Netanyahu and American TV

“Frontline” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG) presents “Netanyahu at War,” a two-hour profile of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. It examines aspects of his past and personality that led to his historic confrontation with President Barack Obama and his unprecedented address to Congress last year, criticizing the Obama administration’s efforts to negotiate with Iran.

Netanyahu has been at the center of Israeli politics for so long that some forget he first became a public figure on American television, making the case for American pro-Israel lobbying groups beginning in the late 1970s. Viewers of ABC’s “Nightline” during the 1980s could have been forgiven for thinking of Netanyahu as that show’s virtual co- host, so often was he invited to speak.

This “Frontline” does an exhaustive job of exploring Netanyahu’s political rise and complicated relationships with American presidents, interviewing dozens of journalists, American foreign policy experts and Netanyahu advisers past and present.

It’s interesting to think how Netanyahu’s rise as a “star” of American television news has continued to resonate, and how, unlike Israeli media, which reports on Bibi as one politician among many, American TV media treats him as if he and only he speaks for Israel, and that anyone who challenges his position is at best naive, or worse, hostile to his nation’s best interests. Even this lessthan-glowing profile uses words like “fatalist” and “pragmatist” to describe Netanyahu and words like “idealist” and “dreamer” when discussing anyone who doesn’t share his worldview.

In 2014, MSNBC contributor Rula Jebreal suggested that American television was failing to tell the whole story about that summer’s Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, arguing that American media interviewed nine Israelis for every one Palestinian. No one on the network said she was wrong; she was simply terminated. This sent a chilling and obvious message: To even question American coverage of Netanhayu’s foreign policy was a firing offense.

This very thorough “Frontline” also contributes to the notion that Netanyahu is the only story in Israel worth covering. In 2015, some Israelis thought a new contender, Isaac Herzog, could defeat Netanyahu in parliamentary elections. Herzog failed to win. Like too many American newscasts, this “Frontline” doesn’t even mention his name.

TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS

Bold- faced names cavort on “Hollywood Game Night” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Jess’ plans for Schmidt’s engagement party prove revealing on “New Girl” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).

Jimmy’s doctor phobia raises concerns on “Grandfathered” (8:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

A sleeper cell is awakened in the Crescent City on “NCIS: New

Orleans” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

Charles’ ex interferes on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

ABC’s schedule is entirely too reliant on “Shark Tank” ( 9 p. m., TV-PG) and “Beyond the Tank” (10 p.m., TV-PG).

Overlapping layers of jealousy and suspicion on “The Grinder” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).

Brian is forced to scuttle an investigation into a delicate matter on “Limitless” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

A firehouse favorite needs urgent care on a crossover episode of “Chicago Med” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

A cappella groups spend eight weeks prepping for a summer season in the new reality series “Pitch Slapped” (10 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG).

Abby’s brother falls under suspicion on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).

Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.