Pow! To the Moon!

With all of the recent celebrity deaths, it seems like the 40th anniversary of the moon landing got lost in the shuffle. This injustice is rectified tonight as a host of Apollo 11-themed programs dominate the digital airwaves. Whether you are old enough to remember watching that fateful event live or crazy enough to think it was faked on a soundstage in Vancouver, take one small step by reveling in the lunar nostalgia.

Moonshot [9 PM, History Channel]

Most students never reach this point in history class, as the semester usually ends with the Korean War and the professor glossing over Reagan. But the late sixties were a time for more than just dramatic social change and counterculture movements. As decreed by John F. Kennedy, the United States made it to the moon by the end of the decade. The details of the run-up to the moon launch are less well known, so take a break from Dating In The Dark and learn something about people a lot smarter than you.

When We Left Earth: 40th Anniversary Special [10 PM, Discovery Channel]

Gary Sinise narrates this alternate look at the first decade of the U.S. space program. His voice-over helps drive home just how dangerous all of this moon stuff was. Not only did the U.S. have to beat Russia to the surface of the moon, but they had to do it while keeping as many astronauts alive as possible. With a war on in Vietnam and civil unrest touching every corner of the country, the moon landing gave the nation a moment to breathe.

Daily Show With Jon Stewart [11 PM, Comedy Central]

Nothing against Charles Gibson or Katie Couric (who can be very feisty), but Brian Williams is one of the best talk show guests going, and is at his sardonic peak when he talks to Stewart (tonight marks his 14th appearance the show). The interview will likely start out with serious discussion over Walter Cronkite's legacy, but will eventually progress to a topic area Stewart can rag Williams about, inciting some of Williams's trademark sarcastic digs.

Office Space [8 PM, IFC]

It's not going too far out on a limb to say that this is one of the best comedies in the last twenty years. An ensemble cast, a true-to-life script, and a brilliant supporting performance from Stephen Root combine to create a film that we will be seeing on Comedy Central for the rest of our lives. Most people's favorite lines have to do with the TPS reports or the Swingline stapler, but this might be the only film ever where you can quote something Jennifer Aniston said and get a laugh.