Best-bets for July 27: Desert beauty, classroom fun

1) “The Green Planet,” 8 p.m., PBS. If you think you have trouble with a hot dry spell, consider the desert plants; some wait for a decade or longer for rain. Then they zoom into action; time-lapse film catches the stunning stretch when primroses and others briefly turn the desert colorful. This terrific hour with David Attenborough (shown here) shows how plants entwine, sharing their roots; and how cacti and others store water reserves. Read more…

1) “The Green Planet,” 8 p.m., PBS. If you think you have trouble with a hot dry spell, consider the desert plants; some wait for a decade or longer for rain. Then they zoom into action; time-lapse film catches the stunning stretch when primroses and others briefly turn the desert colorful. This terrific hour with David Attenborough (shown here) shows how plants entwine, sharing their roots; and how cacti and others store water reserves.

2) “Abbott Elementary,” 9 p.m., ABC. This drew lots of Emmy nominations (including best comedy) last week, but curious viewers couldn’t sample it; that was when an award show filled the Wednesday schedule. Now “Abbott” is back; Janine (Quinta Brunson) convinces Ava (Janelle James) to start a gifted program. Brunson is nominated for best actress and for her pilot script. James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tyler James Williams are nominated in support.

3) “MasterChef,” 8 p.m., Fox. Fifteen home chefs remain, ranging from age 20 to 59. Now one of them will assign the others a dessert to bake, with elimination looming.

4) “So You Think You Can Dance,” 9 p.m., Fox. Last week brought a surprise, with no one eliminated. Now there are still six dancers to choose from. Two (Alexis Warr and Carter Williams) are from Utah (a hot spot for young performers) and specialize in Latin ballroom. Two (Ralyn Johnson of Louisiana and Keaton Kermode of Indiana) prefer contemporary. The others are Essence Wilmington (hip hop, Iowa) and Beau Harmon (musical theater, Georgia).

5) Movies. At 8 p.m., AMC repeats some long-ago fun, with Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and more in “Caddyshack,” a zestful 1980 comedy. At 9, HBO has a modern look, with the new documentary “We Met in Virtual Reality.”

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