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This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“Beijing Olympics,” 6 p.m. on NBC — Heading into the final week of competition, gymnastics, track and field (especially the women’s 100m) and women’s springboard diving highlight the coverage.
“Mad Men,” 9 p.m. on AMC — It’s still on, with spectacular new episodes, so if you’re tired of the Olympics, light up a cig and fantasize about advertising in the 1960s.
“Masterpiece Theatre,” 9:30 p.m. on PBS — On “The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard,” a supermarket manager and mother pokes at the political glass ceiling by running for prime minister.
Monday
“Beijing Olympics,” 7 p.m. on NBC — Here’s what we’ve been waiting for (seriously): the trampoline final. How does one compete in bouncing? Also more individual gymnastics, men’s 400m hurdles and women’s beach volleyball semi-final.
“Documenting the Face of America,” 9 p.m. on PBS — A profile of a group of artists who changed the course of documentary photography in the 1930s and ‘40s.
Tuesday
“Beijing Olympics,” 7 p.m. on NBC —The final night of individual event gymnastics. Boo hoo. Also tonight, the women’s 400m and the men’s 1500m races (Longhorn Leo Manzano should be a contender), men’s springboard diving and, new to the Olympics, BMX cycling.
“Nova,” 7 p.m. on PBS — A minute-by-minute account of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, exploring the human failures that compounded the natural nightmare. Sad and scary.
Wednesday
“Beijing Olympics,” 7 p.m. on NBC — Stars of the completed gymnastics competition perform exhibition routines for our viewing pleasure. Track and field events heat up.
“Greatest American Dog,” 7 p.m. on CBS — We’re getting down to the tail-end of this canine competition, so pick your favorite and bark it up.
“NextWorld,” 7 p.m. on Discovery — Cars of the future may go faster than the speed of sound, morph from a streamlined roadster into a luxury sedan, and cruise over land and under water. But how much gas will they need?
Thursday
“Beijing Olympics,” 7 p.m. on NBC — Track and field are the focus, but we can also look forward to former Longhorn diver Laura Wilkinson’s attempt at another gold on the 10m platform. She’s competing against a couple of Chinese divers half her age, but perfection is perfection. She can do it.
“Burn Notice,” 9 p.m. on USA — New episodes are winding down, but this summer espionage series is still one of the most entertaining shows on TV. Fast-paced, sunny and intriguing.
Friday
“Beijing Olympics,” 7 p.m. on NBC — Men’s 10m platform diving again pits the Americans and the Chinese, and track and field events continue.
“NFL Preseason Football,” 7 p.m. on CBS — The Texas showdown features the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys.
Saturday
“Beijing Olympics,” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 6:30 to 11 p.m. on NBC — It’s the last full day of competition, so immerse yourself and enjoy the women’s basketball gold-medal game, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, boxing, the men’s marathon and 800m race and the men’s 10m platform diving final.
“Madagascar,” 7 p.m. on ABC — Sick of sports? Zoo animals learn to survive in the wild after they wash ashore on an exotic island in this 2005 animated comedy featuring the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Sacha Baron Cohen.
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