American Experience: Soundtrack for a Revolution
Music was an integral part of the civil-rights movement. In a program that tells the story of the movement through its music, contemporary performers John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots provide new renditions of such protest anthems as “We Shall Overcome,” while Harry Belafonte, Rep. John Lewis, and Julian Bond sit for interviews. Monday, May 9, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
In Search of Food
Chef and author Barton Seaver crosses America in this three-night series to spotlight the movement toward sustainable food production. Tuesday takes him to Minneapolis, where he visits a creamery that hand-churns its butter and a restaurant that uses only local produce. On Wednesday he investigates rooftop farming in New York City, and on Thursday his stops include a San Francisco–area oyster farm. Tuesday–Thursday, May 10–12, at 8 p.m., Ovation
Community
Last spring, an episode of Community about a campus-wide paintball game was a critically acclaimed spoof of action blockbusters packed with cinematic allusions. This season’s two-part finale, which opened last week with “A Fistful of Paintballs,” chronicles another paintball battle, but this time in the style of a spaghetti Western. Joel McHale leads the ensemble in the conclusion, titled “For a Few Paintballs More.” Thursday, May 12, at 8 p.m., NBC
Smallville
Over 10 years, this fantasy-drama about the formative years of Superman has broadened its scope to embrace many other elements of the DC Comics mythos. Now it concludes with a two-hour finale in which young Clark Kent must overcome the evil entity Darkseid to achieve his destiny. Tom Welling stars; Michael Rosenbaum returns as Lex Luthor after a three-year absence. Friday, May 13, at 8 p.m., CW
The Storm That Swept Mexico
The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was the first major national uprising to be filmed, and this definitive examination of the 1910 conflict contains many images never before seen outside Mexico. The show’s first hour spotlights legendary rebel leaders Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa; the second hour looks at how forces beyond Mexico’s borders shaped the revolution, and also examines the revolt’s extensive cultural legacy. Sunday, May 15, at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Other highlights
The Good Wife
Comedian Sarah Silverman does a dramatic turn as the owner of an adultery website who is accused of murdering a client. Tuesday, May 10, at 10 p.m., CBS
Doctor Who
Award-winning fantasy author Neil Gaiman (Coraline) wrote this week’s episode, in which a woman from the Doctor’s past reappears. Matt Smith stars as the title character. Saturday, May 14, at 9 p.m., BBC America
Saturday Night Live
Paul Simon, whose new album, So Beautiful or So What, has drawn critical acclaim, makes his eighth appearance as SNL’s musical guest. The Office’s Ed Helms hosts. Saturday, May 14, at 11:30 p.m., NBC
