1) “American Experience,” 9 p.m., PBS. There was a time (really) when politicians from both parties linked to solve problems. This hour starts when Los Angeles — with a geography that traps gas (shown here) — was crippled by smog. Republicans (Reagan, Nixon) and Democrats combined. They created the Environmental Protection Agency and vastly cleaner lives.
2) “Alien: Earth,” 8 p.m., FX, rerunning at 9:25 and 10:50. Two mismatched stories fill this compelling series. One — the minds of dying children, inserted into synthetic bodies — is deep and warm. The other — creatures captured on other planets — is fierce. The two stories start to blend, leading to this episode’s riveting finish.
3) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The second quarter-finals night has four music acts, three dance acts and more. There are robots, roller-skaters, jugglers and a magician. Viewers will send four to the semi-finals.
4) “The Snake” finale, 9 p.m., Fox. After last week’s nasty hour (with electric shocks), six people remain. There’s Brett Covalt (a boxer) and Derek North (a detective), plus Frank Lavecchia (a makeup artist), Jack Micco (a non-profit director), Jordan DeJessie (a human resources director) and Alyssa Grassie, who poses on the OnlyFans site.
5) MORE: Want two very different (but well-made) movies? Try the epic “Doctor Zhivago” (1965), from 4:30 to 8 p.m. ET p.m. on Turner Classic Movies, and the zestful “Barbie” (2023), at 8:15 on TNT. Also, a clever hour of “The 1% Club” is 8 p.m. on Fox; at 10, Gloria Estefan is on NBC’s “Songs & Stories With Kelly Clarkson.”