1) “Snowpiercer” marathon, noon to 9:15 p.m. AMC. A train keeps circling the frozen Earth. Inside (shown here) are survivors – the only ones, perhaps – of the eco-disaster; also inside are class-struggles and a murder probe. That’s the set-up for a richly crafted series that TNT ran for three seasons, then abandoned. AMC which starts the fourth and final one July 21, shows us the start. Read more…
1) “The Bachelorette” opener, 8-10 p.m. today, ABC. A big, busy week for ABC starts with the first Asian-American as a “Bachelor” show’s star. Jenn Tran (shown here) is the daughter of Vietnam immigrants, she’s 26 and near her Master’s Degree in clinical medical studies. She’ll meet 25 men, ranging from a med student to guys who focus on wine and pet portraits. Read more…
1) “A Capitol Fourth,” 8 p.m., PBS; repeats, 9:30-11. Each year, this offers a zesty blend of music, followed by fireworks (shown here). This time, the music is from Motown great Smokey Robinson and Broadway’s Fantasi aand, Darren Criss, p;lus Loren Allred, Chloe Flower, Sheila E, Sister Sledge and Fitz & Noelle fom Fitz and the Tantrums. Read more…
1) “Hope in the Water,” 9 p.m., PBS. At an Asian market, we’re told, you might find 35 kinds of fish. Most Americans, however, focus on three – tuna, salmon and shrimp; others are caught here and exported. This hour views ways to stir interest in the others. Shailene Woodley (shown here), the “Divergent” star, sees people turn sea urchins into a delicacy. Read more…
Hollywood has people who think big, talk big, spend big. Budgets soar.
But then there was Roger Corman, who died last month at 98. He made kinda-good movies on really awful budgets. Now they’re featured in three Wednesday marathons on Turner Classic Movies.
Wedged into 28 hours on July 3, 10 and 17 will be 18 movies – some of them scary (including “Masque of the Red Death,” shown here) some of them frantic, none of them expensive. Read more…
1) “Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution” finale, 9 p.m., PBS. This starts in the late ‘70s, at a dsco peak (shown here); 200 radio stations had switched to disco, which had half the spots on the Billboard charts. “They oversaturated,” says music writer Vince Aletti. Then came “a lot of garbage, cash-grab music,” says singer Ana Matronic, alongside a nasty, anti-disco rage. Read more…
1) “The Wall” season-opener, 10 p.m., NBC. After gobbling up most of NBC’s schedule for 16 days, the Olympic trials finally ended Sunday. That lets this show go ahead … for a few weeks, until the Olympics begin July 26. Tonight (shown here), host Chris Hardwick has a dad-daughter duo. Read more…
Loren Allred’s life has swirled with contrasts.
She went from the grunge world of Pittsburgh to the grunge-less world of Salt Lake City. She went from classical music to stadium-style pop.
Now there’s a bigger change: Allred, 34, used to say she was introverted, a backstage soul; she was the unseen mega-voice in “The Greatest Showman.” But on July 4, she’ll be on PBS’ “A Capitol Fourth,” singing to maybe a half-million people in person and more on TV..
“I really believe in exposure therapy.” Allred said with a laugh. Exposed to big audiences, she slowly transformed. “Now I actually enjoy it.” Read more…
1) BET Awards, 8-11:30 p.m., BET; also, MTV, VH1, Pop, Nickelodeon and TV Land. Taraji Henson hosts a night with award for movies, TV, sports and – especially – music. Nominees performing include Ice Spice (shown here), Victoria Monet, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Latto, Tyla ad Sexyy Red, Also performing: Lauryn Hill, Shaboozey, and more; Usher gets a special award. Read more…
1) “A Capitol Fourth,” 8 p.m. Thursday, PBS; repeats, 9:30-11. Each year, a vibrant concert closes with fireworks (shown here). This time, the show has Motown great Smokey Robinson and Broadway’s Fantasia, Darren Criss and the “Heart of Rock and Roll” cast. Also: Loren Allred, Chloe Flower, Sheila E and – after PBS’ disco series – ‘70s stars Sister Sledge. Read more…
