On "Unsung," the lives of famous but unheralded people get examination. Now TV One, is premiering a series that takes a look at regular folk who've survived extraordinary circumstances.

Through reenactments and interviews, "Will to Live," (8 tonight, TV One), in a half-hour, tells the stories of people who, perhaps through sheer will, beat the odds and live through a terrible event.

The first two episodes make for interesting viewing, not just because the stories are of spectacularly horrific crimes, but because they also reveal lapses in law enforcement, when it comes to issues of class and gender.

TV One's series "Unsung" continues its stellar season tonight at 10 with a look at the career of seminal rapper Big Daddy Kane.

You might remember the man some called Dark Gable and Count Macula for his late '80s hits like "Ain't No Half Steppin," "Smooth Operator" and "I Get the Job Done," and for his awesome flat-top haircut, but the episodes proves there's a lot more to Kane, in terms of his musical legacy and influence. And he's got new music coming; Kane's hooked up with Los Angeles-based funk band Connie Price & the Keystones to form what he calls 'hip-hop soul unit.'

"We're mixing the last two songs," he says. "I'd say expect a single by fall."

Just as importantly, the Brooklyn native now calls Raleigh home. "I always dug Raleigh," he says. "I used to come down in '89 and hang out at the Residence Inn, near the Denny's on Wake Forest [Road]."

That's right, you could run into Kane at the Food Lion!

Happiness recently caught up with the still sexy-voiced and low-key Blackanova and talked to him about his "Unsung" experience.

TV One begins a new season of "Unsung" (10 tonight), its series exploring the life and times and unheralded performers, and this season is one to get excited about.

It starts strong with a look at Deneice Williams, the multi-octave singer of such hits as "Silly" and "Let's Hear It for the Boy," convincingly making the case that Williams never got her due for her soaring pipes. After all, before Mariah Carey trilled her pop, R&B and gospel tunes, Niecy did it. (I'd put Minnie Riperton, a former "Unsung" subject, firmly in R&B, albeit alternative at times.)
 

MasterChef (8pm, Fox) - One hundred amateur cooks arrive in Los Angeles to compete for a spot on the second season of 'MasterChef,' a cooking competition show for amateur cooks, judged by Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot Bowles, and Joe Bastianich.

The Bachelorette (8pm, ABC) - A comedy "roast" takes a bite out of Ashley, who is devastated by some of the remarks. Here Ashley learns that Evil Bentley (left) came on the show hoping to meet Charlotte's Emily Maynard, who became engaged to Brad Womack on the last season of 'The Bachelor.' Previews show Ashley having a meltdown that would make any 14-year-old girl proud.

Last Man Standing (8pm, Lifetime) - A suburban wife (Catherine Bell) must confront her secret past as a CIA agent when her husband (Anthony Michael Hall) is kidnapped and the crime is connected to the death of a fellow agent. Read our review.

Great Performances: Jackie Evancho - Dream with Me in Concert (8pm, UNC-TV) - Eleven-year-old soprano Jackie Evancho from "America's Got Talent" performs at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.

Switched at Birth (9pm, ABC Family) - The premiere of a new series about two teens who were switched at birth. One teen is rebellious and being raised by a rich couple, the other is a sunny teen being raised by a single mother. Stars Vanessa Marano, Katie Leclerc, and Lea Thompson.

Teen Wolf (10pm, MTV) - In the second episode of this new series, Scott struggles to balance his new life as a werewolf and the pressures of being a teen, all while avoiding werewolf hunters and trying to score a second date with Allison. A repeat of last night's 11pm series premiere airs at 9pm.

Unsung (10pm, TV One) - Season 4 opens with a profile of singer Deniece Williams. We've got a review.

TV One's "Unsung" series (10 tonight) ends its season with a look at the O'Jays, the seminal Ohio group that sang Philly Soul.

The O'Jays are relevant enough, after 52 (!) years together, to have performed their hit "Love Train" at the recent Rally to Restore Sanity/Promote Fear. And there episode is more "Behind the Music" than "Unsung", but that's OK. Because they are the mighty mighty O'Jays!

While not one of the best episodes, you get a good history of the group from its origins as five friends coming together as teens to the successful union with Philadelphia's Gamble and Huff, which brought them the hits that brought them on the map.

Sometimes a good idea can box you into a corner. That's my theory about what's happening with "Unsung" (10 tonight), the terrific TV One series that starts a new season tonight.

As suggested by the title, the series aims to bring deserved light to artists who have not gotten their due. And it has done some stellar episodes featuring Phyllis Hyman, Debarge, Minnie Riperton, and Donny Hathaway.

Tonight, though, the premiere episode features Teddy Pendergrass. Teddy? Unsung? And later, there are episodes featuring George Clinton and the O'Jays, both Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

TV One's music documentary series "Unsung" begins new episodes tonight at 9 (switching from Sunday nights), beginning with a look at late 70s R&B band Rose Royce. You know, the folks who sang "Car Wash."

It's reasonable to think 'Huh?' After all, while they did have some great hits, I'm not sure I'd put Rose Royce in the pantheon of acts that might have made it big if only. But the folks who make "Unsung" are a talented bunch; they've managed to make this story pretty interesting.

Tonight at 8, TV One launches its latest round of 'Unsung,' the series that looks at the lives of artists deemed under-recognized or under-appreciated.

It's a terrific series; past highlights have included nicely told pieces on Phyllis Hyman, Melba Moore, DeBarge, and Donny Hathaway.

If you like your music funky, this month of Sundays might be for you. It begins with a look at Teena Marie, the Vanilla Child who was a Rick James protege (and lover, for a while) and who with the Brockert Initiative (her birth name is Mary Christine Brockert), legally changed the relationship between musicians and record labels.

On Sunday at 8 p.m (and then again at 11 p.m.) TV One brings back its terrific biography series "Unsung," which features the lives and careers of artists and groups that have been under-recognized or under-appreciated.

This Sunday features singer Minnie Riperton, known most for "Lovin' You" which showed off not just a sweet voice but spectacular range. (Nearly six octaves.)

It's a great piece of reporting, featuring Riperton's widowed husband Richard Rudolph and their daughter Saturday Night Live's Maya Rudolph, as well as folks from her early singing career in Chicago.

TV One's terrific documentary series "Unsung" re-airs tonight at 8 and 11 the episode about the 80s group Debarge.

Debarge was on track to be Motown's new Jackson 5 (and El, it's new Michael) albeit with more crossover appeal, particularly as the show points out, because of their light skin.

In some ways, the doc shows the typical story -- drugs upended them --- but in truth the large family had a difficult upbringing, with abuse and the fact that they were biracial waaay before that was kind of OK.

Check it out and you'll remember (or discover) how very talented the family was. Added bonus: the show is narrated by the other light-skinned smoothie Al B. Sure!

TV One is on channel 101 on TWC.