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"American Experience" (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) takes a two-night look at "The Mormons" with a four-hour history and discussion of the only major world religion with peculiarly American origins.

The documentary splits the history of the Mormon church and culture into two nights and two centuries. Few religious Americans faced as much scorn, hatred, mistrust and ridicule as the Mormons in the 19th century, and that is the subject of Monday's segment. The second night shows how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved from the fringes of American society to become one of the world's fastest-growing faiths, with members at the center of American business and government.

As is the norm in these programs, "Mormons" combines historic re-enactments, period art, early photographs and movie footage in its presentation. But the bulk of the show consists of discussions with Mormons and non-Mormons who present a consistently sympathetic spin on some of the more controversial events in Mormon history. An evangelical offers a rare and notably meek voice of reservation and dissent. No one representing the 19th-century's strong tradition of skepticism is included.

While it is clearly the purpose of "The Mormons" to offer greater insight into an often misunderstood culture, some of the participants' rapturous rhetoric about religious revelation and credulous observations about polygamy and blind obedience to theocracy seem well outside the realm of a history lesson.

At the same time, "The Mormons" does succeed in moving the conversation about the faith beyond the kind of one-dimensional stereotypes seen on the series "Big Love" and elsewhere.

¢ "Helmut by June" (6 p.m., Cinemax) offers a home-movie look at the work of the late fashion photographer Helmut Newton filmed by June Newton, his wife of 56 years. Newton's work has graced the pages of glossy magazines and has also been criticized as the reduction of women to mere props in Newton's quasi-pornographic fantasies.

Born in Berlin in 1920, Newton's father was thrown into a concentration camp after the rise of Hitler. He praises his mother for rising to the occasion and getting him and his family to safety. He attributes his awe for his mother to his consistent portrayal of females as Amazons. If you are familiar with Newton's work, you won't be surprised to learn this film contains nudity and frank conversations about the human anatomy.

Tonight's other highlights

¢ The competition continues on "Dancing with the Stars" (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ An off-color remark on "Everybody Hates Chris" (7 p.m., CW).

¢ Game-show madness on "How I Met Your Mother" (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ Howie Mandel hosts "Deal or No Deal" (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ The gang find themselves stranded in the desert on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7:30 p.m., CBS).

¢ Hiro transports himself to a grim future on "Heroes" (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ Chloe seems to be on the verge on "24" (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ "Cities of the Underworld" (8 p.m., History) explores Hitler's subterranean lairs.

¢ Horatio must discipline a team member on "CSI: Miami" (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ The Malloys pull a major-league con on "The Riches" (9 p.m., FX).

¢ A boy castaway bonds with an Arabian horse in the 1979 drama "The Black Stallion" (9 p.m., Eastern, TCM). The film marked a comeback for former child actor Mickey Rooney.

¢ John Waters hosts "'Til Death Do Us Part" (9 p.m., Court).

¢ "The 700 Club" (10 p.m., Family) presents the hour-long documentary "First Landing," commemorating the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the first permanent English settlement on American soil.

¢ Kirsten Dunst and Dinosaur Jr. appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" (10:35 p.m., CBS).

¢ Jay Leno hosts Eric Bana and Kaiser Chiefs on "The Tonight Show" (10:35 p.m., NBC).

¢ Paul Reubens, Clyde Drexler and Silversun Pickups appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (11:05 a.m., ABC).