James Franco bookends his Oscar duties with a two-day return to the soap “General Hospital,” starting Friday as a psycho murderous artist. Mama can relate — if she sees one more Oscar promo for him, she might hurt someone, too. Instead, she’ll stick with these TV offerings:

* “Fringe” (Friday, 9 p.m., Fox) Olivia finally got over Peter’s fling with faux-livia last week, although their reconciliation was embedded in one of Fringe’s lamer plots. No matter, as their budding relationship will get a background check in this week’s episode, when they flashback to 1985. The previous trip down memory lane — when Walter kidnapped son Peter from the alternate universe — was a highlight of last season, so the details of how these star-crossed lovers met as kids promises to be just as unforgettable.

* “The Chicago Code” (Monday, 9 p.m., Fox) After not being particularly impressed by the premiere, Mama must admit she has changed her mind about this Windy City police drama. The increasing conflict within the force has become must-see, and the machinations of Alderman Gibbons are beginning to rival that of creator Shawn Ryan’s greatest character, Vic Mackey.

* “Being Human” (Saturday, 9 p.m., BBCA) It’s a little surreal watching the original series now that it’s started all over again in a less entertaining Americanized version on Syfy. But last weekend’s premiere demonstrated yet again why the BBC original was worth replicating: Its quiet, contemplative dip into the afterlife was so much more engaging than the typical swashbuckling vampire rescue.

* “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” (Friday, 10 p.m., Starz) Mama doesn’t want to spoil it for you, but she predicts lots of squirting blood and exposed flesh in the finale of this gruesome prequel. It’s followed by a sneak peek of the pay-cable’s latest blood-and-lust historical series, “Camelot,” which doesn’t premiere officially until April, but has the markings of the entertaining summer miniseries “The Pillars of the Earth.”