‘America’ tells immigrants’ stories
How do today’s immigrants compare to the “tempest tossed” newcomers of the Ellis Island era?
Produced by David Grubin (“The Secret Life of the Brain”), the four-part documentary series “Destination America” (8 p.m., KSPS) presents personal stories from today’s new Americans and attempts to place their experience within the context of America’s immigration history.
Some of the people featured here are at the top of their professions, including a Taiwan-born dancer for the Martha Graham Dance Company and two Russian artists whose work is known the world over. On the other end of the economic divide, Manuel, a Mexican farm laborer, will not divulge his last name out of fear of deportation.
“Clean House” (10 p.m., Style) may sound like a show that teaches remedial courses on dusting and vacuuming, but it’s much more fun than that.
Comedian and host Niecy Nash descends on a cluttered, untidy home and collects stories from the residents. Just how did a middle-aged married man and father of two collect 4,000 Beanie Babies and a zillion baseball cards? And why?
Once the anecdotes about unhinged acquisitions are complete, Niecy’s team sizes up the value of the “collection” and sets about selling it at a yard sale.
One subject is reduced to tears as a pile of possessions decades in the making is bartered away for pennies on the dollar. But in the show’s third act, the “Clean House” gang uses the proceeds to buy, renovate, decorate and organize the claustrophobic dump into a cheery, livable space.
There’s nothing groundbreaking about “Clean House,” but the stories are funny, and Nash presides over her renovations with quick wit and empathy.
“Secrets of the Dead” (7 p.m., KSPS) enters its fifth season with a glance at Hitler’s top-secret weapons program that was just coming to fruition during the waning days of World War II.
While most “Secrets of the Dead” installments show how forensic science can ferret stories from dusty bones and remnants of centuries past, this episode relies on recently uncovered home movies by American forces combing through shattered bunkers and laboratories.
Other highlights
Houston and St. Louis meet in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (5 p.m., Fox).
A creep kidnaps a DA’s daughter and targets the girl’s twin on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS).
High noon at the salad bar on “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” (9 p.m., NBC).
Michael runs off in search of his missing son on “Lost” (9 p.m., ABC).
“Ghost Hunters” (9 p.m., Sci Fi) wraps up its second season. To celebrate the event, the Sci Fi network will run a marathon of “Ghost Hunter” repeats beginning at 9 a.m.
A man collapses and dies during a street fair in Little Italy on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS). And it wasn’t from the sausage and peppers.
An undercover reporter dies while trying to expose a violent gang on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
Russell investigates a mysterious murder on “Invasion” (10 p.m., ABC).
The cartoon reality parody “Drawn Together” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) returns for a second season. More vulgar than amusing.
Cult choice
Kim Hunter stars as the sister of a woman ensnared in a circle of Satanists in the 1943 shocker “The Seventh Victim” (6:15 p.m., Turner Classic Movies). Part of a nightlong salute to the macabre low-budget movies churned out by producer Val Lewton during World War II.
Way ahead of their time in creepy subject matter, the list includes “Cat People” (5 p.m.) and “I Walked With a Zombie” (7:30 p.m.).
Series notes
Judy speaks too soon on “Still Standing” (8 p.m., CBS) … Accused of rape, two Marines face an angry mob on “E-Ring” (8 p.m., NBC) … Driven insane on “George Lopez” (8 p.m., ABC) … Tyra Banks hosts “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN) … Back to school on “One Tree Hill” (8 p.m., WB) … Jealous of Jimmy on “Yes, Dear” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Freddie learns that he and a crucial food critic have bad history on “Freddie” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … A friend’s beau is put to the test on “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN) … Rose is embarrassed on “Related” (9 p.m., WB).