Two musical documentaries dominate the evening
A half-century is a long time to commandeer the cool kids’ table. “Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA) will air over two nights, chronicling the magazine that launched 50 years ago this month.
“Edge” is filled with great clips of musical performances by Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Ice-T and others. It’s best appreciated for its ancient footage and grainy videotaped interviews with the magazine’s founders, most notably publisher Jann Wenner.
As Wenner and others describe it, they were out to cover the culture and politics of rock ‘n’ roll as much as reviewing new albums and celebrating emerging artists.
Directed by Alex Gibney (“Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”) and Blair Foster (“George Harrison: Living in the Material World”), “Edge” has the burden of covering the half-century history of a magazine that may have lost its edge after a decade or so.
While the early issues had the feel of an “underground” newspaper, Rolling Stone quickly became the industry organ of a very big business. That was noted as early as 1972 when Doctor Hook released the throwaway hit “The Cover of the Rolling Stone.”
This is hardly the first Rolling Stone retrospective. In 1977, CBS aired “Rolling Stone; the 10th Anniversary,” co-written by Steve Martin. It was considered a bomb by many and described in Billboard as “overblown, pretentious, slow-moving, and generally cheapening to both rock and roll and the magazine’s good name.” The same can’t be said of this retrospective, but I can’t blame viewers for skipping the second night.
‘CHASING TRANE’ ON PBS
Much more heartfelt is the “Independent Lens” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) documentary “Chasing Trane,” director John Scheinfeld’s portrait of jazz great John Coltrane.
Denzel Washington reads from the saxophonists own words. The film offers a loose biography as well as an exploration of his music, with an accent on its unique tone, emotional power and spiritual exploration.
“Trane” features a wealth of commentary from fellow musicians and one American president, figures who stand in awe of Coltrane’s pioneering work. Look and listen for insights from Bill Clinton, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Carlos Santana, Common and Doors drummer John Densmore.
Sometimes musical eras create their own kind of Big Bang. We learn that in 1959, between playing on recording sessions for Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue,” Coltrane recorded his own seminal album, “Giant Steps.” Again, the “awe” word.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› Contestants choose songs to perform on “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
› The 2016 documentary “All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception and the Spirit of I.F. Stone” (9 p.m., Starz) celebrates the work of contemporary investigative journalists.
› “Ride With Norman Reedus” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-14) visits the Lowcountry region between Charleston and Savannah.
› Robin Roberts hosts “Living Every Day: Luke Bryan” (10 p.m., ABC).
SERIES NOTES
› After hours on “Kevin Can Wait” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› Missing Candy on “Lucifer” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› “Dancing With the Stars” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Going over like a lead balloon on “Supergirl” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Bernadette’s in labor on “The Big Bang Theory” (8:30 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
› Police on the spot on “Superior Donuts” (9 p.m., CBS).
› Thunderbird wants answers on “The Gifted” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Gallo risks all on “Valor” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Andrew feels smothered on “9JKL” (9:30 p.m., CBS).
› A mad dash through the sewers on “Scorpion” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› A trip to Paris proves illuminating on “The Brave” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).