Angel Blue as Bess in the Gershwins' "Porgy and Bess." Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera

Best-bets for July 17: Crime on CBS, “Porgy” on PBS

1) “Great Performances at the Met: Porgy and Bess,” 9 p.m., PBS (check local listings). Back in 1935, the Metropolitan Opera wanted to premiere this show; George Gershwin preferred a Broadway theater. Ever since, “Porgy” (shown here) has teetered between opera and musical theater. Its story – murder and romance in 1920s Charleston, S.C. – draws mixed reactions, but its music soars. Now we hear it from operatic talent, led by Eric Owens and Angel Blue … whose high-octaves voice might jolt mainstream viewers. Read more…

1) “Great Performances at the Met: Porgy and Bess,” 9 p.m., PBS (check local listings). Back in 1935, the Metropolitan Opera wanted to premiere this show; George Gershwin preferred a Broadway theater. Ever since, “Porgy” (shown here) has teetered between opera and musical theater. Its story – murder and romance in 1920s Charleston, S.C. – draws mixed reactions, but its music soars. Now we hear it from operatic talent, led by Eric Owens and Angel Blue … whose high-octaves voice might jolt mainstream viewers.

2) “MacGyver” and “Magnum P.I.,” 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. There’s a trend here, involving both reruns: Mac is hired by a general to test a security system by stealing a weapon; Magnum is called up from the military reserve, for a special mission. Soon, there are doubts about both missions.

3) “Blue Bloods,” 10 p.m., CBS. When a cop commits suicide, his widow blames Frank, the police commissioner, for not supporting him. Also, Eddie has a gut feeling about a murder case and links with Erin to probe it. And Luis Delgado (Lou Diamond Phillips) says he’ll only testify against his former cartel if Danny is able to protect his sons.

4) “How Green Was My Valley” (1941) and “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940), 8 and 10:15 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. John Ford won back-to-back best-director Oscars for these films, which capture the strength and pain of working families. “Valley” also won for best picture; “Wrath” was nominated.

5) “Cursed” debut (Netflix) and “Absentia” season-opener (Amazon Prime), any time, streaming. Two days after Peacock arrived with a fresh pile of streaming shows, the other streamers strike back. Netflix has a fantasy, with the early days of the magic sword, of Merlin and Lady of the Lake fame; Prime is closer to reality, with Stana Katic (“Castle”) as an FBI agent, searching for her kidnapped husband.

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