This was posted on Sunday, July 30, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
You want some serious, taut drama? Discovery has ended Shark Week and is taking on the Unabomber in a new anthology series called "Manhunt" Tuesday. (More details here.) Movie stars Sam Worthington and Paul Bettany tackle major TV roles for the first time.
In the meantime, Syfy is riding the shark wave with its fifth (!) "Sharknado" movie, which becomes a tongue-in-cheek "global swarming" issue on Sunday night. Cameos sound like a greatest hits list from "Celebrity Apprentice" and "Dancing With the Stars" e.g. Fabio. Tony Hawk, Charo, Clay Aiken, Olivia Newton-John, Bret Michaels, Margaret Cho, Gilbert Gottfried, Porsha Williams and Chris Kattan.
Jessica Biel, best known for her run on "Seventh Heaven," goes for something a little darker in a USA eight-part series "The Sinner" Wednesday when her characters murder someone in broad daylight. The series digs into the question of why.
This covers Monday, July 31 through Sunday, August 6, 2017.
MONDAY
"America Ninja Warrior" 8 p.m. NBC — The Top 30 competitors from the San Antonio Qualifier tackle the City Finals course.
"The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All" 8 p.m. ABC — Rachel and her most memorable men return to discuss their experiences. Included: Lee and Kenny set the record straight about their volatile relationship; Blake and Lucas come face-to-face; and Adam talks about being sent home before the hometown visits.
"So You Think You Can Dance" 8 p.m. Fox — "The Academy" callbacks end.
"Princess Diana: Tragedy or Treason" 8 p.m. TLC — A look at the life and death of Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36.
"Preacher" 9 p.m. AMC— Tulip confronts her near-death experience; Denis asks Cassidy for a major favor; and Jesse questions the price he paid to save Tulip and Cassidy.
"Will" 9 p.m. TNT — An unexpected arrival upends Will's world.
"CBSN: On Assignment" 10 p.m. CBS (new series) — Sounds like an effort of CBS to replicate HBO's "Vice."
"Dope Man" 10 p.m. A&E — Spotlighting the recovery of ex-con and former addict Tim Ryan, who battled a heroin addiction that nearly took his life.
"Daytime Divas" 10 p.m. VH1 — Maxine schemes to control Mo.
"Midnight, Texas" 10 p.m. NBC — A deadly predator breaks loose on the night of the full moon
"Siesta Key" 10 p.m. MTV (new series) — Alex finds himself stuck in a love triangle with Madisson, his high-school sweetheart, and Juliette, his old flame from last summer.
"People of Earth" 10:30 p.m. TBS — Agent Foster meets with StarCrossed in her continued investigation of Walsh.
TUESDAY
"America's Got Talent" 8 p.m. NBC — Mike Geier (AKA Puddles Pity Party) of Atlanta is now in the top 36.
"Animal Kingdom" 8 p.m. TNT — Options are considered by Craig and Deran when Baz bows out of a yacht heist. Elsewhere, Baz enlists J for a more personal job.
"The Haves and the Have Nots" 9 p.m. OWN — Veronica confronts David and Erica on the elevator about their relationship.
"Manhunt" 9 p.m. Discovery (new series) — FBI profiler Jim "Fitz" Fitzgerald joins the Unabomb Task Force in 1995; the FBI gets a letter from the Unabomber threatening to blow up a jetliner, and Fitz must determine if the threat is real.
"Being Mary Jane" 10 p.m. BET — Kara's discovery that Mary Jane is sleeping with Justin sends their friendship into a tailspin and upsets the power dynamic at the studio.
"Shooter" 10 p.m. USA — Bob Lee finds Isaac Johnson in Texas after an attempt on his life.
WEDNESDAY
"Kingdom" 8 p.m. Audience (series finale) — Alvey's comeback fight couldn't come at a worse time as Navy St. comes to grips with tragedy. Roles are reversed when Ryan coaches Alvey, and Lisa begins a new chapter.
"Masterchef" 8 p.m. Fox — The kitchen is transformed into a full dining room to welcome purveyors of local ingredients.
"Salvation" 9 p.m. CBS — Darius must reveal one of his most closely guarded secrets to prove to Harris and Grace that he's not a traitor.
"Suits" 9 p.m. USA — Harvey, Louis and Donna must get on the same page—and fast—when Bratton Gould comes after PSL for poaching an attorney.
