In “Spotlight: Searching for the Roots of 9-11” (9 p.m., Discovery), New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman travels throughout the Muslim world asking students, clerics and intellectuals about the origins of anti-American sentiments.

The hourlong film includes some chilling and challenging conversations. Students at an American university in pro-western Qatar vent their frustrations that nobody in the United States seems to care when Arabs “die like sheep.” Many admit to feelings of jubilation on Sept. 11 when the world’s great superpower got a “punch in the nose.” When asked about such callous feelings about innocent dead civilians, one young Arab argued that “America taught us” to dismiss such “collateral damage.”

Friedman and others think that much of the anger arises out of a toxic combination of humiliation and envy. One Arab friend tells Friedman, “These young people so look up to you, you the United States, and they so feel that you look down on them.”

• The rubber meets the road when Andrew Firestone, the great-grandson of tire entrepreneur Harvey Firestone, becomes the “The Bachelor” (8 p.m., ABC). Who said that the filthy rich can’t become shameless exhibitionists?

Tonight’s other highlights

• Competition and elimination on “Survivor: Amazon” (7 p.m., CBS).
• Matt Damon narrates “Journey to the Planet Earth” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings), a three-part documentary look at the relationship between war, political instability and environmental crises.
• Tabulation, recapitulation and elimination on an hourlong “American Idol” (7:30 p.m., Fox).
• A smooth talking lawyer (Gregory Hines) derails the prosecution of a confessed cop shooter and turns his trial into a heated conversation about police racism and brutality on “Law & Order” (9 p.m.).

Series notes

Jackie’s on her own on “That 70s Show” (7 p.m. Fox) … Claire’s permit drives Michael to distraction on “My Wife and Kids” (7 p.m., ABC) … Trip’s love excursion on “Enterprise” (7 p.m., UPN) … Benny’s scheme backfires on “George Lopez” (7:30 p.m., ABC) … Pacey’s dad falls ill on “Dawson’s Creek” (7 p.m., WB) … Talk, talk, talk on “The West Wing” (8 p.m., NBC) … Gates of conformity on “The Twilight Zone” (8 p.m., UPN) … Cordelia’s delicate condition on “Angel” (8 p.m., WB) … Competition continues on “All American Girl” (9 p.m., ABC).

Late night

Kelly Preston and Seether appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Rep. Dick Gephardt, (D-Mo.), Willie Barcena and Vince Gill on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC).