1) “Alien Earth” debut, 8 p.m Tuesday, FX. Here’s an ideal sci-fi mix: epic monsters-and-machines space scenes (shown here), plus a deeply human story. On one note, a ship with captured creatures has crashed on Earth. On the other, a dying tween girl’s mind and memories are injected into a synthetic body. With other synths, she tries to rescue the brother of her human self. Read more…
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…
As “Alien Earth” (shown here) arrives, we face two vital questions:
1) What is the future of mankind, in an artificially enhanced world? and
2) Is it wise for an actor to work barefoot?
OK, one question might be more vital than the other, but we’ll ponder both.
“Alien Earth” opens with two episodes at 8 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 12) on FX, continuing a story that has spanned (directly and indirectly) nine movies. FX will have four of them Tuesday — “Prometheus” (2012) at 10 a.m.; “Alien: Covenant” (2017) at 12:30 p.m., the original “Alien” (1979) at 3 and “Alien: Romulus” (2024) at 5:30. Read more…
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…
1) “Good Cop/Bad Cop” return, 9 p.m., CW. If you missed this excellent show the Read more…
Just as TV hits its low point, Turner Classic Movies fills the void.
It does that each August, with “Summer Under the Stars.” Each day brings a marathon of films from one star.
Some of those people have been featured often. On Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 9-10), Elizabeth Taylor (shown here with Paul Newman) and Clark Gable will be back-to-back.
But others get their first time in the August spotlight. Read more…
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…
1) “American Ninja Warrior,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The multi-week finals begin. Over this month, we’ll see contestants racing side-by-side (shown here), in a bracket-style competition. That collides with another summer powerhouse, “Bachelor in Paradise,” from 8-10 on ABC. Read more…
Actors’ lives are full of extremes — long lulls and busy bursts.
Still, few can match Melissa Johns’ packed stretch. In two weeks, she had two weddings (one real, one not), two grooms, two churches and strong emotions … up to a point; “It stops feeling special when you’re on the 11th take,” she said.
That was for the fictional wedding, for “Grantchester.” The real one didn’t require any do-overs.
As “Grantchester” nears its season-finale (9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3), let’s look back: Read more…
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 Dec. 8: games, drama and wonderment 
Best-bets for Dec. 7: near the end of “The Road” 
Best-bets for Dec. 6: big games and big laughs 