"Blood Drive" 10 p.m. Syfy — Arthur helps a wasteland sheriff free his town, but the line between good and evil is not easily drawn.
"Queen Sugar" 10 p.m. OWN — Darla reaches out to her family to share her big news.
"The Lowe Files" 10 p.m. A&E (new series) — Rob Lowe and his sons visit the Preston Castle, a condemned former boys' reformatory in California that is said to house angry, vengeful spirts. Later: they try to draw out the spirit of a murder victim whose residual energy remains at the castle.
"The Sinner" 10 p.m. USA (new series) — An unassuming housewife violently stabs a beachgoer to death, sparking an investigation by local police and sudden confusion in a small town.
"Snowfall" 10 p.m. FX — Franklin's indecision causes issues at Jerome's 4th of July BBQ
"Younger" 10 p.m. TV Land — The success of Liza and Kelsey's latest title spurns a Twitter feud, ending in disaster. Also: Maggie meets a woman with a little something extra.
THURSDAY
"Boy Band" 8 p.m. ABC — Iconic break-up songs are performed by the contestants. Later, two singers face elimination.
"Battle of the Network Stars " 9 p.m. ABC — Television parents compete against former television kids.
"Flip or Flop Atlanta " 9 p.m. HGTV — Ken and Anita transform a trashed house into a rustic masterpiece.
"Nashville " 9 p.m. CMT — Juliette shoots a mascara commercial but takes issue with the direction; Deacon gets invited to play the Opry, but hesitates; Avery and Gunnar embrace life on the road.
"Alone " 10 p.m. History — Existential threats are faced at every turn by the three remaining teams after nearly a month on the island.
"The Gong Show " 10 p.m. ABC— Megan Fox, Andy Samberg and Maya Rudolph judge three men performing a comedic choreographed slap routine.
"The Guest Book " 10 p.m. TBS (new series) — For a tiny cottage in a tiny town, this place sure is going to see a lot of baggage. Each episode, new guests will bring their special brand of crazy to this new comedy from "My Name Is Earl" creator Greg Garcia.
"Zoo " 10 p.m. CBS — Mitch seeks to rescue Clementine from her captors; Abigail's past reveals the origins of the hybrids.
FRIDAY
"Wet Hot American Summer" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (second season debut) — Welcome to the Camp Firewood Ten Year Reunion!
"WE Day" 8 p.m. CBS — Selena Gomez hosts an entertainment special celebrating the transformative power of individuals acting together to create change in their communities and around the world.
"Treehouse Masters" 9 p.m. Animal (eighth season debut) — Pete takes on his first international treehouse in Norway.
"Million Dollar Matchmaker" 10 p.m. WE (second season debut) — Patti is not in paradise with two tough clients from "The Bachelor": Vinny Ventiera, a cliff diver who falls too hard too fast, and Daniel Maguire, a judgmental narcissist with absurd expectations.
WEEKEND
"Orphan Black" 10 tonight BBC — A devastating loss is eclipsed when word reaches Sarah that Helena has been kidnapped.
"American Grit" 8 p.m. Sunday Fox (second season finale) — John Cena spends quality time with the remaining contestants and reveals personal information about himself.
"Celebrity Family Feud" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC — Men from "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" battle a team of women from the same franchise; Sandra Lee and her family square off against Lea Thompson and her family.
"Sharknado 5" 8 p.m. Sunday Syfy — Tagline: "Make America bait again!" The sharks go global.
"Chesapeake Shores" 9 p.m. Sunday Hallmark (second season debut) — An annual lantern festival is held in town.
"Claws" 9 p.m. Sunday TNT — With the clock ticking, Desna is scrambling to get out of her worst trouble yet.
"Food Network Star" 9 p.m. Sunday Food — The three remaining finalists are in for a shock when they learn that a previously eliminated finalist is re-entering the competition.
"Game of Thrones" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO — Sorry. No description has been provided when I write this beyond the title "Spoils of War.'
"Ray Donovan" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime (fifth season debut) — Ray beginning court-ordered anger management after a family tragedy sparks a bar fight.
"$100,000 Pyramid" 10 p.m. Sunday ABC — Bobby Moynihan battles Debi Mazar; in the second game, Wendie Malick competes against Jesse Palmer.
"I'm Dying Up Here" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Goldie grapples with Marty and Eli over creative control.
"The Strain" 10 p.m. Sunday FX — Dutch is forced to make a deal with Desai while she plots to escape a strigoi breeding facility.
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