‘Lincoln’ looks at personal anguish
The Great Emancipator spends three hours on the couch in the fascinating and probing psychobiography “Lincoln” (8 p.m., History).
Academy Award-winning producer Vikram Jayanti (“When We Were Kings”) presents Lincoln’s public and inner life through a series of dramatic re-creations of private and historical events and interviews with a chorus of 12 Lincoln scholars, biographers and novelists, including Gore Vidal, Jan Morris and Jay Winik.
Lincoln’s bouts of depression, or melancholy as it was then called, are well known. But “Lincoln” puts the president’s psychological anguish at the center of his story.
Traumatized from an early age, Lincoln witnessed the deaths of his mother, brother and both grandparents before turning 10. Keenly aware of his own intelligence and ambition, young Lincoln also seemed obsessed with the curse of a “peculiar” and overactive mind and the inability to escape his darkest thoughts.
His father, a rough man given to drink, belittled his bookish ways. Lincoln watched as a boyhood friend, considered brilliant by all, descended into madness.
He would later write a poem about the boy’s ravaged mind and ruined life.
Lincoln would also write, and publish anonymously, poems about suicide. In letters, public utterances and Cabinet meetings during his presidency, Lincoln continued to dwell on personal misery, thoughts of hanging himself and of his own death.
But “Lincoln” does not paint him as a mere mope. Paralyzing bouts of dread coincided with spectacular ambition and determination. Many here argue that it was Lincoln’s innate unhappiness, coupled with his difficult marriage and subsequent personal tragedies, that made him the most worthy – if highly unlikely – man to lead the nation during its darkest years.
It’s difficult to watch this superb “Lincoln” without being struck by the contrast between his time and our more emotionally reticent era. Imagine the fate of a contemporary president who discussed disturbing dreams at Cabinet meetings? Who wrote poems about suicide? Who wrote poetry at all?
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association honors achievement in film and television at “The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards” (8 p.m., NBC).
“Live From The Red Carpet Golden Globe Awards” (6 p.m., E!) will feature commentary from Isaac Mizrahi, Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Depandi.
Don’t go looking for Kathy Griffin. E! not only fired her from its red-carpet routine but replaced her with Seacrest, with whom she has had several public spats. Griffin’s entire reputation was based on biting the entertainment hands that fed her.
Apparently, she left too many teeth marks for E!’s comfort. That’s too bad. In moving from Griffin to Seacrest, E! lurches from the rowdy to the innocuous.
Other highlights
Jack puts himself in the center of the action at a hostage standoff on a two-hour helping of “24” (8 p.m., Fox).
Twin terror on “Emily’s Reasons Why Not” (9 p.m., ABC).
“Amazing Race” personality Joyce Agu appears on “How Do I Look” (9 p.m., Style).
Back in the dating game on “Jake in Progress” (9:30 p.m., ABC).
Horatio’s ex is found murdered on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).
Roses wilt and candles melt on “The Bachelor: Paris” (10 p.m., ABC).
A comic performs his routine on “Greg Behrendt Is Uncool” (10 p.m., Comedy Central).
Cult choice
Jamie Foxx portrays musical original Ray Charles in the 2004 biography “Ray” (8 p.m., HBO), winner of a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
Series notes
Opposites detract on “Wife Swap” (8 p.m., ABC) … An awkward financial gesture on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB) … … Romantic interference on “Two and a Half Men” (9 p.m., CBS) … A gift reconsidered on “Related” (9 p.m., WB) … Lost in translation on “Out of Practice” (9:30 p.m., CBS).