Tuning in: On TV this week.

Monday, March 29

The New Americans (PBS, check local listings, through March 31): In this seven-part series, the producers of "Hoop Dreams" follow immigrants from their first applications for asylum to their new experiences - and the culture shock - that follows in America.

The Next Big Thing (The Biography Channel, 8-9 p.m.): This documentary follows several stand-up comics as they take their routines to clubs, hone their jokes, and search for fresh material in their quest to make it in the world of jest-jousting. It's all the backstage chatter that both engages us and wears us out. The story continues March 30 and 31 (8-8:30 pm).

Sixteen Decisions (Sundance Channel, 10:30 p.m.): A bank is helping millions of poor women in Bangladesh with $60 loans to help them open their own businesses. In exchange, they agree to abide by the bank's "16 decisions" that are meant to help build social stability to advance the women and their communities.

The Big House (ABC, 8:30-9 p.m.): It's "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in reverse. Instead of a poor kid moving in with his rich uncle, it's an ex-rich kid moving in with his working-class auntie. The first two episodes find Kevin (Kevin Hart) trying to adjust to the home's strict rules. The shows are loosely based on Hart's own family, and the writing crackles with affection and wit.