Public Television, 12:00 a.m. ET
One of Bill Moyers’ guests tonight is moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt (that’s his job title, not an opinion), who tries to explain why there is such a deep divide right now between rich and poor, and between the two political parties – and to warn about the long-term ramifications if that divide continues. Local PBS member stations can present this program any time between Friday and Sunday on their local schedules. To find it in your area, click
NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: In this first episode of the new season of celebrity roots-seeking, Martin Sheen retraces his family tree not only in search of relatives, but in search of proof of hereditary activism. And he find it, back in both Ireland and Spain. You’ll have to watch, though, to learn whether Sheen finds any genealogical traces of his son Charlie’s particular strain of tiger’s blood.
Fox, 9:00 p.m. ET
There’s more intermingling of the various timelines and its look-alike residents tonight, as Walter (John Noble) has another nervous encounter with the alternate-world Olivia (Anna Torv) – who seems to enjoy how much her presence rattles him.
PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: The first of three episodes in this very welcome series’ second season is shown tonight, following performer – and now music archivist – Feinstein as he travels across the country finding and sharing rare musical compositions, performances and treasures. Among his stops in this opening show: a visit to the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner, where Hef shares not only his old jukebox song collection, but rare footage of jazz singer-pianist Bobby Short and British crooner Al Bowlly, whose 1930s recordings will be familiar to every hard-core fan of Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective. (That would be me, and maybe 12 other people, but still…)
PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: This installment of this music series was taped just after the release of Adele’s 21 CD, and before she underwent surgery on her vocal cords. If she was troubled by the limits of her voice at the time, she didn’t show it – and didn’t sound like anything was wrong, either. It’s a beautiful concert by a talented singer, staged in an intimate, “unplugged” setting. (Check local listings for time.)