“Make ’em Laugh” (8 p.m., PBS): You’ll chuckle, chortle and guffaw during
“Make ’em Laugh” (8 p.m., PBS): You’ll chuckle, chortle and guffaw during “Make ’em Laugh: The Funny Business of America.” It’s a riotous — and riveting — six-part documentary series that looks at the evolution of American comedy over the past 100 years. Billy Crystal narrates.
“Wonderland” (10 p.m., DirecTV): Nine years ago, a groundbreaking drama about the mental health system premiered on ABC. Way ahead of its time, “Wonderland” probed the lives of the doctors of Rivervue, a fictitious psychiatric hospital in New York City. Though critically acclaimed, it never had a chance. It was slotted against NBC’s then-indominable “ER,” and, further compounding its woes, it drew fire from mental health professionals who said the series demonstrated “reckless indifference” to the mentally ill. Two episodes aired. ABC yanked the series. Now it’s been given a clean bill of health by DirecTV. The original episode of “Wonderland” will air right after the season finale of “Friday Night Lights.” Airing weekly, all eight “Wonderland” episodes will appear on DirecTV, including six never-before-seen hours.
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