Month: July 2021

Best-bets for July 4: Two specials pack Fourth flair

1) “A Capitol Fourth,” 8 p.m., PBS, rerunning at 9:30. This celebration spans the country. From Washington, D.C., there’s host Vanessa Williams, plus Gladys Knight, Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen, Ali Stroker, Laura Osnes, Renee Fleming (singing the National Anthem), the National Orchestra and closing fireworks (shown here in a previous year). Also: Alan Jackson will perform be in Nashville and Jennifer Nettles and Auli’i Cavalho in New York City, with Jimmy Buffett, Cynthia Erivo, Pentatonix and Train all in California. Read more…

Summertime silliness overload? Switch to PBS

Occasionally, it seems, TV veers away from its summer silliness.
You just have to know where to look … which is mostly PBS.
The network has just announced three “Frontline” films, plus six on “POV.” Those documentaries span the globe – Palestine, Peru and Puerto Rico, plus India, Afghanistan and the U.S, – and cover serious issues, from toppling statues (shown here) to propping up the economy. Read more…

Best-bets for July 3: It’s a great movie night

1) “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), 6:05 p.m., Showtime; and/or “Top Gun” (1986), 8 p.m., Starz. For this 4th-of-July weekend, cable has some military movies that are strong on patriotic fervor. “Private Ryan” is a Steven Spielberg masterpiece that manages to be a strong human draman (with Matt Damon, shown here, Tom Hanks and more) and a stirring adventure. And in its 20-minute D-Day scene, it’s a reminder of the horror of war. “Top Gun” is a peacetime (mostly) tale of hot-shot pilots at work and play, brilliantly directed by Tony Scott. Read more…