Off the Wall: 'Gunsmoke' tribute to Arness

Off the Wall says adios to Marshal Dillon.

GOBS OF 'GUNSMOKE' In honor of recently passed-on star James Arness, Encore Westerns schedules a high-noon marathon of "Gunsmoke" (Saturday noon-midnight, Encore Westerns). It's followed by two feature films with Arness and three post-series "Gunsmoke" TV movies, plus four more "Gunsmoke" episodes wrapping things up by noon Sunday. Arness' two-decade series continues to air on Encore Westerns weeknights at 7, as well as on TV Land weekdays at noon and 1. Watch episodes online at tvland.com/shows/gunsmoke.

MORE MARATHONS Laugh it up with the retro-com "Hot in Cleveland" (today 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday night 1 a.m.-Sunday night at midnight, TV Land), the quirky "Portlandia" (Sunday noon-3 p.m., IFC), and the animated podcasts of "The Ricky Gervais Show" (Sunday 11 p.m.-2:45 a.m., HBO Comedy). Get a taste at hbo.com/rickygervais.

AWARDS ALERT The "South Park" guys offer up "The Book of Mormon," and the films "Sister Act" and "Catch Me If You Can" go musical. That's just part of the bill for this year's "Tony Awards" (Sunday 8-11 p.m., CBS/2), hosted live from Manhattan's Beacon Theatre by Neil Patrick Harris. Also expect the casts of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and "Ghetto Klown," along with the stars of April's New York Philharmonic run of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," including Harris, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks and Patti LuPone. More at cbs.com/tonyawards.

UNSCRIPTED DEBUTS Looks like busy weeks are back. The current summer onslaught includes "The Glee Project" (Sunday 8 p.m. casting special, 9 p.m. premiere, Oxygen), promising its winner a "Glee" guest shot; "Finding Sarah" (Sunday at 9 p.m., OWN), self-improvement with the woman once married to Prince Andrew; "Ice Loves Coco" (Sunday at 10:30 p.m., E!), with the "Law & Order" star and his wife; "Amsale Girls" (Sunday at 10 p.m., WE), about the celebrity wedding gown designer; "Devil You Know" (Wednesday at 10 and 10:30 p.m., ID), with twisted tales of relatives' deadly intentions; "Rocco's Dinner Party" (Wednesday at 11 p.m., Bravo), where the chef holds cooking contests to feed stars like Liza Minnelli and Sandra Bernhard; "Paranormal Challenge" (Friday at 9 p.m., Travel), with Zak Bagans mentoring amateur investigators; and "Flea Man" (Friday at 8 and 9 p.m., NatGeo), teaching tips for flea markets and estate sales. Video at natgeotv.com/fleaman.

CLIP AND SAVE! Or clip and spend spend spend! There's lots of that in a marathon of "Extreme Couponing" (Wednesday 3-10 p.m., TLC), the quick hit that's already been renewed for Season 2. Get clipping for yourself at tlc.com/extremecouponing.

AND NOW FOR A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS Who is "the most interesting man in the world"? And can William Shatner's TV ad playmate really be named Naomi Pryce? Find out as "30 Seconds to Stardom: Commercials' Most Famous Faces" (Wednesday at 10 p.m., E!) introduces today's no-name ubiquities and revisits vintage spots featuring current stars. More at eonline.com/on.

DECK THE HALLS WITH DEPRAVITY Yule be scared by 1974's original "Black Christmas" (late Friday night at 2 a.m., TCM), the trendsetting sorority slasher flick. Things lighten up with 1964 stinkeroo "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (4 a.m., TCM), featuring future show-biz punchline Pia Zadora as one of the Martian tots. Space out at tcm.com/underground.