If memory serves, TV is supposed to have summer doldrums.
Or not. On Tuesday (June 18), there’s a surprising burst of great moments.
We expect that from PBS sometimes, even in the summer. Its “The Lavender Scare” (9 p.m.) is a devastating look at the era when thousands of government workers were fired for being homosexual.
But we don’t particularly expect it from Freeform. Formerly ABC Family (and, before that, Fox Family and The Family Channel and the Christian Broadcasting Network), Freeform focuses on young people starting their grown-up lives. It has a lot of good hours, few great ones.
Now it has a terrific episode of “Good Trouble” (8 p.m.). Punctuated by fierce percussion sounds, Tuesday’s episode takes us to the verdict of a key trial, then has a powerhouse finish.
And we rarely expect big moments from Comedy Central. But at 10:30 p.m., it has a guy who may be the next great sketch-comedy star. In quick bursts, Arturo Castro delivers wit and surprises.
That shows up during an overcrowded cable hour. FX has “Pose” at 10 p.m.; there are fairly good half-hours from “Drunk History” (10 p.m., Comedy Central) and “Detour” (10:30, TBS). But the happy surprise is “Alternatino with Arturo Castro.”
Watch the story (told in four brief chunks) of dating a woman who lusts for Latino stereotypes; Castro eventually takes her to a dance club (shown here). Or catch the opening bit, with Castro as a dad, trying to give a sex talk to a modern-age son. These are smart and funny …. and part of a night that wildly exceeds all expectations.