“Lords of the Revolution”
Tuesday-Friday 8pm, VH1
VH1 puts together some nifty documentary programs, and this new five-part series looks to be a decent addition. “Lords” focuses on counter-culture figures from the ’60s and ’70s whose pioneering work still has powerful repercussions today. Monday night’s episode focused on Muhammad Ali (you can catch the playback later in the week), Tuesday’s is on subversive comedy duo Cheech and Chong, Wednesday’s shines the spotlight on the Black Panther Party, Thursday’s shifts to drug advocate Timothy Leary and Friday’s examines Andy Warhol, who would probably cringe if he had lived to see that his “everybody will have 15 minutes of fame” prediction has come true thanks to YouTube and skank-filled reality shows. Just one quibble: Where the ladies at? Two episodes on drug-related celebs, two on black rights leaders, and not one on the changing roles of women? That seems a bit of a dick move. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
“How’d You Get So Rich”
Wednesday 10pm, TV Land
Joan Rivers has had more careers than she’s had plastic surgery—and the woman has had a lot of plastic surgery. She’s been a comedian, a talk show host, an actress, a jewelry designer, a fashion pundit and the winner of “Celebrity Apprentice.” So she’s the perfect person to host this new series, kind of a “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” crossed with “How It’s Made.” Rivers profiles obscenely rich people who come from humble beginnings, like a multimillionaire who worked his way through Harvard by scrubbing toilets, or the cosmetics mogul who started out working behind the make-up counter.
“Mad Men”
Sunday 10pm, AMC
AMC’s retro drama about the ruthless 1960s Madison Avenue advertising industry begins its third season with tons of hype and an equal number of Emmy nominations. Season 2 ended with ad agency Sterling Cooper getting bought out by a British company, and the fallout from the corporate merger will be felt by the characters almost immediately, with several Sterling-Cooperites vying for the same position. Spoilers are notoriously difficult to come by for the series, but expect Betty Draper’s new baby to have an impact, and for her estranged husband, Don (the delicious Jon Hamm), to continue to struggle to keep afloat despite his many weighty secrets and a business full of hungry sharks. Note that new episodes are schedule to run long, so if you’re TiVo-ing, plan accordingly.
