This was posted on Sunday, July 2, 2017 by Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
FX was the only network this week ambitious enough to debut a big-time drama during the week of July 4: John Singleton's look at the crack epidemic in the 1980s in Los Angeles. It debuts Wednesday.
Reviews so far have ranged all over the map. The Washington Post raved: "Though it fictionalizes and chronicles a depressing (and violent) American crisis, it belongs on everyone's must-watch list this summer." Reason.com? "Billing itself as the story of 'how crack began,' Snowfall is really just a collection of cliches and set pieces you've already seen in other, much better narcodramas."
Otherwise, HBO on Saturday offers up another sports spoof, courtesy of Andy Samberg, this time about doping and cycling, with celebrity appearances galore. On Sunday, HBO hones in on the real relationship between Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.
Amelia Earhart also gets a look see eight decades after her disappearance on History Sunday. Some mysteries never cease to amaze.
And don't miss folks gorging on hot dogs on ESPN2 at noon July 4th. It's an annual rite!
Plus, CBS is joining the game show brigade with "Candy Crush" Sunday hosted by Mario Lopez.
This covers Monday, July 2 through Sunday, July 8, 2017.
MONDAY
"America Ninja Warrior" 8 p.m. NBC — Kansas City qualifiers.
"Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" 8 p.m. VH1 — Can Tommie and her mom fix their broken relationship?
"Preacher" 9 p.m. AMC— Jesse, Tulip and Cassidy get a tip that God might be in New Orleans, but Tulip's hiding a secret, and their stop in New Orleans risks exposing her.
"Tiny Paradise" 9 p.m. HGTV (new series) — A Denver couple are moving to their own personal paradise: Mexico. The couple look to connect with nature and live a more relaxed lifestyle in the jungles of Tulum. They're going tiny and have designed an amazing house with plenty of outdoor space.
"Daytime Divas" 10p.m. VH1 — When Nina's baby daddy scandal ignites a media feeding frenzy, Maxine hires crisis manager Isabel Carlisle to do damage control.
"Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge" 10 p.m. NBC — Six teams compete in an obstacle-course race to win $250,000.
TUESDAY
"2017 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest" noon ESPN 2 — Last year, Joey Chestnut consumed a whopping 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Can he beat that this year?
"Peachtree Road Race: From Start to Finish" 8 p.m. NBC — A review of the events from earlier in the day.
"Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" 9 p.m. NBC — Performers include Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley and Hailee Steinfeld.
"Georgia Salutes America" 9 p.m. WSB — Jovita Moore and Zach Klein host. Bobby Brown is among the performers at Centennial Olympic Park.
"A Capitol Fourth" 8 p.m. GPB — John Stamos hosts the annual celebration of America's birthday, which features Trace Adkins, the Beach Boys, Blues Brothers, Chris Blue, Sofia Carson, Four Tops and Broadway's Phillipa Soo.
WEDNESDAY
" Little Big Shots: Forever Young" 8 p.m. NBC — Skilled seniors include a 91-year-old gymnast, who receives a surprise from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
"The Carmichael Show" 9 p.m. NBC — Bobby tells Jerrod about a mysterious Facebook message he received, leading to the revelation of a decades-old family secret.
"Jay Leno's Garage" 9 p.m. CNBC — Jay cruises around Las Vegas with Brad Garrett; goes on an adventure in J.B. Smoove's Lincoln.
"Queen Sugar" 10 p.m. OWN — Charley searches for a more permanent home for Micah; a whitefly infestation threatens the farm.
"Snowfall" 10 p.m. FX (new series) — Street entreprenuer Franklin Saint enters the cocaine game.
"Younger" 10 p.m. TV Land — Liza faces further fallout with Kelsey, who is infuriated by Liza's lack of millennial know-how.
THURSDAY
"Boy Band" 8 p.m. ABC — The final group of six hopefuls perform on stage for Emma, Nick and Timbaland, who decide which vocalist gets sent home.
