TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Atonement" (2007), 5 p.m., HBO. You can gripe, as needed, about the bait-and-switch ending. Before then, however, this is great filmmaking. Using few words and stunning pictures, director Joe Wright stirs deep pools of emotion. A young onlooker (Saoirse Ronan) sends the lives of two lovers (Keira Knightley, James McAvoy) spinning wildly. "Atonement" won an Oscar for Dario Marianelli's music and was nominated for six more — best movie, supporting actress (Ronan), sets, costumes, cinematography and screenplay.

OF NOTE

Sports, everywhere. Seasons overlap tonight. NASCAR? ABC has a 1:15 p.m. race from Concord, N.C. Baseball? The second game of the American League Championship Series is 2 p.m. on TBS. Football? A busy day peaks at 2 p.m. on CBS. Louisiana State, ranked third and fourth in two national polls, visits Florida, ranked 11th and 12th.

"Knight Rider," 8 p.m., NBC. Mike and Zoe pretend to be honeymooning surfers to catch weapons dealers.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Gaius Charles ("Friday Night Lights") plays a suspect, in a probe of extreme fighting.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:29 p.m., NBC. Catch a repeat of the wonderful opener, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. Then switch; the rest — hosted by Michael Phelps — is often quite awful.