When the music ends, the metaphor-making begins. The three-part docuseries “Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14) recalls a rather relentless, ubiquitous and inescapable musical trend through a historical lens.
It’s not the first effort to present the music as a backdrop to several movements of the 1970s: women’s rights, gay liberation and the rise of Black and Latino dance halls and clubs as gathering places for young people. Like many musical trends and genres, disco may have emerged from an outsider fringe, but once proven popular, it was embraced by corporate culture and oversold to the point of overkill.
“Revolution” includes interviews with survivors of that long-ago moment and contemporary musicians and music producers too young to have gotten sweaty on the dance floor.
Sometimes the fact that disco was goofy and fun gets lost in these academic exercises.
— Another documentary to tie a popular artform to a social revolution, “Outstanding” begins streaming on Netflix. It explores the rise of LGBTQ+ comedians over the past five decades and presents footage of Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Eddie Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen and Trixie Mattel, among others.
Comedy from a half-century ago often involved treating gay themes and people as the butt of jokes. “Outstanding” explores the evolution from being the punch line to delivering them.
— Former boy band fixture Jonathan Knight (New Kids on the Block) hosts the four-part reality distraction “Farmhouse Fixer: Camp Revamp” (9 p.m., HGTV, TV-G). It follows the former pop warbler as he buys an abandoned and run down 12-acre campground in a bucolic New England setting in the hopes of creating a family-friendly resort.
The property includes 10 rental cabins and a main house in need of everything from gut restoration to a little spit and polish.
Despite the presence of a camera crew, a cable network, corporate sponsors and help from family and friends, Knight sees this project refracted through the prism of the first-person singular. “It’s all on me. My money, my designs, my problems. But the reward … that’s all mine, too.”
— Paramount+ launches new series “Chopper Cops,” following Florida officers who chase crooks and fight crime from the cockpit of their helicopters. The 10-episode series follows officers as they maintain a 24-hour surveillance on Marion County, a 1,600-square-mile beat consisting of rural, wood and suburban acres, where “chopper cops” investigate an estimated 7,000 felonies a year.
— Viaplay, the streaming service dedicated to Scandinavian content, presents the documentary profile “Hilma,” an English-language feature directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lasse Hallstrom (“Chocolat,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “The Cider House Rules”).
“Hilma” profiles artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944). A follower of the mystical religion theosophy, her works were symbolic in nature. She has recently been revered as a pioneer of abstract art and an influence on much more celebrated artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Plaid-wearing mothers turn a family vacation into a meddling matchmaking moment in the 2024 romance “A Scottish Love Scheme” (7 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— A poison gas attack on “FBI” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— U.S. Olympic Trials (NBC), featuring swimming (8 p.m.) and diving (9:30 p.m.).
— The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals (8 p.m., ABC).
— A co-ed in Prague gets no help from local authorities on “FBI: International” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— The sports documentary “Here to Climb” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-14) profiles world-class rock climber Sasha DiGiulian as she becomes the first woman in history to ascend several notable cliffs and peaks.
— A sniper targets a college campus on “FBI: Most Wanted” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Gary Oldman’s long career of playing screen sickos includes his role as Verger, a child molester left disfigured by his encounter with Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in the shocker “Hannibal” (8 p.m., VH1), a 2001 sequel to “Silence of the Lambs,” directed by Ridley Scott. Julianne Moore assumes the role of Clarice Starling formerly played by Jodie Foster. Look for Ray Liotta as a memorable victim.
SERIES NOTES
“Beat Shazam” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … “The Quiz With Balls” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … “Password” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Kevin Costner, Chace Crawford and Shenseea on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Eddie Murphy and Nicola Yoon visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
