1) World Cup, 3 and 9 p.m. ET, Fox. Here are the Cup openers for two teams with home-field advantage. First, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 3 p.m. in Toronto; then the U.S. faces Paraguay, at 9 in Los Angeles. (Mexico had its opener Thursday, in Mexico City.) There’s much more soccer ahead (shown here is action from a previous Cup); these are also on Telemundo and stream on Peacock and Fox One. Read more…
1) “Surviving Earth” debut, 8 p.m., NBC. Some 252 million years ago, the Earth was locked in a heat wave. Many creatures died; some (shown here_ persisted, plodding toward the poles and the high ground. It’s a dramatic story, told with great special effects. But attempts to lighten it (special-effect creatures frolicking) seem pointless; leave that part to the superb “Americas,” rerunning at 9. Read more…
1) “The Floor” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. There are some wild combinations here — a “wine” category for someone who’s not old enough to drink (shown here, right), a “world religions” one for someone who’s never been in a church. Ultimately, we see the show’s strength and its flaws and unfairness. The strengths prevail, in a fast-paced finish. Read more…
1) “American Experience,” 9 p.m., PBS. For 38 years, this has given us great documentaries, winning 30 Emmys and 14 Peabodys. It was suspended this season (after federal funding cuts), but now it starts a splendid summer of reruns. This one views Woodstock (shown here); due to pledge-periods, some stations will carry it at a different time or night. Then “Experience” movies to Fridays, starting June 19, for multi-parters on George H.W. Bush, John Kennedy and the moon race. Read more…
1) “American Ninja Warrior” season-opener, 9-11 p.m., NBC. The 18th season starts with people who are easy to root for. A teen farmgirl works out by chasing chickens … a cowboy sometimes carries his disabled wife … Kathy Zimmerman (shown here) and her family have a homemade, backyard course. Now re-designed obstacles have all of them swinging and scrambling. Read more…
1) Tony Awards, 8-11 p.m, ET, CBS. The night will be stuffed with big musical numbers. There are the nominated new musicals — “Schmigadoon” (shown here), “Titanique,” “The Lost Boys” “Two Strangers” — and revivals (“Ragtime,” “Rocky Horror,” “Cats”), plus the original “Book of Mormon” cast. And Pink, who hosts, joins a 30th-year tribute to “Chicago.” Read more…
1) Band of Brothers,” 9 a.m. to 11:19 p.m., Sundance. On the anniversary of the D-Day invasion, we can re-see a superb mini-series (shown here) about an Airborne company that was there. The first episode involves training, but the second (at 10:41 a.m.) sees men parachute behind enemy lines on June 6, 1944. The story continues through the end of the war and beyond. Read more…
1) “Dutton Ranch,” Paramount+. Here’s a pivotal episode in what has quickly become a great series. Last week, a tragedy shattered the cattle ranch. Now Rip (shown here) and Beth take surprising steps to rebuild their life. Also, their adopted son had found a hot lover and a chatty friend; now he, too, confronts tragedy. Read more…
1) “The Americas” return, 8 and 9 p.m. NBC. Next week, NBC starts filling Thursdays with big, British-American documentaries — the new “Surviving Earth” at 8 p.m. and reruns of the splendid “Americas” at 9. Filling those spots this week are “fun facts” variations of two hours: We visit the warmth of Mexico (shown here), then reach the frozen Arctic. Read more…
1) “Brilliant Minds,” 8 p.m., NBC. For its final six episodes, this wades into heavy turf. Sofia seems real to Dr. Wolf, but others feel he’s imagining her. Now he’s admitted himself into a psych institution, while his colleagues (shown here) handle a tough case at the hospital. Pivotal and emotional events follow. Read more…
