Every time it seems safe to file George Carlin in the ’70s nostalgia bin, he comes out with another best-selling book or hit stand-up special. The man who explored the seven words you can’t say on television returns with “George Carlin: It’s Bad for Ya” (9 p.m. Saturday, HBO), a roundup of observations on life and absurdity, including the advantages of getting old and the apparent failure of the self-esteem movement.

¢ The new sitcom “Unhitched” (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox) kicks off with a scene of a man being violated by an aroused orangutan and goes downhill from there. The first question you ask yourself when watching something so contrived and unfunny is, “How did this get made”?

The network has made much of the fact that this is the creation of the Farrelly brothers, whose hit screen comedies include “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb & Dumber.”

The brothers’ brand of tasteless humor seems a tad beyond its expiration date. The situations explored here are farfetched and unoriginal at the same time. A game cast including Craig Bierko (“Boston Legal”), Pat Finn (“My Boys”), Shaun Majumber (“24”) and Rashida Jones (“The Office”) play recently divorced or dumped singles who go on a series of dates that result in humiliation. One involves a higher primate, and another ends with an altercation with a pimp. There are drunken co-workers and a possible Mr. Right with an embarrassing job that accentuates his shortcomings. None of these situations seems remotely like real life.

¢ “Oprah’s Big Give” (8 p.m. Sunday, ABC) sets out to turn charity into a competitive spectator sport. Ten people with reputations for giving back compete to see who can touch more lives more effectively in a contest of elimination.

In the premiere, they are doubled-up into five teams and assigned to change the lives of folks who need help finding a home, or saving their house, or expanding their school, etc.

Every one of these hard cases would be perfect for an hour-long look on “Extreme Makeover,” but here the focus is scattered and the pacing rushed and frantic. “Big Give” often showcases the cutthroat competition and exhibitionism found on “The Apprentice.”

The emphasis on winning and the omnipresence of celebrities and corporate plugs also detract from the charity. The fact that contestants are eliminated for not measuring up reflects not only on their performance but also on the recipients of their efforts. How are the charity cases supposed to feel when their “angels” turn out to be “losers”? I’m the last person to give pointers to Oprah Winfrey, but this “Big Give” seems poorly thought out.

Saturday’s other highlights

¢ Scheduled on “48 Hours Mystery” (9 p.m., CBS): Two decades after the murder of newlyweds, second doubts emerge about the convicted killer.

¢ A late-night host gets prime-time exposure in the 2006 special “Jimmy Kimmel Live’s All-Star Salute to Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ Ellen Page hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest Wilco.

Sunday’s other highlights

¢ Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): Ohio and its crucial role in both the primary and general elections.

¢ Rhinos take center stage as “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” (6 p.m., Animal Planet) enters its sixth season on cable.

¢ A show as bad as “quarterlife” (9 p.m., NBC) must be seen at least once.

¢ Computer graphics and animation demonstrate how our bones, brain and muscles cooperate under the most stressful situations on the four-part series “Human Body: Pushing the Limits” (8 p.m., Discovery).

¢ The cops get creative on “The Wire” (8 p.m., HBO).

¢ Walt makes a deal on “Breaking Bad” (9 p.m, AMC).