Outrage
This provocative documentary contends that “a brilliantly orchestrated conspiracy” keeps gay politicians in the closet—and that closeted politicians are the ones most ardently opposed to gay-rights legislation. Former Sen. Larry Craig, ex–New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, and others come under scrutiny from director Kirby Dick, a 2005 Oscar nominee for his film Twist of Faith. Monday, Oct. 5, at 9 p.m., HBO
Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
For four generations, the Chandler family of southern California controlled not only the Los Angeles Times newspaper but also much of L.A. itself, becoming involved in everything from the development of the city’s industries to the aqueduct scandal that inspired the film Chinatown. Drawing on unprecedented archival access, this documentary chronicles the lively histories of both the family and its most famous progeny. Monday, Oct. 5, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Craft in America
The Peabody-winning series about American craft culture returns with two new episodes. “Origins” looks at artists who preserve old techniques, from a South Carolina blacksmith to a Kiowa beadworker. “Process” shows how people learn such crafts as ceramics, bookbinding, and jewelry making. Both episodes are visually sumptuous, particularly in high-def. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Man Shops Globe
“I have the greatest job in the world,” says Keith Johnson: He’s a buyer-at-large for specialty retailer Anthropologie, and this colorful new eight-part series follows him around the world. The premiere takes him from a Paris flea market to the antiques shops of Provence, where he dickers and deals for furniture and found objects. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10 p.m., Sundance Channel
Rem Koolhaas: A Kind of Architect
Named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world last year, Koolhaas is the Pritzker Architecture Prize–winning designer of such distinctive buildings as the Seattle Public Library and Beijing’s CCTV building. He’s also a discerning social critic and urban planner. This German documentary interviews Koolhaas, his clients, and his peers as well as showcasing his works. Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., Sundance Channel
Other highlights
Dirty Jobs
Host Mike Rowe travels to Miami and tries his hand at marine salvaging, then heads to a San Francisco recycling center to separate the reusable parts of a mattress. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 9 p.m., Discovery
Art in the 21st Century
Season 5 begins with profiles of artists who address social issues: South Africa’s William Kentridge, American photographer Carrie Mae Weems, and Colombian sculptor Doris Salcedo. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Ultimate Factories: Rolls-Royce
National Geographic visits factories in England and Germany to chronicle the construction of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Thursday, Oct. 8,
at 8 p.m., National Geographic Channel
Why ghost guns are so easy to make — and so dangerous
The Week contest: Swift stimulus
'It's hard to resist a sweet deal on a good car'
