The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching

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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Your innermost thoughts might not be yours alone much longer. This one-hour science special, part of a six-part series about the potential life-changing features of the near future, looks at how current research into the neural pathways of thoughts and memories could eventually make every mind an open book to anyone who cares to look. And you thought Facebook was bad. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 10 p.m., Science Channel

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