‘Prince Among Slaves’ is a complex story
Tonight’s must-see
“Prince Among Slaves,” 10 p.m., KUID. Abdul Rahman was an African prince when he was captured at 26 and sold.
He would spend 40 years in American slavery. He ran thriving plantation fields, raised a family, became a celebrity who twice visited the president.
This was a complex man battered by history. Andrea Kalin has beautifully written and directed the documentary, with Mos Def narrating and Bill Duke directing the richly crafted re-enactments.
Tonight’s might-see
“Prison Break,” 8 p.m., Fox. We’re down to the final three weeks of the season.
Michael must break Whistler out of prison or Linc’s son will be killed. Crises range from weather to ethical dilemmas, in a tough, tense story.
Other choices include
“American Gladiators,” 8-9:30 p.m., NBC. The show expands to 90 minutes as its semi-finals begin. Tonight, a firefighter faces a rock-climber; a fitness trainer faces a gymnastics coach and power lifter.
“Welcome to the Captain” debut, 8:30 p.m., CBS. This comedy is set in an old Los Angeles apartment building, rippling with history and eccentricity. The bad news is that the central character and his friend (Fran Kranz and Chris Klein) are dull. Fortunately, others are a delight, played by Jeffrey Tambor, JoAnna Garcia, Al Madrigal and Raquel Welch.
“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” 9 p.m., Fox. John is in peril. He’s separated from Sarah and Cameron.
“American Experience: Grand Central,” 9 p.m., KSPS. At the start of the 20th century, this interesting PBS documentary says, New York’s central train station made Conrad Vanderbilt rich and New Yorkers livid. It spewed smoke and cinders; two accidents killed a total of 37 people. Vanderbilt’s response was the stately Grand Central Terminal; after 95 years, it remains highly regarded.
“Cities of the Underworld,” 9 p.m., History Channel. This visit to Japan starts by introducing the first person to tell the outside world of the atomic-bomb. She was 10 at the time, in a fortress below a Hiroshima castle. That starts an hour diving into Japan’s underground.
“Paradise Hotel 2,” 9 p.m., MyNetwork; with uncensored version at midnight, Fox Reality Channel. Eleven singles (six women, five men at first) meet in a resort and pair up. The unpaired woman will then be sent home and replaced by a man or woman. The people and setting are beautiful, but there’s a sameness that leaves us with no one to root for.
“In Treatment,” 9 and 9:30 p.m., HBO. First is a rerun of the opener, with a young woman obsessing on her therapist. Then is a new episode, with her mood temporarily transformed. These are superb performances from Melissa George.
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” season-opener, 9:30 p.m., CBS. Christine prepares for sex with Mr. Harris (Blair Underwood). That starts an episode that is mainly blunt and witless.