Don’t be afraid to cradle your remote control this Monday

For some, Valentine’s Day can be a curse, especially for those who are doomed to spend it… For some, Valentine’s Day can be a curse, especially for those who are doomed to spend it alone. Men have it the worst on this night dedicated to romance. The TV Guide is chock-full of movies to satisfy even the sappiest heart. This Valentine’s Day offers more than just romance, though. It promises a different array of television for lonely hearts. Just remember that dressing up isn’t required, and admission is free. So curl up with a blanket and some conversation hearts, and relax.

The first of the romance movies begins at 7:30 p.m. with the tear-jerker, “An Officer and a Gentleman” on AMC. A tough, young Richard Gere tries to woo factory-working Debra Winger. If “An Officer and a Gentleman” proves to be too emotional, Turner Classic Movies is showing a comedy featuring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, “Lover Come Back” at 8 p.m., and Oxygen decided on the classic ’80s movie, “When Harry Met Sally…” with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The May-December romance, “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” is the VH1 offering for this Valentine’s Day. Angela Bassett stars as Stella, a woman who finds herself involved with the much younger Taye Diggs.

For the cynics, February 14 could mean another night of meager television, but boycotting Valentine’s Day is a lot easier than it seems. TNT forgot the movies and chose crime dramas instead, with an episode of “Without a Trace” sandwiched between four hours of “Law and Order” and five hours of “NYPD Blue.” The History Channel commemorates the occasion with a special on Chicago’s famous 1929 Valentine’s Day, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. If that doesn’t do the trick, there’s always the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” with Jeff Foxworthy and the gang on Comedy Central.

If depression strikes hard, grab another bag of Hershey’s Kisses and turn on USA. The 129th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will surely elevate even the deepest hopelessness. Chances are that watching grown adults run alongside their dogs could make anyone feel better about the sorry state of a lonesome Valentine’s Day.