Two Girls From Another Planet Land in Wyoming--Then the Fun Starts

Earth-it’s a nice place to visit, especially if you’re an alien kid from outer space. Or so think the characters from Hyper Sapien: People From Another Star, a film making its TV debut on the Disney Channel (it had a brief theatrical release in 1986).

In the story, two sisters ignore the warnings of their elders and head for a visit to our planet, in hopes of meeting some real-life earthlings. Accompanied by a three-eyed, three-legged space creature, they land in Wyoming, meet a local teen-ager, and become embroiled in an exciting adventure. Keenan Wynn, in his last film role, plays the earthling’s grandfather.

“Hyper Sapien: People From Another Star,” Saturday 7-8:35 p.m. the Disney Channel. For 6- to 13-year-olds.

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

The Dog Who Stopped the War (Sunday 9-10:30 a.m. Showtime) tells the tale of a snowball fight that gets out of hand-until the kids involved learn lessons about friendship, love and peace. For all ages.

Linda Alvarez hosts Schools: Good News, Bad News (Sunday 3:30-4 p.m. NBC), a collection of reports focusing on the state budget crisis as it relates to education-showing the effects of impending cuts on current school programs. For parents.

Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme (today 7-8:30 p.m. the Disney Channel) may be the hippest-ever interpretation of the classic nursery jingles. Among those who journey through Rhymeland searching for Mother Goose are Little Bo-Peep (Shelley Duvall); Mary, Mary (Cyndi Lauper); Simple Simon (Paul Simon) and Old King Cole (Little Richard). For all ages.

In The Camel Boy (Monday 1-2:30 p.m. the Disney Channel), a young Arabian lad makes the acquaintance of a friendly pair of camels. For 5- to 10-year-olds.

HBO Storybook Musicals gives an urban twist to “The Red Shoes” (Tuesday 7:05-7:30 p.m. HBO), the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the dancer who puts on a pair of magic shoes-with surprising results. For all ages.

Meryl Streep narrates The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (Tuesday 8:15-9 a.m. and 7-7:30 p.m. Showtime), two charming animated versions of the Beatrix Potter stories. For 2- to 11-year-olds.

A week’s worth of “Fox Matinee” movies starts off with Pollyanna (Monday noon-3 p.m. KTTV), the 1960 classic about a sweet orphan girl who comes to live with her aunt. Other kidworthy features include Billie (Tuesday noon-2 p.m.), with Patty Duke as a tomboy who beats the guys at sports; Amy (Wednesday noon-2 p.m.) about a woman who teaches disabled children in the 1900s; Gus (Thursday noon-2 p.m.), about a mule with a talent for football, and The Monkey’s Uncle (Friday noon-2 p.m.), which stars a very smart monkey. For ages 6 and up.

Brave kids and fanciful parents should love The Witches (Thursday 4-5:30 p.m. HBO), last year’s movie starring Anjelica Huston as the evil head of a plot to turn all of Britain’s children into mice. Beware, it’s scary in parts. For ages 6 and up, with parental guidance.

“Skin Deep,” a repeat episode of By the Year 2000 (Friday 9-9:30 p.m. and Saturday 3-3:30 p.m. KCET), looks at a trio of Los Angeles teens who face ethnic tension and bigotry on a daily basis. For ages 12 and up.

The original 1963 movie Flipper (Friday 7-9 a.m. TBS) stars Chuck Connors and the multitalented Mitzi the Dolphin in a tale of a fisherman’s son who finds a friendly, wounded sea creature. For all ages.

Also tackling the education crisis is A World of Ideas With Bill Moyers (Saturday 3:30-4 p.m. KCET), whose guest is education professor Sarah Lightfoot. For parents.