Toxic Hot Seat
The sofa you’re currently sitting on may contain up to 2 pounds of flame-retardant chemicals. Though that may sound reassuring, studies have shown that common retardants are ineffective in preventing the spread of a fire but are linked to infertility, cancer, and below-average IQs. This startling documentary, based on a Chicago Tribune investigation, reveals how corporate lobbying and misinformation campaigns ushered such chemicals into U.S. households decades ago, and have ensured they’ve stayed there. Monday, Nov. 25, at 9 p.m., HBO
Futurescape: I Know What You’re Thinking
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Listening Is an Act of Love: A StoryCorps Special
For 10 years, the StoryCorps oral-history project has been inviting everyday Americans to record brief interviews of one another in order to preserve and share the stories of their lives. Radio is the project’s traditional broadcast medium, but in this special, animation will accompany five such stories being aired for the first time, including one about a woman who has learned to live without any short-term memory. Two popular StoryCorps interviews from the archives get animation treatment as well. Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Big Cat Week: Man v. Cheetah
A week of big-cat programming kicks into high gear with a heckuva race: Devin Hester and Chris Johnson, two of the fleetest players in the NFL, take turns running sprints against the world’s fastest land animal. Friday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m., Nat Geo Wild
Great Performances: Barbra Streisand—Back to Brooklyn
It was a homecoming more than 50 years in the making. Barbra Streisand, who was still a teen when she left her native Brooklyn seeking stardom, returned home last year for her first concert there since childhood. In this taped special, the 70-year-old songbird seems to regain her old Brooklyn accent as the engagement wears on. And while she doesn’t hit the high notes the way she used to, she can still crush it. Friday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Other highlights
Bear Grylls: Escape From Hell
Survival expert Bear Grylls launches a new series in which he subjects himself to the perils faced by real-life survivors of various calamities.Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 10 p.m., Discovery
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Four new balloon characters, a spinning Hanukkah dreidel, and performers Kristin Chenoweth and Carrie Underwood highlight this year’s march through midtown Manhattan. Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m., NBC
Lady Gaga & the Muppets’ Holiday Spectacular
It’s an unlikely match, but when Kermit and the gang pair up with pop’s oddest diva, their Thanksgiving sing-along just clicks. Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9:30 p.m., ABC
