VH1 dedicates the week to “Lords of the Revolution” (7 p.m., VH1), five hour-long documentaries about figures who helped create and foster counter-cultural attitudes during the 1960s and ’70s.

The series begins tonight with a profile of boxer and activist Muhammad Ali, putting an emphasis on his verbal audacity, his controversial embrace of the Nation of Islam and his refusal to enter the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.

A wealth of clips and interviews with contemporaries, including boxing opponent George Foreman, make the case that Ali’s principled stands helped him become a figure who transcended the sports world and made him an inspiration to millions around the world.

More recent documentaries, including HBO’s “Thrilla in Manila,” took a more balanced view of the fighter and depicted Ali as less than saintly.

Other “Lords” of the week include “The Black Panthers” (Wednesday), “Timothy Leary” (Thursday), Andy Warhol (Friday), and “Cheech & Chong” (Tuesday). Just how the stars of “Up in Smoke” can be seen as groundbreaking is beyond me.

• AMC anticipates Sunday night’s third-season premiere of “Mad Men” with a 13-episode marathon of the period advertising melodrama beginning this morning at 6 a.m.

• Few public figures survive a downfall that becomes a punch line. Arrested in 1990 by the FBI while consuming crack cocaine made former Washington mayor Marion Barry a living symbol of personal irresponsibility and official corruption, not to mention the butt of many late-night jokes and standup routines.

The documentary “The Nine Lives of Marion Barry” (8 p.m., HBO) offers viewers a look at the unknown Barry, including his childhood in Mississippi’s cotton fields, his pioneering Civil Rights work and his popular and successful tenure as mayor.

The film swings back and forth between his remarkable rise and tremendous fall and recounts his recent 2004 attempt at a political comeback campaign amongst both forgiving and highly skeptical Washingtonians. “Nine Lives” may not redeem Washington in the history books, but it makes a solid case that a man’s life cannot be reduced to a single headline.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The Jonas Brothers host “Teen Choice 2009” (7 p.m., Fox).

• “History Detectives” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) recalls the Hindenburg disaster.

• A grim case arrives gift wrapped on “The Closer” (8 p.m., TNT).

• The new series “PopSci’s Future Of” (8 p.m., Science), from Popular Science magazine, takes a speculative look at how emerging technology will change our lives. Tonight: superhumans and body hacks.

Series notes

Ted breaks a promise on “How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m., CBS) … The three remaining families hit Sin City on “Great American Road Trip” (7 p.m., NBC) … Regis Philbin hosts “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (7 p.m., ABC) … Daphne Zuniga guest stars on “One Tree Hill” (7 p.m., CW) … Adam’s second thoughts on “Rules of Engagement” (7:30 p.m., CBS) … Charlie utters a four-letter word on “Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m., CBS) … Murder’s on the menu for a reality TV star on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (8 p.m., NBC) …. “Feelings” is always on the jukebox on “Dating in the Dark” (8 p.m., ABC) … Serena shares her sketches of Spain on “Gossip Girl” (8 p.m., CW) … Sheldon attracts a secret admirer on “Big Bang Theory” (8:30 p.m., CBS).