Best-bets for Aug. 20: Lots of Spielberg-style adventure

1) “Jaws” (1977), 7 p.m., AMC; or “Back to the Future” (1985), 8 p.m., CMT. More than anyone else, Steven Spielberg has shown that a movie can be artfully crafted and wildly entertaining. He proved that by directing “Jaws” (shown here) and by producing “Back to the Future” – a film that (under director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis) can best be describes as Spielberg-esque. And yes, that’s a good thing. Read more…

1) “Jaws” (1977), 7 p.m., AMC; or “Back to the Future” (1985), 8 p.m., CMT. More than anyone else, Steven Spielberg has shown that a movie can be artfully crafted and wildly entertaining. He proved that by directing “Jaws” (shown here) and by producing “Back to the Future” – a film that (under director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis) can best be describes as Spielberg-esque. And yes, that’s a good thing.

2) More movies. There are plenty of recent action-adventures, including “John Wick” (2014), 8 p.m. on Paramount, and a Spider-Man double-feature – “Far From Home” (2019) at 6:17 pm. and “No Way Home” (2021) atr 8:30. But there’s also a Joan Crawford marathon on Turner Classic Movies. For “Mildred Pierce” (1945), at 8 p.m., she won an Oscar; for “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962), Bette Davis was nominated and Crawford was bitter.

3) Nature films, BBC America. The gorgeous “Blue Planet” series reruns at noon, followed by a new “Africa’s Wild Year” at 8, viewing the autumn migration. At 9, in a truly dizzying switch, the channel shows “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977).

4) “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 9 p.m., CBS. While helping migrants cross the border, Kensi is kidnapped by a shadowy militia group; now the others scramble to find her. That’s preceded at 8 p.m. by another rerun: In “FBI: Most Wanted,” the team races to stop someone who annihilates families; also, Barnes has her own family troubles, with an intrusive mother.

5) “$100,000 Pyramid,” 10 p.m., ABC. In a change, ABC has ultimate-fighting at 8 p.m. (instead of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” reruns) and this rerun at 10. One round has rappers, with Wiz Khalifa facing Ty Dolla $ign; the other has comedians Bobby Moynihan and Ron Funches.

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