A new, lavish-looking nature series, with previously unseen creatures, slo-mo action, tough transitions and crisp photography features a host of some renown, Barack Obama presents “Our Great National Parks” (Netflix, streaming) from a beach in Hawaii and on a mountain in Yellowstone, doing the Richard Attenborough schtick pretty well. But the national parks he discusses aren’t necessarily the U.S. ones, but those around the world, which has increasingly become the streaming service’s audience.
The first of six episodes of the series, coming from Obama’s production team, covers surfing hippos in Gabon, endangered lemurs in Madagascar, tiny deer on a Japanese island and a sloth in a Costa Rican rainforest before they get to Yellowstone. He brings up climate change issues finally. But you can’t help think this guy could be more useful elsewhere in the world’s present state.
A special episode of “Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m.) looks at creatures coping with a warming Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
“Searching for Justice: Life After Lockup” (PBS, 10 p.m.) is a special from the “PBS Newshour” following adjustments after incarceration for four people.
Yet another spin-off project from the movie franchise, the animated “Ice Age: Scrat Tales” (Disney+, streaming) focuses on the saber-toothed squirrel named Scratch.
The old MTV franchise returns as a country showcase with “CMT Storytellers” (CMT, 8 p.m.). First up: Brooks & Dunn.
From Brazil comes “Smother-In-Law” (Netflix, streaming) a sitcom about living with a meddling mother-in-law since the start of the pandemic.
The Argentinian comedy “Almost Happy” (Netflix, streaming) returns for its second season.