Best-bets for July 3: Flow with the Mississippi

1) “Rivers of Life,” 8 p.m., PBS. You rarely see anyone try to climb up a waterfall. But a guy actually does that in the Rockies, when the water freezes. That’s one of many views we get of the sprawling tributaries of the Mississippi. They reach 31 states (including the Yellowstone spot shown here); they form a basin that produces 92 per cent of U.S. food exports, this film (great visuals, so-so narration) says. The Mississippi hauls the equivalent of 49 million truckloads of freight each year. This hour goes from the frozen North to a million-acre Southern swamp. Read more…

1) “Rivers of Life,” 8 p.m., PBS. You rarely see anyone try to climb up a waterfall. But a guy actually does that in the Rockies, when the water freezes. That’s one of many views we get of the sprawling tributaries of the Mississippi. They reach 31 states (including the Yellowstone spot shown here); they form a basin that produces 92 per cent of U.S. food exports, this film (great visuals, so-so narration) says. The Mississippi hauls the equivalent of 49 million truckloads of freight each year. This hour goes from the frozen North to a million-acre Southern swamp.

2) “The InBetween,” 10 p.m., NBC. The trouble with investigating homicides is that you can’t talk to the victim … unless it’s a TV show. On “iZombie” (8 p.m. Thursdays, CW), Liv munches the victim’s brain, gaining memories; on this one, Cassie talks directly to the deceased. After stepping aside for a debate last week, “InBetween” is back: A family waits for news about a missing woman; Cassie knows the woman is dead and helps her solve the case. Also, someone is targeting teens from one school.

3) “Grown-ish,” 8 p.m., Freeform. Here’s another chance for the show to blend with its “Black-ish” roots. Zoey takes her friends for a weekend at her family home, where they meet her brother. In a separate plotline, Aaron reconnects with his passion as an activist.

4) “NCIS: The Cases They Can’t Forget” season-finale, 9 and 10 p.m., CBS. Next week, CBS slips into its sexy-summer mode, with lots of “Love Island” and “Big Brother.” First, this CBS News series – “NCIS” co-star Rocky Carroll introduces real-life stories – wraps a micro-season that started May 22.

5) “North by Northwest” (1959), 8 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. For sheer entertainment, this may be the top film in Alfred Hitchcock’s great career. It starts with wild mix-ups, then puts Cary Grant in visually stunning chase scenes – from eluding a crop-duster to climbing Mount Rushmore. For a sharp change-of-pace, “My Fair Lady” (1964) follows at 10:30.

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