“Independent Lens” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) airs “Revenge of the Electric Car.” Director Chris Paine made quite a splash back in 2006 with “Who Killed the Electric Car?” That film showed how hopes were dashed by a vast conspiracy among oil companies and compliant politicians to squelch a popular, emerging technology.

Filmmakers rarely get the chance make a sequel like this. “Revenge” profiles engineers and executives at Tesla, General Motors, Nissan and an independent car converter who capture the excitement surrounding electric cars, hybrids and plug-in vehicles. If “Killed” portrayed corporations as the string-pulling bad guys, this film shows executives betting the survival of their firms on their belief in the future.

If this film is not airing in your area tonight, consult pbs.org/independentlens to find out when it will appear. On a related note, it was reported last week that the National Endowment for the Arts proposed drastically reducing funding for several PBS shows, including “Independent Lens,” “POV,” “American Masters” and “Great Performances.”

• “Parks and Recreation” (8:30 p.m., NBC) returns to the NBC schedule. It replaces “Up All Night,” which ended its freshman year with little notice last week. It’s unfair to single out “Night” because on a night noted for meager ratings, “The Office” was the only NBC show to attract more than 4 million viewers. Not that long ago, shows like “Friends” attracted more than 20 million. And shows like “NCIS” sometimes still do. But “Parks” is in the unenviable position of airing on Thursday nights, as part of NBC’s comedy block that was once dubbed “Must See TV,” a suggestion that fewer people follow with each passing week.

Among the small joys of “Parks” is watching Nick Offerman as the cranky Ron Swanson, a lifelong government employee who hates government and fancies himself as a “mole” within the workings of the parasitic beast. His dyspeptic personality makes a perfect foil for Leslie’s (Amy Poehler) effervescent can-doism. Tonight, Ron submits to a yoga session with the unflappable Chris (Rob Lowe), a peculiar supporting role that the veteran actor has embraced with gusto. Lowe’s “West Wing” co-star Bradley Whitford appears in a cameo as a budget-slashing councilman.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Downtime in the Dreamatorium on “Community” (7 p.m., NBC).

• A participant goes home on “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox). LMFAO and Kris Allen perform.

• Becca struggles to stay at-large on “Missing” (7 p.m., ABC).

• Jack sets Liz up on a date with a “real man” on “30 Rock” (7:30 p.m., NBC).

• Andy returns to a power struggle on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• A visit from Teller spells trouble on “Touch” (8 p.m., Fox).

• An anonymous patient gains a name on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m., ABC).

• Britten tries to take his own advice on “Awake” (9 p.m., NBC).

• The son of a tycoon faces rape charges on “Scandal” (9 p.m., ABC).