My own mother doesn’t like Mother’s Day. She considers it a gimmick by the greeting card people to make money. And you wonder why I became a critic. Ann McDonough aside, America loves Mother’s Day, and cable TV networks treat it like the Mother of All Programming Opportunities.

The maternal salutes begin with “First Mothers” (7 p.m., today, History), a two-hour celebration of the women whose sons grew up to be the leaders of the free world. The program pays particular attention to the mothers of the last six U.S. presidents: Dorothy Ford, Lillian Carter, Nelle Reagan, Dorothy Walker Bush, Virginia Kelley and Barbara Bush.

The documentary “Apple Pie” (6:30 p.m., Sunday, ESPN Classics) looks at the mothers and grandmothers who raised star athletes, including Drew Bledsoe, Mia Hamm, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Lofton and others. The films combine home movies, sports footage and first-person recollections from athletes and their number one supporters.

“Rock ‘n’ Moms” (7 p.m., Sunday, WE) profiles women who juggle family and a career as a celebrated pop star. Pat Benatar, Nancy and Ann Wilson (of Heart) and Michelle Phillips discuss the joys and difficulties of raising children while traveling in a tour bus and performing for tens of thousands of fans.

Here’s a select roundup of Mother’s Day movies that range from the reverential to the ridiculous. All listings are for Sunday, unless otherwise noted. “Moms on Strike” (7 p.m., today, 6 p.m., Sunday); “I Remember Mama” (5 a.m., Turner Classic Movies); “Not Without My Daughter” (1 p.m. and 7 p.m., AMC); “Throw Momma From the Train” (3:45 p.m., Cinemax); “My Son is Innocent” (4 p.m., Lifetime); “Stepmom” (7 p.m., WB); “Mommie Dearest” (6 p.m., Bravo); “The Old Maid” (9 p.m., Turner Classic Movies); “Mermaids” (9 p.m., TNN) and “Terms of Endearment” (9:45 p.m., WE).

We interrupt this month of pointless nostalgia for a movie that dares to be different. Based on the popular books by James Gurney, “Dinotopia” (6 p.m., Sunday, ABC) features all of the special-effects wizardry you’ve come to expect from the production team of Robert Halmi. And unlike some of the previous Halmi-made stinkers (remember “The 10th Kingdom?), “Dinotopia” has a great story.

This captivating film transports viewers to an isolated island kingdom where humans and dinosaurs live in harmony and follow ancient rites and rituals that preserve their peculiar society. Continues on Monday and concludes Tuesday.

While “Dinotopia” cost tens of millions of dollars to produce at England’s fabled Pinewood studios, the films showcased on “The Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards” (7 p.m., Sunday, Sci Fi) have a decidedly homemade look. Director Kevin Smith (“Clerks”) jokes his way through this geek-fest.

John Ritter narrates “The Power of Play” (7 p.m., Sunday, Animal Planet), a documentary that shows how young animals learn vital skills as they frolic.

Today’s highlights

A family copes with sudden loss on “Touched by an Angel” (7 p.m., CBS). This is the season finale, and quite possibly the very last original episode of this series.

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant star in the 1999 romantic comedy “Notting Hill” (7 p.m., ABC).

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube star in the 1999 satire “Three Kings” (7 p.m., NBC).