What to watch this week

"Ganja Queen"

Fourth of July revelers aren't the only ones setting off fireworks, as an explosive documentary about marijuana and a new ABC Family drama about a pregnant teen also crackle.

All times Central

* “Ganja Queen” *(8 p.m. Monday, HBO) is an expertly told and timely story that shouldn't be overlooked just because it doesn't involve Americans. Schapelle Corby, a 27-year-old Australian in Bali, was imprisoned when customs officials found a load of pot in her bag. The Kafkaesque ordeal that followed and its potentially devastating outcome -- in Indonesia, possession with intent is punishable by death -- sets off an international crisis. For the U.S. and its “war on terror,” the lesson of “Ganja Queen” is clear: Questionable legal practices and draconian penalties can tarnish a nation's image abroad.

“Juno” what recent film comes to mind when I watch “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (7 p.m., Tuesday, ABC Family)? Well, of course, and kudos to ABC Family for capitalizing on the Oscar winner's surprise success. But any comparisons to “Juno” and the overblown recent coverage of the Massachusetts teen-pregnancy “cult” are misguided. This is a standard teen drama with a heavy amount of Sex Ed-ish talk layered on. Brenda Hampton, the writer-creator of “7th Heaven,” has always had a gift for hitting a sweet spot between the idyllic American family of yore and the realities of today. I'm not sure she quite succeeds here; watching the first hour of “Teenager” (starring Shailene Woodley as the teen and Molly Ringwald as her mom) felt a little like watching an old “ABC After School Special.”

Among the July 4 TV highlights are “A Capitol Fourth” at 7 (KCPT and KTWU), the “Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” at 8 (NBC, KSHB) and, not to be outdone, the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (9 p.m., CBS, KCTV-5). Speaking of spectacular, KCPT is reairing its live broadcast of this year's “Celebration at the Station” in high definition at 8:30 p.m.

Comments

[Mark Jeffries]

At least it can't be Hampton's last show: "Kirstie Alley: Fat Actress." With the exception of Rachael Harris and Mayim Bialik's cameos as herself (I know I screwed up her name), that was painful.