1) “Sharkzilla Takes New York,” 9 p.m., Discovery. On its second-to-last day, “Shark Week” brings out its catchiest titles. This hour involves the search for a legendary shark; it’s followed at 10 by “My Strange Shark Addiction,” viewing people whose lives revolve around this interest. There are reruns all day, plus “Secrets of the Great White” at 8. Read more…
(For a full round-up of all four big, commercial broadcaast networks, see Stories)
It will be an early start for ABC shows this fall. Or a late one.
Coming early are football; “Dancing With the Stars,” with a two-night opener Sept. 14-15; and “R.J. Decker” (shown here), Sept. 15.
But “Grey’s Anatomy,” as usual, will be late; it starts Oct. 15, alongside the “9-1-1” shows. Much later will be a wave of shows waiting for mid-season, led by “High Potential,” “Will Trent” and “Shifting Gears.” Read more…
1) “Surviving Earth” season-finale, 8 p.m., NBC. After going back millions of years for previous episodes, this hour is almost contemporary. It begins a mere 12,000 years ago, with humans and mega-creatures sharing a planet that faces the double blow of ice and heat. Also, there are the sort of specific scenes that work so well in “The Americas” (shown hgere), but seem oddly specific amid computer graphics. Read more…
1) “MasterChef,” 8 p.m., Fox. Jessica Bosworth and Jesse Rosenwald (shown here) met as Boston bartenders, almost a decade ago. Last year (when the show shifted to duos), they won the $250,000 prize … and promptly got engaged. Now, in a castle, there’s a royal-style wedding dinner prepared by the 12 home chefs. Read more…
For sci-fi and fantasy fans, there’s no late-summer snooze.
Announcements keep emerging from Comic-Con in San Diego, some of them about shows that will arrive before September.
Earlier this week (see separate story), fans heard about current shows — “House of the Dragon.” “The Walking Dead: Dead City” and “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” — plus “Lanterns,” which starts Aug. 16. They also heard of a November blitz that will bring entire seasons of “Blade Runner 2099” and “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Then came a new round of news about “Futurama” (shown here) and others. Chronologically, that includes: Read more…
1) “NCIS: Origins” and “NCIS: Sydney,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. Last week, both were bumped when CBS decided to rerun its 50th “Survivor” season. “Survivor” continues on Wednesdays and a few Tuesdays, but this week the “NCIS” reruns return “Origins” (shown here) finds the future of the unit in jeopardy; on “Sydney,” a hospital ward is taken hostage. Read more…
1) “The 1% Club” and “The Quiz With Balls,” 8 and 9 p.m., Fox. Starting now, Fox will be a no-rerun zone on Mondays through Wednesdays. First, host Joel McHale (shown here in a previous episode) is surrounded by 100 female contestants. Then “Quiz” has a rematch of sorts, with two families that were on “Extracted.” Read more…
Sometime in November, fantasy fans may find their brains reaching overload.
Entire seasons of two shows will air on Amazon Prime during a crowded, 15-day stretch. They are:
— The third season of “Lord Of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Four episodes will arrive Nov. 11, two Nov. 18 and the final two Nov. 25.
— The first season of “Blade Runner 2099,” from producer Ridley Scott. All eight episodes will arrive Nov. 25 … which is both Thanksgiving eve and the day “Rings of Power” wraps its season. Read more…
As summer TV winds down, Turner Classic Movies adds some starpower.
That’s its annual “Summer Under the Stars.” Each day in August focuses on the films — usually the best ones — from one actor.
Some of these stars still have strong followings. This opens with Doris Day (shown here) and Humphrey Bogart. One stretch (Aug. 14-16) has Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood and Cary Grant; two days later, it’s Robert Redford. John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn are back-to-back on Aug. 22-23, James Stewart and Bette Davis on Aug. 26-27. Scattered around are Steve McQueen (Aug. 8), Groucho Marx (Aug. 12) and Marlon Brando (Aug. 20).
And others? Well, when was the last time you had a spirited discussion about Marie Windsor, Dana Andrews, Bonita Granville or Basil Rathbone? Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” 8 p.m., Fox. Now that the soccer fuss has ended, Fox gets back to its regular line-up. That includes Sunday reruns of its two funniest shows. In this one, Bart’s lab work (shown here) links him with tech billionaires who are intent on living forever. At 8:30, “Animal Control” has Frank on a late-night mission to retrieve his new dog. Read more…
Best-bets for Aug. 6: Fun, games and deep emotion 
Best-bets for Aug. 5: Ted’s back; “Shards” begins 
Best-bets for Aug. 4: a fresh twist for “Talent” 
