WATCH-O-RAMA THE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS OF THE COMING TV WEEK.

Byline: David Kronke

``Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson''

(KCET; 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday)

Think: Ken Burns' latest film essays the life of the man who became the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion of the world in Jim Crow America - and how his flaunting his success inevitably made him controversial and imperiled his life.

Don't think: Now we know where Muhammad Ali cribbed some of his playbook.

In a nutshell: Typical Burns - an exhaustively researched, compellingly rendered and blisteringly insightful portrait of the racism of early-20th-century America (a key Johnson win triggered riots throughout the country). But it's also a wonderfully memorable character portrait of an outsize personality too big for his time and likely many others as well. Amazing archival footage of his boxing matches, dating back to 1908.

``I Love the '90s: Part Deux''

(VH1; 9 p.m. Monday through Friday)

Think: Michael Ian Black, Hal Sparks, Beth Littlefield, Rachel Harris and a host of others make fun of the decade's pop-culture detritus they overlooked (mainly because it wasn't big enough) in the first series.

Don't think: When they're deconstructing such '90s efforts as Amy Grant's ``Lead Me On,'' ``Boston Common'' and ``An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn,'' you'll know they've dipped into this well a couple of times too many.

In a nutshell: Too many interviewees make simplistic, unrevealing ``I remember that!''-type comments, but overall it's genial time-killing material for the easily nostalgic.

``World Cup Comedy''

(Pax; 8 p.m. Tuesday)

Think: Executive producer Kelsey Grammer serves as a guest judge in this improv-comedy competition in the first-season finale between two teams.

Don't think: ``Whose Line Is It Anyway'' and ``Last Comic Standing's'' love spawn.

In a nutshell: Like most improv, hit and miss - or maybe a little more miss and hit.

``Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State''

(KCET; 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2.)

Think: Linda Hunt narrates this six-hour documentary on the notorious death camp offering rare archival film footage and revealing interviews with both Jewish survivors and former Nazi officers.

Don't think: After hundreds of films and books on the Holocaust and World War II, finally! - something that'll explicate it all for us.

In a nutshell: Devastatingly sober, elegantly constructed narratives; effectively emotional yet peerlessly intelligent.

``American Dragon: Jake Long''

(Disney Channel; 8 p.m. Friday)

Think: Animated adventures of a 13-year-old Manhattanite who possesses the ancient Chinese ability to transform into a dragon ...

Don't think: ... and uses his talents to indulge in dragon flatulence and clean toilets with his tongue.

In a nutshell: Amid the obvious crowd-pleasing, if sort of condescending elements, Jake's haplessness and a bit of clever scripting allow for some entertaining moments despite itself.

``Jane Doe''

(Hallmark Channel; 9 p.m. Friday)

Think: Lea Thompson stars as a suburban mom who moonlights as a code-breaker for the National Security Agency.

Don't think: I can't believe I typed that last sentence.

In a nutshell: According to the film's publicist, Thompson ``twinkles ... She sparkles.'' What she doesn't do is act convincingly, but she has a lot of company here in that regard.

``Monk''

(USA; 10 p.m. Friday)

Think: Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) must muddle on without Sharona (Bitty Shram, dumped unceremoniously after a contract squabble) but meets his new assistant, Natalie (Traylor Howard), while investigating break-ins at her home. He also mind-melds with a bird and almost solves the murder of a Neanderthal.

Don't think: Monk should investigate why they couldn't spring for a little extra scratch for an endearing actress who earned a Golden Globe nomination.

In a nutshell: ``Monk'' fans in my household were divided on the Sharona-vs.-Natalie issue, but the fact that Howard received any support at all bodes well for her. Next week's episode involves martial-arts-flick geeks; the mysteries are getting increasingly half-hearted, but Shalhoub's ingeniously comic yet empathetic take on the OCD sufferer remains engaging.

David Kronke, [phone]

david.kronke(at)dailynews.com

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(color) ``AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG''