Moyers Addresses Earth’s Ecosystems

“What on Earth are we doing to our planet?,” asks Bill Moyers at the outset of “Earth on Edge,” a two-hour PBS program (8 p.m. KCET, KVCR) in which the diligent documentarian addresses our planet’s ailing ecosystems.

Armed with an array of statistics, Moyers and his producers attempt to answer two pressing questions about the environment: What is happening to Earth’s capacity to support civilization, and what can we do about it?

In Kansas, Moyers speaks with a farmer trying to use his land in a way that prevents its loss to pollution and erosion. Afterward, he travels to South Africa, British Columbia, Mongolia and Brazil, where the conversation turns to the scarcity of water or competition for pastureland.

Is there time to turn things around?

“We don’t like to react to the first warning light that comes on the dashboard,” says marine biologist Carl Safina. “We like to make sure that we’re really hearing a big grinding noise before we can all agree that maybe we should stop and get out and take a look at what’s wrong.”

Surf Report

SERIES

Andy “Fish” Troutner is a high school freshman with a three-point plan for popularity and success.

Unfortunately, one of those points does not include a funny script.

Andy, played by Kieran Culkin of “The Cider House Rules,” is the central character in “Go Fish,” an underwhelming summer sitcom premiering today with back-to-back episodes at 8 and 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

In the first half-hour, Andy is caught in an embarrassing position in the boys’ bathroom, with cute sophomore Jess (Katherine Ellis) among the stunned onlookers. Getting Jess’ attention was Andy’s goal, but that’s going about it the wrong way.

Meanwhile, Andy’s older brother Pete (Will Friedle), who was a legend at the same school, returns as its newest teacher, but his “no tests” policy fails to impress the faculty’s principal.

Go figure, but don’t go fishing for this flopper.

SPECIALS

Whitney Houston picks up a lifetime achievement award at the inaugural “BET Awards” (9 p.m. BET), hosted in Las Vegas by Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer.