Amid all the summertime reruns and re-reruns, we might long for some fresh TV shows..
They’re coming … and all on the same day.
That’s Thursday, July 9. There will be a new drama series (a good one) and a continuing drama (a great one). There will be a new Jennifer Garner mini-series (shown here) and the season-openers of two game shows and two reality competitions.
All of them arrive together, mostly by coincidence. Logically, networks waited for various distractions (basketball, hockey, soccer, 4th-of-July) to end; weirdly, they then all chose July 9.
Here’s a round-up, starting with broadcast TV, then cable, then streaming:
SEASON-OPENERS OF GAMES AND COMPETITIONS
— Two game shows on ABC. Steve Harvey hosts “Celebrity Family Feud” at 8 p.m. and Elizaeth Banks hosts “Press Your Luck” at 9.
— “Big Brother,” on CBS. It’s the 28th season — all with Julie Chen Moonves hosting — and it gobbles lots of time. That’s 8-9:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday (July 9 and 12), then 8-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 8-9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays. And “Big Brother: Unlocked” is at 8-9 p.m. on alternate Fridays (starting July 10), now adding a studio audience and Jerry O’Connell. Add more on Paramount+ and you have perpetual “BB.”
— “Project Runway,” 9:30-11 p.m. on Freeform. This is its third network and fifth main production company, but Heidi Klum is back to host. For its 22nd season, it has 22 fashion designers — compared to 12-16 in previous years.
SCRIPTED SHOWS
— “The Bear” continues at 9 p.m. on FX.
It’s the fifth and final season for a show that every year has drawn an Emmy nomination for best comedy series. That’s impressive when you consider that the show isn’t a comedy — especially in the July 9 episode.
Last week, amid a pounding rainstorm that left the restaurant crumbling, a secret accidentally came out: Carmy (Jeremy Allen White, a two-time Emmy-winner) is leaving the restaurant he’s molded.
Now that brings lots of pensive moments (beautifully written and acted), as people ponder what’s ahead. The token humor comes when the building’s owner tries to learn who owns “air rights” to build above it.
It’s the fourth of eight episodes. But if you can’t wait, you can go to Hulu, which already has all eight.
— “Five-Star Weekend” is an eight-parter starring Jennifer Garner, a perpetual favorite of mini-series fans. All eight episodes arrive July 9 on Peacock.
Based on an Elin Hilderbrand novel, this centers on a food-blogger (Garner), dealing with loss. She invites friends for an elegant retreat in Nantucket.
Chloe Sevigny, Regina Hall, D’Arcy Carden and Gemma Chen also star, with some guys (including Timothy Olyphant and Josh Hamilton) showing up.
— And “Little House Prairie,” one of the summer’s biggest projects, arrives on this overcrowded day.
This reboots the classic TV show … which was based on the “Little House” novels … which were based on the real childhood of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
We start with the wagon ride west — a dangerous thing to do alone, without a wagon train. Charles Ingalls — perpetual optimist, frequent traveler — feels there will be free land and good times ahead. His wife and their two daughters aren’t as sure.
By the end of the first hour, we’ve seen some crises and some good people. Visually pleasing, it’s quietly emotional … and will stick around. This first season has eight episodes, all arriving together; a second season has already been ordered.