Serengeti | Sunday, 8 p.m., Discovery

Lions and hyenas and zebras — oh, hi! A new, six-part Discovery series, “Serengeti,” gets viewers closer to wildlife than they’ve likely experienced before. Using spy-camera technology and clever camouflaging, director and producer John Downer — partnering with creator and producer Simon Fuller — gives us an up-close, edge-of-your-seat experience into the lives of baboons, cheetahs, elephants and more as they develop emotionally and fight for survival in the northern Tanzania area of Africa. The show is narrated by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, who was partly raised in Kenya.

Downer, who has a college degree in zoology and is a longtime wildlife videographer, spoke with The Post from Bristol, England, where his production company is based.

How have wildlife shows changed over time?

Hugely. I’ve been making wildlife films for over 30 years. Originally we shot on 16mm film and captured about 10% of what we saw; everything else was changing film, trying to set up a tripod or dealing with anything between you and what you were filming. Now we only miss 10%. We use loads of remote cameras and techniques to capture angles and perspectives to get inside the animal world.

Besides spy cameras, how did you make cameras unobtrusive?

We used quite a lot “boulder cam” technology because it is a buggy made to the rounded shape of a boulder. With lions, after the first deployment, they’re not that interested; they accept it and it becomes part of the pride. A cheetah will drop off cubs by the car, using its shade, and go off hunting. Once they know you’re not a threat, you are basically part of the landscape. That’s where the magic begins because you’re not influencing just by your presence.

Why does the narrative focus on animals’ relationships with each other?

On that most basic level they’re having to build relationships and friendships, things that you think of humans doing. They’re not special to us, they’re universal. They have the same hormones and neurotransmitters. They’re living, breathing, emotional beings. If you connect with them emotionally, you feel much more empathy toward them.

You won a 1993 Grammy for directing a freaky Peter Gabriel video, “Digging in the Dirt,” in which a snail crawls on his face. Was it real?

It was real. I was determined to make him suffer for his art!

Surprised to win?

I wasn’t even at the awards ceremony. I went to bed and got phoned at 3 a.m. and was told I’d won. Totally unexpected! It was my first [music] video. That’s the thing I’m most proud of, in a way, because it’s so tangential to what I do.

Is it easier to work with wildlife or Peter Gabriel?

(Laughs) Peter Gabriel was a joy, absolutely, but wildlife are a joy to work with. People say, “You must get so bored and have so much patience.” But when you’re out there you have to be alert to everything going on. It’s never boring. I don’t know if I’d like to do pop videos for the rest of my life; variety is the spice of life.

— Eric Hegedüs

And here’s what else to watch this week:

Claws | Sunday, 9 p.m., TNT

Desna (Niecy Nash) and the crew have to tie up loose ends for the Triads if they want to stay alive. Guilt prompts Toby (Evan Daigle) to do the unexpected.

BH90210: The Reunion | Wednesday, 9 p.m., Fox

Series premiere. The “90201” cast reunites at a 30th anniversary fan convention and Tori Spelling gets the idea to launch a reboot including Brian Austin Green, Gabrielle Carteris, Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth.

Snowfall | Wednesday, 10 p.m., FX

Andre (Marcus Henderson) lets his guard down to celebrate the LAPD’s victory. Teddy (Carter Hudson) questions Franklin’s (Damson Idris) ability to control his operation and has a setback.

Chasing the Cure | Thursday, 9 p.m., TNT and TBS

Series premiere. Patients battling puzzling ailments meet with a panel of top doctors who work to help solve their cases, ranging from the surprising to the urgent. Crowdsourcing becomes part of the treatment. Hosted by Ann Curry.

Pose | Tuesday, 10 p.m., FX

Relationships are irreparably damaged when Damon (Ryan Jamaal Swain) reveals the secrets others have been hiding. With Billy Porter.

Bulletproof | Wednesday, 8 p.m., The CW

Series premiere. An informant is killed, leading Pike (Ashley Walters) and Bishop (Noel Clarke) to uncover a luxury car theft ring. When two members of the team are taken hostage, Bishop accidentally shoots Jonesy (David Elliot), but Bishop is the one who walks away wounded.

City on a Hill | Sunday, 9 p.m., Showtime

Jackie (Kevin Bacon) celebrates a win in front of the cameras but, behind closed doors, he reaches a new low. A shining moment from Decourcy (Aldis Hodge) promises a potential future in politics, but any pride Siobhan (Lauren E. Banks) feels for her husband is squandered by an unexpected betrayal. With Sarah Shahi.