1) “Big Brother” opener, 9 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. This began in 2000 with a high-tech, futuristic notion: Strangers shared a house filled with cameras; the world could peek in at any time. Now life is even higher-tech and this edition is being dubbed “BB:AI.” Julie Chen Moonves (shown here) hosts, as always, with new hours also at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays.
2) All-Star Game, 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, Fox, with preview at 7. Baseball’s best will gather in Texas. The Philadelphia Phillies supply three-fourths of the National League starting infield, plus four pitchers. The American League includes baseball’s leaders in hone runs (Aaron Judge) and – by a wide margin — batting average (Steven Kwan).
3) Republican convention, today through Thursday. This is sort of like an all-star game, but coverage plans vary. The news channels will obsess; PBS will be there from 8-11 p.m. ET daily. CBS and ABC sill just carve out one hour (10 p.m.); NBC will skip two days, but go 9-11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Fox and CW stick to un-conventional shows.
4) “All American” season-finale, 8 p.m. today, CW.. This is the wedding day for Spencer and Liv; like most TV weddings, it teeters toward disaster. A phone call sends Liv spiraling; Spencer is missing, as he tries to rally support. Also, Coop gets big news. That’s followed by “All American: Homecoming,” which will move to the 8 p.m. slot next week.
5) ”Judge Steve Harvey” return, 9 p.m Tuesday., ABC. Speaking of wedding woe, here’s one involving a missing officiant. Harvey tries to resolve that and other real-life cases, including one with a defamed pickleball player. He also hosts “Celebrity Family Feud,” which moves to 8 p.m., with Meghan Trainor vs. Tori Kelly, plus a clash of alumni from “Bachelor” shows.
6) Micro-movie marathon, 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Turner Classic Movies. Roger Corman launched great directors – with limits. He trimmed an hour from Martin Scorsese’s “Boxcar Bertha” (8 p.m.), gave Peter Bogdanovich some leftovers for “Targets” (9:45), budgeted $22,000 for Francis Coppola’s “Dementia 13 (11:30). Also, “Caged Heat”and “Piranha” (1 and 2:30).
7) “Lucky 13” debut, 9 p.m., Thursday , ABC. This wraps the belated roll-out of ABC’s summer. Last week brought four openers and two specials. Now there’s room for Steve Harvey on Tuesdays and games on Thursdays: “Press Your Luck” (8 p.m.) is hosted by Elizabeth Banks, “Lucky” by 7-foot-1 Shaquille O’Neal and 5-foot-3 Gina Rodriguez.
8) “Lady in the Lake” opener, Friday, Apple TV+. In a seven-parter, Natalie Portman plays a housewife who becomes a journalist to solve a murder. Also Friday, Peacock adds the horror film “Abigail”; Amazon has a sequel to the Spanish-language “Ugly Betty.” Earlier: season-openers of Hulu’s “Unprisoned” (Wednesday) and Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” (Thursday).
9) “Mammals,” 8-9:23 p.m. Saturday, BBC America. In Chile, sea lions stroll a marina, snacking from fish merchants. In Singapore, otters cavort in pools; in Zimbabwe, elephants walk the streets at night. These are pleasant portraits of the “new wild,” adding humans. But there are also nasty moments – dogs confront the seals, farmers drain hippos’ water holes.
10) “DI Ray” finale, 10 p.m Sunday., PBS. Slowly and solemnly, this wraps two stories that stretch over six episodes. One involves a murder inside a crime family; the other probes police corruption. It’s a well-made show, as is “Professor “ (8 p.m.), which endss its season; there’s the usual case-of-the-week, plus a sudden (and unneeded) final jolt.