A tank loose on the streets of Austin gets the attention of first responders in the second season premiere of the Rob Lowe vehicle “9-1-1: Lone Star” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
Surprisingly, “Lone Star” isn’t the only fish-out-of-water show featuring Lowe in a uniform. He starred in the 2019 British series “Wild Bill,” shown on Britain’s ITV. There, he played an American police detective fired from his job for violently defending his daughter’s honor. He attempts to regroup by joining the Lincolnshire constabulary.
“Wild Bill” was not well received across the pond and was canceled after just one season. It can be streamed here on the subscription service Britbox.
— “American Masters” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings) presents “How It Feels To Be Free,” a thematic profile of Black female entertainers who took control of their own images in order to make a stand. Over the course of two hours, it shows how singers Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone and actresses Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier transformed from pretty packages to unique women and inspiring figures reflected through films, fashion, music and politics.
Abbey Lincoln is shown in a clip from the rock ‘n’ roll exploitation film “The Girl Can’t Help It.” She’s seen singing in a sexy red dress, the very same outfit Marilyn Monroe wore in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” It was clear to her in the 1950s that her ticket to the top meant passing herself off as a sex kitten. What some saw as enviable, she thought of as nothing more than wearing a white woman’s hand-me-downs. Instead, Lincoln turned herself into a jazz singer and embraced Afro-centric culture and politics. Her voice grew as her “fame” dwindled.
“Free” shows the other side of taking control of one’s image. Thanks to her powerful (and Mob-connected) father, Lena Horne could negotiate a deal with MGM that kept her from appearing in the demeaning stereotypical roles assigned to Black performers in the 1930s. She made an impressive start, appearing in “Cabin in the Sky” and “Stormy Weather,” but those would be her only speaking parts. Thereafter, she was limited to appearing briefly in movies as a singer. Those scenes could be snipped out by movie distributors in the segregated South, where it was socially unacceptable to depict Black characters as anything but subservient.
Simone and Tyson seemed assured of their images from the start, perhaps because their darker skin put them outside the realm of the star-making machinery. Rather than reject stereotyping, Grier’s wild Blaxploitation roles went over the top in ways many found breathtaking.
Contemporary artists, including Alicia Keys, Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson offer their own insight on these pioneers.
It’s hard to watch this and not reflect on performers from other segments of society who have been similarly “packaged” in demeaning ways. Not long ago, “Duck Dynasty” passed off ancient stereotypes as “reality TV.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A dam break threatens thousands on the fourth season premiere of “9-1-1” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Spencer’s interview is poorly received by fellow players on the third season premiere of “All American” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
— Jury selection looms large on “Bull” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— A wealthy patient hopes to live forever on “The Good Doctor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— “American Greed” (10 p.m., CNBC) profiles controversial attorney Michael Avenatti.
CULT CHOICE
The 1994 documentary “Freedom on My Mind” (9:45 p.m., TCM, TV-G) follows efforts to register voters in Mississippi in 1961-’64 that met with violence and murder.
SERIES NOTES
Conspicuous consumption on “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “Ellen’s Game of Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … “The Bachelor” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14) … A visit from the ex on “Bob Hearts Abishola” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
“Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “The Wall” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Friends worry about a missing Kate on “Batwoman” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … Jane Lynch hosts “Weakest Link” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Bob Newhart is booked on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) … Sen. Cory Booker and Infinity Song are scheduled on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Alex Rodriguez, Spike Lee and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis featuring Babyface on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … James Spader, Anthony Atamanuik, Julia Michaels and Sarah Thawer visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Henry Golding and Ella Mai appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
