Watch it

Olympic hockey: USA vs. Finland (noon, NBC). Wait a minute — a live event on NBC? No way! I feel special now, like an East Coast viewer. Bitterness aside, this semifinal matchup should be a great game for those who are able to sneak a peek during the afternoon. If the U.S. wins, they’re guaranteed a medal. Finland definitely has the talent to pull off an upset, but the smaller rink will favor the Americans.

Winter Olympics (8 p.m., NBC). Apolo Ohno goes for his American record eighth medal in the men’s 500m short-track. Also women’s short-track, women’s slalom — with Lindsey Vonn and her broken pinkie — and men’s bobsled.

Record it

“Ricky Gervais Show” (9 p.m., HBO). Expect animated riffs on wild-animal mutilations and sexual aids. And hopefully those topics will be unrelated.

“Life and Times of Tim” (9:30 p.m., HBO). Tim bumps into the not-very-good priest, who’s ready for his comeback. And the guys hit Atlantic City and bump into stripper who looks like Tim’s ex.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” (10 p.m., Starz). I can’t believe I’m saying this. But at least one respected TV critic is saying it’s actually gotten a lot better, and elevated itself to cheesy-fun level, at least. I’m wary, but maybe I’ll give it another shot.

Skip it

“Caprica” (9 p.m., Syfy). After taking a week off, a new episode aired last Friday. It passed completely under my radar, and I have no particular desire to catch up. Guess that means this show is dead to me. Too bad. But it’s just sooooo slow.

“Funny Or Die Presents” (midnight, HBO). I love the web site. But why are all the shorts shown on this new series the ones that should “die”? A big disappointment.

Daytime Olympics lineup

NBC: noon-2 p.m. — Men’s Ice Hockey-Semifinal, USA vs. Finland

USA: 9 a.m-noon — Women’s Curling-Bronze Medal Match.

MSNBC: 12:30-2:30 p.m. — Men’s Speedskating-Pursuit Semifinals; Women’s Speedskating-Pursuit Quarterfinals.

CNBC: 3 p.m.-9 p.m. — Women’s Curling-Gold Medal Final; Men’s Ice Hockey-Semifinal, Canada vs. Slovakia.