"Hollywood Game Night" 8 p.m. NBC — Ben Feldman; Lauren Ash; Nico Santos; Cheri Oteri; Natalie Morales; and Ne-Yo are the celebrity game players.
"Battle of the Network Stars " 9 p.m. ABC — Nick Lachey and Jack Osborne are among the contestants this week.
"Mosquito " 9 p.m. Discovery — Exploring the deadly consequences of mosquitoes, highlighting the immense international efforts that will be required to stop it in its tracks.
"Nashville " 9 p.m. CMT — Scarlett confronts the journalist Mackenzie Rhodes face-to-face; Will shoots a big-time commercial; Deacon feels pressure from the outside to move on from Rayna.
"Alone " 10 p.m. History — Desperate hikers struggle to make the final push to their teammates; and exhaustion leads a participant into the path of a predator and a dangerous confrontation.
"Bossip on WE " 10 p.m. WE-TV (new series) — Kind of like TMZ for African Americans.
"The Gong Show " 10 p.m. ABC— Dana Carvey, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson judge a contortionist who artistically impersonates a tree.
"Zoo " 10 p.m. CBS — Jackson and Logan discover a link between the hybrid attacks that occur in Portland and New York.
"The Night Shift " 10 p.m. NBC — Jordan and Cain travel to the scene of an oil-field explosion and treat a patient with extreme injuries.
FRIDAY
"Pure" 3:01 a.m. Hulu (new series) — The story of a Mennonite pastor trying to protect his family and preserve his faith while battling drug trafficking within his community.
"Killjoys" 8 p.m. Syfy — As Dutch and D'avin attempt to train a replacement nerd, John finds his search for Clara is getting under some people's skin.
"Kendra on Top" 9:30 p.m. WE — Kendra shares surprising news with her mom; Patti is shocked when she learns how Hank really feels about her; Patti keeps a secret from Kendra; and Colin and Patti are at odds.
"Wynonna Earp" 10 p.m. Syfy — The battle for Waverly's soul continues and Wynonna will never be the same.
"UFO Conspiracy:Hunt for the Truth" 10:03 p.m. History — Many believe the government has spent decades hiding UFO sighting from the public.
WEEKEND
"Tour de Pharmacy" 10 p.m Saturday HBO — Andy Samberg's sports-doping spoof focusing on a fictional, world-class cycling event in 1982 that was marred by one controversy after another, as recalled by five riders, commentators, celebrities and other assorted ne'er-do-wells.
"Orphan Black" 10 p.m. Saturday BBC — Secrets surface about Kira's special gifts while she spends time bonding with Sarah. Elsewhere: Cosima joins Delphine at the mansion for a strange family dinner.
"America in Color" 8 p.m. Sunday Smithsonian — From the Great Depression to the Dust Bowl to the New Deal.
"Celebrity Family Feud" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC — Ozzie Smith leads a team of MLB legends against a team of NBA legends led by James Worthy.
"Amelia Earhart: Finding the Lost Evidence" 9 p.m. History — The disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan on July 2, 1937 is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time. But 80 years later, former FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry investigates new, astonishing evidence
"Candy Crush" 9 p.m. Sunday CBS (new series) — Fan favorites from "Survivor" and "Big Brother" compete as the popular video game comes to life.
"Claws" 9 p.m. Sunday TNT — Desna and Jennifer may be Dr. Ken's only hope, as Bryce wrongly accuses him of a heinous crime.
"The Defiant Ones" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO (new series) — The durable partnership between music producer Jimmy Iovine and rapper Dr. Dre.
"The Nineties" 9 p.m. Sunday CNN (new series) — An exploration of news and events in the 1990s. In the opener, TV shows from the decade are examined, from animated hits "South Park" and "Beavis and Butt-Head" to sitcoms "Seinfeld" and "Friends" to dramas "My So-Called Life" and "The Sopranos."
"Power" 9 p.m. Sunday Starz — Tommy executes a plan to divert the attention of prosecutors; Teresi begins a blackmail scheme after learning information about Ghost; Tariq seeks out Kanan.
"Fear the Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC — A new arrival sows a divide within the ranch.
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