel). "Call Me Mister" with Betty Grable and Dan Dailey kicks off a day that winds up with Bette Midler's "For the Boys" (midnight and 2:30 a.m.).

World War II epics (Monday 9 a.m.-Tuesday 5:30 a.m., AMC). "Twelve O'Clock High," "Patton," "The Longest Day," "Midway" and "The Dirty Dozen."

REAL LIFE TRIBUTES

Documentaries (Monday 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Smithsonian). Exploring monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, aircraft carriers, more.

National Memorial Day Parade (Monday 2-4 p.m., Military Channel). Live coverage of Washington event.

National Memorial Day Concert (Sunday 8-9:30 p.m., PBS/13; Monday 9-10:30 p.m., WLIW/21). Live/delayed from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Inside the Vietnam War (Monday 7-10 p.m., NatGeo). Firsthand accounts and rare footage/photos. Followed by "Supercarrier: USS Ronald Reagan."

Gettysburg (Monday 9-11 p.m., History). Premiere of 150th anniversary special launches History's Civil War week.

Surprise Homecoming (Monday at 10 p.m., TLC) -- Preview of upcoming series: Billy Ray Cyrus hosts reunions of military families.

MOVIE MARATHONS

Big '80s Weekend (Friday 8 p.m.-late Monday night, Encore). Evoking the era are such faves as "Revenge of the Nerds" (tonight at 9:40), "The Big Chill" (Saturday at 11 a.m.), "The Breakfast Club" (tomorrow at 4:40 p.m.), "Purple Rain" (Sunday at 11:35 p.m.).

Star Trek movies (Saturday 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Syfy). First four films with Captain Kirk's crew are followed by Jean-Luc Picard's "First Contact" (9 p.m.). More Trek flicks Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Monday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.).

John Wayne: Six-Gun Salute (Monday 4:20 a.m.-late night, Encore Westerns). Birthday event includes 18 straight Wayne westerns, from his '30s quickies to "How the West Was Won" (10:05 p.m.).

SERIES MARATHONS

Among the current hits stacked up: "In Plain Sight" (Sunday 6 a.m.-midnight, Sleuth), "Royal Pains" (Monday 6 a.m.-Tuesday 6 a.m., Sleuth), "NCIS" (Monday 6 a.m.-8 p.m., USA).

And that's not all! Check out many more sitcom, drama and reality show marathons in Saturday's Off the Wall TV column.