The biggest news of the week is the series end of HBO's gory, titillating series "True Blood" on Sunday after seven years.
Another cult classic "Dr. Who" returns on BBC America on Sunday while TNT brings back "Dallas" after a short break on Monday. ABC ends the season for "Rookie Blue" Thursday while MTV feeds us another "Video Music Awards" Sunday despite the long-running fact they hardly play videos anymore.
NOTE: This covers Monday, August 18 through Sunday August 24.
MONDAY
"Running Wild with Bear Grylls" 8 p.m. NBC — Tom Arnold and Bear explore the coastal mountains of Oregon, where they encounter river crossings and ocean-side cliffs.
"Masterchef " 8 p.m. Fox — The Top 8 chefs split into pairs and are tasked to prepare chicken dishes using various parts of the bird.
"Love & Hip Hop Atlanta " 8 p.m. VH1 — Will Stevie J finally tell the truth about Althea to Joseline?
"Switched at Birth " 8 p.m. ABC Family (third season finale) — Bay and Daphne's graduation day arrives. This show has been given a fourth season.
"Atlanta Exes " 9 p.m. VH1 (new series) — Welcome the exes of Usher, Ne-Yo, Cee Lo and Kevin Hart.
"Hotel Hell " 9 p.m. Fox — A historic hotel in Pipestone, Minn., is struggling due to sibling rivalry between its two owners.
"America's Next Top Model " 9 p.m. the CW (21st season debut) — Thirty one guys and girls compete to see who can take the best selfie
"Captivated : The Trials of Pamela Smart" 9 p.m. HBO — A look at the case of Pamela Smart, a New Hampshire woman who was convicted in 1991 for conspiring with her teen lover to kill her husband.
"Dallas " 10 p.m. TNT (third season summer debut) — The Ewing family seek answers about the fire at Southfork Ranch.
"Under the Dome " 10 p.m. CBS — Barbie enlists his father's help to reach out to Julia.
"Mistresses " 10:01 p.m. ABC — April deals with disloyalty in her life.
TUESDAY
"America's Got Talent" 8 p.m. NBC — A former "American Idol" contestant Kelli Glover shows up for the quarterfinals.
"Rizzoli & Isles " 9 p.m. TNT — The team joins forces with Korsak in a bid to crack a cold case.
"Royal Pains " 9 p.m. USA — Divya and Jeremiah treat a sickly model.
"Sisterhood of Hip Hop " 9 p.m. Oxygen — Brianna has trouble mixing family and business, and Siya suffers a broken heart.
"Covert Affairs " 10 p.m. USA — Annie initiates an undercover mission without CIA support.
"Finding Carter " 10 p.m. MTV — Carter and Taylor team up to confront their mother.
"Hard Knocks " 10 p.m. HBO — The Atlanta Falcons are drawing solid ratings to date.
"Perception " 10 p.m. TNT (third season summer finale) — Pierce helps Donnie when Donnie finds himself in a compromising situation and evidence stacks up against him.
"Tyrant " 10 p.m. FX — Jamal punishes his opposers.
WEDNESDAY
"Happy Valley" 12:01 a.m. Netflix (new series) — This six-part British series revolves around the personal and professional life of a hard-working, dedicated police woman (Lancashire), in a small town where drunkards, drug addicts and teenage pregnancies are a way of life.
"So You Think You Can Dance" 8 p.m. Fox — Kennesaw's Zack Everhart Jr. is in the top 6.
"Extant" 9 p.m. CBS — Molly searches for her baby and becomes convinced the agency took the child.
"Suits" 9 p.m. USA — Harvey and Jessica try to protect the firm from competitors.
"Legends" 9 p.m. TNT— Martin, Crystal and Troy Buchannan go undercover when a chemistry teacher and his family are kidnapped.
"The Bridge" 10 p.m. FX — Sonya uncovers the truth behind Lisa's death.
" Franklin & Bash" 10 p.m. TNT — A seemingly simple divorce case turns complicated for the firm's newest attorney.
" Hot in Cleveland" 10 p.m. TV Land — Melanie and Joy compete to be Victoria's plus one at the Oscars.
"Top Chef: Duels" 10 p.m. Bravo — Mike Isabella vs. Antonia Lofaso.
"Taxi Brooklyn" 10:01 p.m. NBC — A maid from El Salvador is shot, triggering Cat and Leo's investigation
"Epic Ink" 10:30 p.m. A&E (new series) — Characters from the 1985 movie "The Goonies" are tattooed onto a customer in the opener of this series following the goings-on at a unique tattoo shop in Oregon.
THURSDAY
"Dating Naked" 9 p.m. VH1 — An accountant-turned-MMA fighter and an artist from Denver disrobe and seek a love connection.
"Rectify" 9 p.m. Sundance — Daniel has a problem accepting Jon Stern's advice, while Tawney rethinks her options.
"Rookie Blue" 9 p.m. ABC (fifth season finale) — A bomb explodes in a downtown parking garage.
"Rush" 9 p.m. USA — Rush and Alex plan a weekend together without realizing Rush's ex and her new boyfriend will also be in attendance.
"Satisfaction " 10 p.m. USA — Neil considers an unusual proposition while Adriana learns more about his home life.
FRIDAY
"Monumental Mysteries " 9 p.m. Travel — Don explores the story of an escape from slavery while visiting a historic home in Boston and investigates a majestic oak tree's connection to witchcraft while on Hatteras Island, N.C.
"Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders " 9 p.m. CMT — Training camp begins with 43 ladies, and Kelli sets expectations high during the intimidating first meeting.
"The Knick " 10 p.m. Cinemax — Thackery debates performing surgery on an ex-lover, while ordering that Chickering and Gallinger experiment on pigs.
"The Almighty Johnsons " 11 p.m. Syfy — Drinking leads to temptation.
WEEKEND
"Cedar Cove" 8 p.m. Saturday Hallmark — Jack isn't happy about Eric's new employment.
"Dr. Who" 9 p.m. Saturday BBCA (eighth season debut) — The Doctor and Clara are in Victorian London where a dinosaur is on the loose and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions take place.
"Outlander" 9 p.m. Saturday Starz— Claire uses her medical skills to escape Castle Leoch.
"Hell on Wheels" 9 p.m. Saturday AMC — Cullen faces trouble at home as he takes railroad matters into his own hands.
"The Last Ship" 9 p.m. Sunday TNT (first season finale) — Chandler and the crew journey home but it sure isn't the same anymore.
"MTV Video Music Awards" 9 p.m. Sunday MTV — Scheduled performers include Ariana Grande.
"Ray Donovan" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Tension runs high when the whole Donovan family come together for Conor's birthday.
"True Blood" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO (series finale) — Sookie and her Bon Temps companions bid farewell to an important chapter in their lives while looking forward to several new ones.
"Falling Skies" 10 p.m. Sunday TNT — Tom and the 2nd Mass learn to pilot an airship as part of a perilous mission to destroy the Espheni power core.
"The Leftovers" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO — Tom connects with his past, even though he knows it's a mistake. The show has been renewed for a second season.
"The Lottery" 10 p.m. Sunday Lifetime — Vanessa works against Darius to control the Lottery.
"Masters of Sex" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Masters becomes impotent without Johnson's knowledge.
"Reckless" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — Terry considers turning his back on Lee Anne when he's asked to testify against her by Roy.
"The Strain" 10 p.m. Sunday FX — Jim is used as bait in a plan to track down the Master.
Scheduled performers include Ariana Grande.
About the Author