1) Democratic convention, 8-11 p.m. ET, PBS; 10 p.m. ET, ABC, CBS, NBC; all night, news channels. The next two Thursdays should be required viewing – Joe Biden tonight, Donald Trump next week, the future at stake. In a late addition, Democrats are adding music by the Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks). Subject to change, from 9-11 p.m., the spealers will be Cory Booker (shown here), Pete Buttigieg, the Chicks, Gavin Newsom, Kesha Lance Bottoms, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, Chris Coons, Andrew Yang and Biden.
2) “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. In 2016, Ellicott City (near Baltimore) was hit by what was called “a once-in-a-thousand-years” flood. The downtown was rebuilt … then flooded in 2018. Then Gordon Ramsay’s people re-rebuilt three businesses; they finished this spring, bringing joy … until the pandemic closed things again … and until Tropical Storm Isaias zoomed nearby this month, bringing a new flurry of sandbags. It’s been tough, but this rerun manages to be a feel-good story.
3) “Young Sheldon,” 9 p.m., CBS. The school librarian is usually a minor figure here, mostly around to be surprised by Sheldon’s requests. In this pleasant rerun, however, she’s at the core: She’s injured, Sheldon’s dad is at fault, so now she moves in with the family while recovering.
4) Sports, cable. Yes, it’s now possible to skip politics (and everything else) and immerse in sports. Basketball has started its playoffs, giving ESPN a marathon – games at 1, 3:30, 6 and 9 p.m. ET. And baseball? It’s Tigers-White Sox at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Brewers-Twins at 7:10 on Fox Sports1.
5) “Christina on the Coast,” 6-10 p.m., HGTV. We can catch up on most of the second season. First are four half-hour episodes, with Christina Anstead, of “Flip or Flop” fame, designing renovations. Then come an hour rerun at 8 (she’s back after having her baby) and a new hour (a kitchen remake) at 9.