As one of the Top 10 richest men in the world, the former CEO of Microsoft could be worse — like, say the even richer owner of Tesla. But Bill Gates is eager to use his position to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems and tackles things from AI to the climate crisis on the new five-part series “What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates” (Netflix, streaming), produced by documentarian Morgan Neville (“20 Feet from Stardom”).
Along the way he talks to experts as well as famouss faces, from Lady Gaga and Bono to Anthony Fauci and Bernie Sanders, who asks him what he thinks of a system where the three richest billionaires in the U.S. carry more wealth than the bottom half of the population combined.
She had to leave for a family medical issue on “the Golden Bachelorette,” so she didn’t have a chance to get jilted by Gerry. So the glamorous Joan Vassos of Rockville, Md., returns as “The Golden Bachelorette” (ABC, 8 p.m.), choosing a field of older gentlemen.
A more reliable reality competition is season 47 (!) of “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m.) featuring another group of competitors, one of which is the wiseguy political podcaster Jon Lovett. Can he make a fire? The two hour premiere bumps the power of veto competition on “Big Brother” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
“Agatha All Along” (Disney+, 9 p.m.) is a new spinoff of “WandaVision,” featuring Kathryn Hahn’s character Agatha Harkness.
A new six-episode nature series relies on night vision to provide a look at “Big Cats 24/7” (PBS, 8 p.m.). The BBC co-production begins tonight with a pair of episodes, filmed in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
“MasterChef: Generations” (Fox, 8 p.m.), meanwhile, chooses a winner at the end of a two hour episode.
Bronco Bill’s train-robbing days is featured on “Wild West Chronicles” (INSP, 10 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) begin a sixth season, minus one of their number, Monica Garcia.
A sister sues her baby brother over a car crash on “Ms. Pat Settles It” (BET, 10:30 p.m.).
“Expedition X” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) looks for the Skunk Ape in the Florida Everglades. “Expedition Bigfoot” (Discovery, 10 p.m.), meanwhile is deep into Northern California.
Garnet and Ian may be stuck on “The Ark” (Syfy, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ month-long Wednesday night focus on early studio directors continues all day with “Nothing but Trouble” (6 a.m.), “It Happened in Brooklyn” (7:15 a.m.), “The Story of Seabiscuit” (10:45 a.m.), “The Enchanted Cottage” (10:45 a.m.), “The Woman in White” (12:30 p.m.), “My Reputation” (2:30 p.m.), “The Harvey Girls” (4:15 p.m.), “White Heat” (6 p.m.), “The Postman Always Rings Twice” (8 p.m.), “Born to Kill” (10 p.m.), “King’s Row” (11:45 p.m.), “Now, Voyager” (2 a.m.) and “Easy to Love” (4:15 a.m.).
Baseball includes Yankees at Seattle (Prime Video, 9:40 p.m.).
WNBA action includes Atlanta at New York (NBA, 7 p.m.) and Indiana at Washington (Prime Video, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Colin Farrell, “Golden Bachelorette” Joan Vassos. The View: Connie Chung. The Talk: Rob Lowe. Kelly Clarkson: Gisele Bundchen, Gloria Gaynor, Emily Blunt, Rebecca Hall, Mat Franco, Lily Taylor, Chris Pratt. Drew Barrymore: Jaleel White, James McAvoy. Jennifer Hudson: Leslie Jones. Tamron Hall: Method Man, Dolly Parton, Rachel George.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Rachel Maddow, Shaboozey. Jimmy Kimmel: Jon Hamm, Maisy Stella, Glass Animals. Jimmy Fallon: Eva Mendes, Zachary Quinto, Brandi Denise. Seth Meyers: Colin Farrell, Ashley Park. Taylor Tomlinson: Jay Pharoah, Taran Killam, Mary Lynn Rajskub.