TV Daily

Prime Pick

Photo: PBS

Fans of Michael Apted's "Up" documentary series won't want to miss "49 Up" (8 p.m. EDT on PBS, check listings), the seventh installment of a project that began when Apted filmed a handful of precocious English schoolchildren way back in 1964. Perhaps the first experiment in reality programming, the documentary checks in with its subjects every seven years to see how their lives have changed since. More than an exercise in voyeurism, Apted's series offers loyal viewers a treasured reminder of how quickly time passes: We watch the aging of the film's participants and naturally compare it with our own. Even though the best years of this series are probably behind it (teenagers and young adults have much more unpredictable lives and much more unpredictable things to say), the best years of the participants' lives are probably unfolding as this doc was filmed. Many of the film's subjects seem more at peace and contented than they ever have -- their marriages finally seem to be functioning smoothly -- painting a much prettier picture of late middle age than we're used to seeing in the media. So did those English schoolchildren really demonstrate exactly how happy and successful they'd eventually be, as Apted claimed they would 43 years ago? Not really, but the ride has been worth it nonetheless.

-- H.H.

Also…

CW's "Reaper," a damned-teen dramedy created by Kevin Smith ("Clerks"), airs at 9 p.m. EDT. Part 2 of MSNBC's three-part documentary series on homeless kids, "The Runaways," airs at 11 p.m. EDT. And if you've ever wondered what it would be like to raise sextuplets (along with a set of twins), you might want to check out "Jon & Kate Plus 8" (second episode airs at 10 p.m. EDT on Discovery Health).

On the talk shows

Contributors: Megan Doll, Heather Havrilesky, Eryn Loeb, Amy Reiter

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