Are bugs the new sharks? And why has the Department of Agriculture become the hotbed of horror? Last spring, Lucy Lawless starred in “Locusts” as the Undersecretary of Agriculture in a CBS shocker about mutant killer locusts created by an out-of-control biotechnology firm. Now Dan Cortese (“Veronica’s Closet”) headlines “Locust: The 8th Plague” (8 p.m. today, Sci Fi).

Cortese plays a hunky ecology activist engaged to Vicky (Julie Benz), a gorgeous Department of Agriculture researcher whose father is linked to the shadowy corporate bad guys who have loosed a voracious hell-swarm on the unsuspecting heartland. Cortese probably deserves an Emmy just for keeping a straight face while reciting dialogue like, “The formula works!” Take this as a cautionary note or a welcome mat, but “Locust” is filled with spatter and gore, and plenty of scenes of unsuspecting farmers chewed up and spit out by bugs gone bonkers.

What are the chances of two movies about locusts, with intrigue deep in the bowels of the Department of Agriculture? Coincidence, I think not. It’s surely a portent of the Apocalypse. Or maybe it’s just a sign that CBS is engaged in some curious race with Sci Fi to churn out special effects-laden shockers. And it is a race CBS cannot win.

Today’s highlights

¢ Children discuss their neurological condition in the documentary “I Have Tourette’s but Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me” (6:30 p.m., HBO).

¢ Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson star in the 2003 comedy “Old School” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (9 p.m., CBS): the demise of a doctor’s wife.

¢ Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl”) is host on “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Foo Fighters.

Sunday’s highlights

¢ Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): NY paramedics in Pakistan; cable’s stock picker Jim Cramer; eco-terrorism.

¢ Bart bonds with Marge on “The Simpsons” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Old friends pop in on “Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ Private squabbles have professional consequences on “Grey’s Anatomy” (9 p.m., ABC).