PBS launches ‘American Veteran’ series
The new four-part series “American Veteran” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings) will present the veteran perspective from more than 40 points of view. It will interview former servicemen and -women from the World War II era onward, encompassing those who served as “citizen soldiers” of the draft era and those who enlisted in the “volunteer Army” that emerged after the Vietnam War.
“Veteran” explores a large subject that encompasses many contradictory elements. While many claim to “honor the service” of those who serve, only a small percentage of Americans now enlist. At the same time, there are more than 18 million American veterans, with many different experiences and outlooks.
The volunteer Army arose from contradictory forces in American society. By the end of the Vietnam War, the draft was very unpopular, particularly among the young men subject to forced enlistment.
So, when President Nixon ended the draft in 1973, he seemed to be listening to this discontent. At the same time, he was very influenced by market-based economists, most notably Milton Friedman, who argued that drafting, training and feeding soldiers for a few years who were then certain to leave service as soon as they could was a very inefficient way to run things. Better to incentivize a smaller fraction of society to serve longer stints or make a career of the military.
But what has this “efficient” and market-based thinking done to society? Are we better off? Some argued that a draft exposed citizen soldiers to Americans from all walks of life, making for a more democratic society. And the presence of a wide spectrum of society in the military put a brake on endless deployments and countless combat commitments. How many members of Congress have sons or daughters in the military? Has the current system put pressure on a small and separate caste and insulated the rest of society from the consequences of war? While the recent departure from Afghanistan resulted in a brief clamor, the news media paid scant attention to the conflict for nearly two decades, despite the huge costs in blood and treasure.
Each segment of “American Veteran” will be narrated by a different veteran: Drew Carey, Wes Studi, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and J.R. Martinez.
Now the host of “The Price Is Right,” Carey served six years in the Marines in the 1980s before breaking into standup comedy and starring on his eponymous ABC sitcom in the 1990s. His signature short haircut was a nod to his time in the service, and his plain, thick plastic glasses frames were military issue. ›
Major League Baseball’s World Series (8 p.m., Fox) begins. A longer playoff schedule makes for the possibility of November baseball, something unthinkable back in the day.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› An explosive package on “FBI” (8 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› “Bering Sea Gold” (8 p.m., Discovery, TV-14) returns for its 14th season. It can also be streamed on Discovery+.
› A cryptocurrency crisis on “FBI: International” (9 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› The gang discovers a mysterious fort on “La Brea” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Reinforcements arrive on “FBI: Most Wanted” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› Baptiste gets a talking to on “New Amsterdam” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).