Mike Hughes on TV

1) “House of the Dragon” debut, 9 p.m., HBO, rerunning at 10:10. This is the big one – or one of two big ones. Years in the making, there are epic prequels to “Lord of the Rings” (Sept. 2 on Amazon) and, first, “Game of Thrones.” HBO reportedly spent $200 million on this 10-episode season, set almost 200 years before “Thrones.” Paddy Considine (shown here) plays the king, with Emma D’Arcy (and, in the early years, Milly Alcock) as the dragon-riding princess. Read more…

1) “Jaws” (1977), 7 p.m., AMC; or “Back to the Future” (1985), 8 p.m., CMT. More than anyone else, Steven Spielberg has shown that a movie can be artfully crafted and wildly entertaining. He proved that by directing “Jaws” (shown here) and by producing “Back to the Future” – a film that (under director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis) can best be describes as Spielberg-esque. And yes, that’s a good thing. Read more…

1) “Secret Celebrity Renovation,” 8 p.m., CBS. It’s been a great stretch for Annaleigh Ashford (shown here) … albeit one that included “B Positive” being canceled. She was terrific in that show … and in Broadway TV specials … and as Clinton-accuser Paula Jones in a mini-series. More roles are coming – as actress Judy Holliday and as a prime force behind the Chippendale dancers. First, she visits home here, to help some home renovations for her dad and recently-retired mom. Read more…

1) “Reservation Dogs,” any time, Hulu. Crafted with subtlety and depth, “Dogs” (focusing on young native Americans) is taking big detours this season For two episodes, Elora (shown here, left) was fleeing to California with her former nemesis … until their car broke down. In the third, Bear (right) got his first job; that one ended with Elora saying her grandmother was dying. Now the community gathers for a deathwatch; the result is a great blend of warmth, humor and more. Read more…

1) “Abbott Elementary,” 8-10 p.m., ABC Arriving at mid-season, “Abbott” has soared. It swept the Television Critics Association awards – program of the year, plus best new show, comedy and comedy individual (Quinta Brunson, shown here); it also has seven Emmy nominations, including best comedy. Now ABC celebrates with four reruns, starting with the pilot. At 8:30, Janine (Brunson) tries to know her colleagues better. Then come a step-dance class and “desking. Read more…

1) “Devils” season-opener, 9 p.m., CW. With sleek visuals, this European series makes financial schemes feel like tech thrill rides. In the first season, Massimo battled his ex-mentor (Patrick Dempsey; they’re shown here) and took control of a mega-bank. Now we jump between crises – Brexit in 2016, Covid in 2020 – that created financial chaos. There are murders, past and present, and careers wobble. It’s hard to follow some of the fiscal-babble, but easy to feel engaged. Read more…