1) “Orangutan” (shown here), Disney+. Each Earth Day, the DisneyNature unit debuts a richly crafted documentary. Here’s the latest; Disney+ also has the previous Disney films, plus ones from National Geographic. There are also Earth Day films on other streamers — especially HBO Max, Apple and Britbox — and (see next two items) beyond.
2) “Wilding” (2023), 10-11:30 p.m., PBS. On a 3,500-acre English estate, a couple quit farming and restored a long-ago wilderness. That’s shown in this documentary movie, which is weak on specifics, but strong on emotion and visuals. It wraps up PBS’ Earth Day line-up, which has a warm portrait of tigers at 8 p.m. and a fierce look at “rain bombs” at 9.
3) James Cameron films. Each year, near Earth Day, Cameron debuts an excellent “Secrets Of” production. The newest gem, on bees, is 7:51 to 10 p.m. on National Geographic Channel, 9:49 to 11:58 p.m. on Nat Geo Wild. NGC also has elephants at 4:04 p.m., octopuses at 11:08. Wild has penguins, 11:58 p.m.; Cameron’s “Ocean Xplorers,” 7-10:30 a.m.; and more.
4) “Chicago Fire,” 9 p.m., NBC. Settimg aside its usual form, “Fire” has a taut, tight focus on four people. Hanako Greensmith and Jocelyn Hudon (as the EMT’s Violet and Novak) link with two talented guest stars, for a gripping story of instinct and desperation.
5) ALSO: “Abbott Elementary” has its two-episode season-finale; the school’s annual “Ava Festival” is at 8 p.m. on ABC, with a teachers’ conference in Miami at 8:30. And “South Pacific” (1958), one of the all-time best musicals, is at at 8 p.m. ET on Turner Classic Movies.