1) “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” (2025), 8-10:27 p.m., HBO, rerunning at 11:30. It’s been a big career for Joel (shown here), with 160 million records sold, from the basic “Uptown Girl” to the complex “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” And a big life, with four marriages and lots of Madison Square Garden” sell-outs. Susan Lacy, the “American Masters” founder, co-directed this film. Read more…
For those of us still trying to discern the difference between Seth Rogen and Jason Segel, this will be a tough Emmy season.
Both are nominated for best actor in a comedy series. Their shows — both on Apple TV+ — are both are up for best comedy.
Rogen’s “The Studio” (shown here) is one of the year’s hot newcomers, with 23 nominations. It trails only “Severance” (also Apple), with 27, and another newcomer, Netflix’s “The Penguin,” with 24. HBO Max’s “White Lotus also has 23; its “The Last of Us” has 16. Read more…
We now know this year’s Emmy nominations … or, at least, a micro-smidgen of them.
Most of the nominations will arrive in one surge, at 11:30 a.m. ET today (July 15). We’ll have another story then.
But almost four hours early, CBS was allowed to reveal few. That involved only two categories and a total of zero surprises:
— REALITY COMPETION SHOW: “Survivor” (shown here), “Amazing Race,” “Top Chef,” “The Traitors,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
— TALK SHOW: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, “The Daily Show.” Read more…
1) “Transplant” series-finale, 8 p.m., NBC. Over four strong seasons, we’ve seen Bash’s life transform. A surgeon for Syrian rebels, he moved to Toronto, finding work, friends and a lover (who recently died). Now there’s a gas leak at the hospital, alongside turning points for Theo and Bash (they’re shown here) and virtually everyone. As usual, it’s all done with subtlety and skill. Read more…
1) “Sullivan’s Crossing” season-finale, 8 p.m., CW. Last week ended with Maggie straining to restore Edna’s sight. There was a surgery crisis … and then closing credits. Now we start there, then find other turning points. There are romance questions involving Maggie, her dad, Rafe and Sydney (they’re shown here) and more, plus the opening of the new diner. It’s a solid end to a fairly good year. Read more…
1) Baseball All-Star game, 8 p.m. ET, Fox. The American League has the heavy hitters: Going into the weekend before the game, Cal Raleigh (shown here) and Aaron Judge led with 36 and 34 home runs. The National League has the No. 3 guy (Shohei Ohtani, with 31). This could be tough for star pitchers, led by American’s Tarik Skubal and National’s Paul Skenes. Read more…
1) “Lego Masters,” 8 p.m., Fox. In a replica of a 1990s teen bedroom (shown here with host Will Arnett), duos have a task: Pick one object and make an exact copy, with Legos. They grab a guitar and skateboard and more … including a bed. Yes, an entire bed out of little plastic bricks. It’s a fun hour, setting up next week’s semi-finals. Read more…
If you’re already tired of summer TV, CBS has bad and good news.
The bad: The fall season won’t start (with “Matlock,” shown here)until Oct. 12; that’s two or three weeks later than usual for many networks.
The good: In the interim, there will be three straight Sundays of specials, plus an earlier start for reality and news shows. Read more…
Another “Big Bang” spin-off is coming, but not one you’d guess.
Forget about Sheldon or Leonard or Georgie or the rest. This is about Stuart, the comic-store guy.
And it propels Kevin Sussman (shown here) into stardom, after three decades in support.
“Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” — coming sometime to HBO Max — is described by one of its creators (Zak Penn) as “a show that the ‘Big Bang Theory’ characters would watch.” Read more…
1) “Patience,” 8 p.m., PBS. Autistic actors have key roles here. That includes the superb Ella Maisy Purvis as Patience Evans; Connor Curren (shown here) as Billy, the leader of her autism support group; and everyone in the group. Now the focus moves to Billy, when his brother is reported as dead. It’s a thick, clever hour, with great work from Curren, Purvis and others. Read more…
Best-bets for July 18: Here’s an epic, musical life 
Best-bets for July 17: A strong drama wraps up 
Best-bets for July 16: “Crossing” crises; athletes’ honors 
