Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Aug. 8: two endings and a prequel start

1) “Resident Alien” season-finale, 10 p.m., USA and Syfy. One of TV’s best shows wraps its fourth season. Last week’s hour could have been a great finale: The Mantid and its offspring were slain, people were rescued, Asta and Harry decided to move — she to a city, he to his home planet. Then, infused with his alien blood from an emergency transfusion (shown here), she had a sense of new terror. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 7: stars of soccer and fashion

1) “Nexaca,” debut, 9 and 10 p.m., FXX, rerunning at 11 and midnight. Created 102 years ago, Club Nexaca has had years of greatness in Mexican soccer … and years of decline. Now Eva Longoria (shown here) fronts a group that bought half of it. After her charming introduction, this Spanish-language series (with sub-titles) has a sharply filmed look at revival efforts. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 5: It’s THE great movie night

1) Classic films. For movie buffs, this is one of the best nights ever. It has films that are No. 2 (“The Godfather,” 1972, 7 p.m., Showtime) and No. 3 (“Casablanca,”1943, sown here, 10 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies) on the American Film Institute list, trailing only “Citizen Kane.” And at midnight ET, TCM has “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939), listed at No. 26. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 3: a dramatic night of finales

1) “Grantchester” season-finale, 9 p.m., PBS. Last week, Geordie (a cop) traced possible info about the birth mother of Alphy (a vicar). Alas, Alphy raged.at the intrusion, Now there are deep emotions for these friends (shown here) to unpack — while solving a complex case that includes a right-wing activist, bomb threats and a key assist from Larry, the newlywed cop. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 2: film gems — Barbie and Charlie

1) “Barbie” (2023), 8 p.m., TBS; or “The Sound of Music” (1965), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. In one way, these are opposites: “Barbie” (shown here) reflects a joyous feminism; “Music,” set in 1940s Austria, doesn’t. But both offer vibrant visuals and music, plus appealing stars. Both drew Oscar nominations for best-picture, which “Sound of Music” won. Read more…

Best-bets for Aug. 1: new sheriff, angsty alien

1) “Fire Country,” 8 p.m., CBS. This fall, Morena Baccarin — formerly of “V,” “Homeland” and “Gotham” — will stars in “Sheriff Country.” First, here’s her second “Fire Country” episode, setting it up. With her nephew Bode (they’re shown here), she probes the attempted murder of her estranged father. More reruns follow, with a ski-lift malfunction and an out-of-control house fire. Read more…