1) Olympic track-and-field trials begin, 6:30 p.m., USA Network, 9 p.m., NBC, both also on Peacock. This is what used to dominate the Olympics, filled with running and leaping (shown here). It continues through Monday, pauses, then returns June 27, Also today: swimming at 5:30 p.m. on USA and 8 on NBC, swimming and diving in the daytime on Peacock. Read more…
1) “Masters of Illusion” return, 9 p.m., CW. Two reality shows have ended and CW lightens up on Thursdays. At 8 and 8:30 p.m., it has “Conners” reruns from 2021. At 9, this show is back from a five-month pause. In a brisk half-hour, Dean Cain (shown here) introduces magicians Chipper Lowell, Reza, Eric Eaton. Joel Meyers, Adam Wylie and Trigg Watson. Read more…
1) “Hope in the Water” opener, 9 p.m.,, PBS. Around the world, people find ways to make oceans more productive. In Puerto Rico, they turn squid into a treat. In Hawaii, the idea of a natural fish reservoir is revived. And on an island, population 4,600, two long-time divers (shown here) won a long struggle with the Scottish government to create a “no-take” zone; aquatic life revived. Read more…
1) “Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution” opener, 9 p.m., PBS. On the surface, disco was all flash and fun. At its core, this documentary says, were gays battered by bias and forming an alternate world. The next couple Tuesdays may get to the fun part – remember Travolta (shown here), BeeGees, etc.? – but this opener offers a fairly somber view of the early days. Read more…
1) American Film Institute lifetime award, 10 p.m., TNT. The first 48 winners have included lots of Americans and Englishmen, plus ones from Germany, Scotland, Austria-Hungary and the Bahamas … but none from Australia. Now that’s rectified. Nicole Kidman (shown here) did Aussie TV at 16; 40 years later, she has an Oscar (“The Hours”), an Emmy and more. Read more…
1) Tony Awards, 8-11 p.m., CBS. We can expect lots of vibrant music numbers – from the host (Ariana DeBose), the five nominated musicals (led by Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen,” shown here, with 13 nominations) and three of the nominated revivals – of “Cabaret,” “Tommy” and “Merrily We Roll Along.” There’s more, including plays and (unlike last year, during the strikes) a script. Read more…
1) Olympic swimming trials, 11 a.m., Peacock; 6:30 p.m., USA; 8 p.m., NBC. The Olympics are still six weeks away, but they’re already gobbling up TV time. For Americans, swimming — with stars like Katie Ledecky (shown here), already with seven gold medals — is especially popular. Trials continue through June 23; track-and-field starts June 21, with gymnastics June 27. Read more…
1) “Greatest @Home Videos,” 8 p.m., CBS. Back in 2020, this celebrated the creativity that buzzed online during the pandemic. Now it settles for a few amiable specials a year, with Cedric the Entertainer (shown here) offering fun videos. This one arrives two days before Father’s Day, with some dad films. Also, the annual “Cedy Award” goes to a 7-year-old. Read more…
1) ‘80s journey. Cable keeps offering fun films from the 1980s. Fitting into that trend is the debut of Hulu’s “Brats”: Andrew McCarthy visits former colleagues, who were smudged by a 1985 article calling them the “brat pack.” As it happens, two of their films are on AMC – “Sixteen Candles” (1984) at 9:30 and “Breakfast Club” (snown here, 1985) at 11:30. Read more…
1) “Wild Cards” return, 9 p.m., CW. The CW’s new owners jettisoned most shows, sometimes replacing them with ones that are co-produced in other countries. Some of those failed, but not “Wild Cards.” It has a clever concept (demoted cop working with a gorgeous grifter), likable stars (Giacomo Gianniotti and Vanessa Morgan, sown ere) and solid mysteries. Now it reruns from the start. Read more…
