Weed Wars: Reality series. 10 p.m. Thurs. on Discovery Channel. National Geographic Investigates: Marijuana Gold Rush: Documentary. 9 p.m. Fri. on National Geographic Channel. It says a lot about how complicated the national debate on marijuana has become that, even together, two new documentaries airing this week barely cover certain aspects of the topic. One of the challenges facing the producers of both "Weed Wars," a real-life series premiering Thursday on the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Channel's "Marijuana Gold Rush," a one-off airing Friday, is that the national debate has intensified in just the past two months. On Oct. 7, the federal government's announcement of plans to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries sent the billion-dollar industry into panic mode - the collective equivalent of swallowing the roach. [continues 1240 words]
"American Experience" documentary. Directed, written and produced by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco. 9 p.m. Monday, KQED. That summer, although it started earlier than that and ended too soon, came and went four decades ago. Some say it changed American culture. Those who believe that also believe the change was for the better. Others think it was just a blip and, in the end, signified nothing other than the old ennui, fueled by drugs and misplaced idealism. [continues 865 words]
Weeds: Original series. Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, and Kevin Nealon. Created and produced by Jenji Kohan. Special preview 11 p.m. Sunday; multiple broadcasts 10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Showtime. In the world of television, sometimes being an "also ran" isn't such a bad thing. Showtime, a.k.a. "not-HBO," may not have "The Sopranos" or the late, lamented "Six Feet Under," but that's finally making the cable network try harder and, in the case of the new series "Weeds," smarter and funnier as well. [continues 1134 words]
