TV Daily

Prime Pick

Photo: PBS

If you don't have the time to read Henry Roth's "Call It Sleep," a brilliant depiction of the Jewish experience on the Lower East Side at the turn of the century, you might opt for PBS's six-hour, three-part documentary "The Jewish Americans" (9 p.m. EST on PBS, check listings). Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the first two-hour segment, which airs tonight, offers a detailed look at the challenges faced by Jewish immigrants in America from the 1700s until the early 20th century. This special explores how Jewish immigrants in the U.S. faced anti-Semitism, poverty and other obstacles and yet managed to create a thriving, culturally rich community on the Lower East Side.

-- H.H.

Also…

Explorer special "Science of Evil" (8 p.m. EST on National Geographic) examines some of the biological bases for good and bad behavior, and the second episode of the four-part PBS series "Pioneers of Television" focuses on Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson and other late-night stand-outs (8 p.m. EST on PBS, check listings). The four female executives of "Cashmere Mafia" bond over $18 glasses of Pinot Grigio at 10 p.m. EST on ABC, and on "Project Runway" (10 p.m. EST on Bravo) the designers are asked to create prom dresses for 16-year-olds. Where oh where is Austin Scarlett when we need him?

Last night

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On the talk shows

Contributors: Megan Doll, Heather Havrilesky, Amy Reiter

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