Frank Whaley made quite an impression in the 1994 comedy “Swimming with Sharks.” He was the beleaguered assistant driven to madness by an arrogant Hollywood producer, played to perfection by Kevin Spacey. Whaley has found steady work since, appearing on several episodes of “NCIS” on and “The Dead Zone.”

Tonight he stars in the cable drama “Where There’s a Will” (8 p.m. today, Hallmark). Unfortunately, he has the not-so-credible role of a failed con artist named Richie who discovers that he has a long-lost grandmother, Clyde (Marion Ross), in a tiny Texas town.

This discovery is fortunate for both. Richie needs to flee an insistent loan shark from Los Angeles, and Clyde, in failing health, needs family to care for her. You don’t need to consult Nostradamus to see how this will turn out.

¢ Did you ever wonder why they use the word “bug” to describe wiretaps and other means of surveillance? After watching the “Nature” (7 p.m. Sunday, PBS, check local listings) presentation “Crime Scene Creatures,” you won’t have any more questions. Insects, it seems, make wonderful snitches. But so do most critters, from one-celled organisms to the most voracious forest voles.

¢ The morbidity continues on “Crossing Jordan” (9 p.m. Sunday, NBC). For those keeping count, the show’s cliffhanger season finale also happens to be its 100th episode.

The fetching Jordan (Jill Hennessey) finds herself in a bit of a jam when she awakens from the post-rehearsal dinner bash for Lilly’s (Kathryn Hahn) wedding. And this is much worse than a hangover. Jordan finds the bloody body of her former beau (Chris Mesure) next to her in bed, and finds her own hand on the pistol that killed him. She and her team have exactly 42 minutes to find an alibi, or we all will have to spend the summer wondering what happens next.

Today’s highlights

¢ Tom Hanks hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Sunday’s highlights

¢ Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): prospects for ethanol; profiles of golfer John Daly and labor leader Andrew Stern.

¢ Scheduled on “Dateline” (6 p.m., NBC): a look into Tom Cruise’s erratic behavior, odd displays of affection and active role in publicizing the Church of Scientology.

¢ A man of faith rises from the ashes on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m., ABC).