‘Imagining’ melds education, interest
In its infancy PBS was known as “educational television,” a term that was not entirely complimentary. It seemed to be a place for dry “eat-your-broccoli” programming that would never be confused with entertainment.
But over the decades, with programs as diverse as “Cosmos,” “I Claudius,” “Frontline,” “NOVA” and “Antiques Roadshow,” the network learned how to make the lessons go down with a spoonful of sugar.
Reflecting PBS at its traditional best, “Imagining America: Icons of 20th Century Art” (8 p.m., KSPS) offers a college-level survey course in American art history that manages to engage the viewer’s mind and eye and offer a wealth of information and theory. It sports a very cool soundtrack, to boot.
This two-hour program traces artists’ attempts to explore their place in the American landscape. Inspired, and at times intimidated by Thomas Cole’s 19th-century rural landscapes, 20th-century artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe looked for new ways of seeing and representing “nature,” from the man-made canyons of Manhattan to the dried bones of the American desert.
“Imagining” includes archival interviews with O’Keeffe and many others, including Jackson Pollock, who, we are told, splattered his massive canvases with the landscape of his own psyche, and pop artists, including Robert Rauchenberg and Andy Warhol, who exploited and exploded assumptions about our relationship with commercial media.
The survey ends with more recent artists, including photographer Cindy Sherman and collagist David Wojnarowicz, whose work contemplates the darker side of a media-saturated environment.
Like any good survey course, “Imagining” is completely accessible to those unschooled in American art history. But it also offers insights and challenging arguments to art scholars and artists, who probably can pick any number of fights about who is and is not included.
And even if you don’t give a hoot about modern art, you can enjoy music by Duke Ellington, the Beach Boys, Moby, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Aaron Copland, Charlie Parker, Liquid Liquid, the Velvet Underground and Frank Zappa, among others.
Speaking of the darker side of media saturation, Kevin Nealon hosts “Funniest Commercials of the Year 2005” (9 p.m., TBS). But don’t go looking for all of your familiar favorites.
As is customary with these roundups, many of the “funniest” advertisements are culled from around the globe.
Other highlihgts
JT embarks for Iran on “E-Ring” (8 p.m., NBC).
Mayhem in broad daylight on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS).
A case against a crooked cop bumps up against a gangland rivalry on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9 p.m., NBC).
Cassidy’s stepmother hides a dark secret on “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN).
“South Park” (9:30 p.m., Comedy Central) fans who missed a few episodes can enjoy the entire current season, rerunning tonight until 1 a.m.
On back-to-back episodes of “Lost” (ABC), castaways collide (9 p.m.), and Kate’s back pages (10 p.m.).
Death by tiger on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
Lynda Carter guest-stars on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
Cult choice
England’s queen (Cate Blanchett) battles religious strife, court conspiracies and foreign enemies in the rousing 1998 biography “Elizabeth” (6 p.m., Independent Film Channel).
Series notes
News from Italy on “Still Standing” (8 p.m., CBS) … Eric shoves off on “That ‘70s Show” (8 p.m., Fox) … A puppy pick-me-up on “George Lopez” (8 p.m., ABC) … Creative differences on “Eve” (8 p.m., UPN) … Talk of a fantasy draft on “One Tree Hill” (8 p.m., WB) … Worries about Greg’s complacency on “Yes, Dear” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Western wear on “Stacked” (8:30 p.m., Fox) … A tough critic on “Freddie” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Dating consultants on “Love, Inc.” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … Opposites detract on “Trading Spouses” (9 p.m., Fox) … The unhappy spirit of a little boy on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., WB).