Best-bets for July 17: “Jane” has it all; PBS has the moon

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m., CW. With only three episodes after tonight, this terrific show has one of its best hours. Jane’s grandmother (shown here, dancing with Jane’s mom) is alternately foul and triumphant … there’s a spectacular action scene … and there’s a truly bizarre plan assembled by Jane’s dad. That last one is part of a sub-plot that will satisfy all of us who feel it should be a felony to thank an agent during an awards ceremony. Read more…

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m., CW. With only three episodes after tonight, this terrific show has one of its best hours. Jane’s grandmother (shown here, dancing with Jane’s mom) is alternately foul and triumphant … there’s a spectacular action scene … and there’s a truly bizarre plan assembled by Jane’s dad. That last one is part of a sub-plot that will satisfy all of us who feel it should be a felony to thank an agent during an awards ceremony.

2) “8 Days: To the Moon and Back,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. Lots of films are harvesing old NASA footage, but this one is especially clever. All of the audio is from the moon mission, but new visuals are sometimes added, with actors playing the three astronauts. The real and fake footage blends seamlessly.

3) “Suits” season-opener, 9 p.m., USA. These lawyers have been trampling the truth and shredding ethics for eight seasons. Now, belatedly, consequences loom: Last season, Harvey and Donna were about to be nailed for a violation; instead, Robert Zane – feeling guilty about a past sin– took the blame. Now he’s gone, but his name is still on the wall, creating fresh crises for the firm. It’s a harsh hour (despite the Harvey/Donna romance), right into the final minute.

4) “Pearson” debut, 10 p.m., USA. We’re in Chicago now – or some hideous, TV version of Chicago, where everyone has a scheme and no one says anything that sounds remotely real. Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) of “Suits” moved there last season; the corrupt mayor offered her a job … if she agreed to drop a lawsuit against the city. Now we see her trying to work inside the system. There’s a lot of posturing, followed by solutions that pop up with astonishing speed.

5) “Florida Girls,” 10 p.m. to midnight, Pop. This drifting-lives comedy is always interesting and rarely consistent. The first episode (rerunning at 11 p.m.) was terrific, the second (11:30) was OK. Now come new episodes. One (10 p.m.) stretches a so-so concept way too far, as whites try to fit into a black barbecue party; the second (10:30) is quite good, as Erica’s brother suddenly has success and religion.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *