Best-bets for July 24: A cruel gem nears its finale

1) “Cruel Summer,” 10 p.m., Freeform. “You actually think you’re this good guy,” an ex-friend tells Luke. Many people think he is; he brings a sense of sweetness and pain. But there’s real depth to this show’s characters. Last week, Megan and Lexi extracted his confessions; then a gun was fired. Now – setting up next week’s finale – we learn much more. We also see that Griffin Gluck — like colleagues Sadie Stanley and Lexi Underwood (they’re shown here) — is a talented actor. Read more…

Tony Bennnett: a long and musical life

Tony Bennett learned early that life is short and time should be savored.
His paternal grandfather had died before his father was born. Eleven years later, his dad (disguised as a girl, so he could travel with his own mom) had survived a three-week trip from Italy.
Bennett (shown here) heard that story often from his dad, he wrote in “The Good Life” (Simon & Schuster, 1998), always being reminded that he wouldn’t be here if the ship had capsized. “He made light of it, but the joke only caused me, at a very young age, to contemplate the delicate balance of my own mortality.”
Except, of course, early mortality didn’t turn out to be a problem for him. He died today (Friday, July 21), two weeks shy of his 97th birthday. Read more…

Best-bets for July 23: ominous sharks and cuddly pets

1) “Shark Week” begins, Discovery. While “SharkFest” continues on National Geographic, the original returns for its 35th year, with lots of imposing creatures (shown here). This time, Jason Momoa hosts and it’s also on Max. There are reruns all day and new hours at night: At 8 p.m., cameras are inside a fake whale carcass, to film a feeding frenzy. At 9, experts ponders the extinct MEG — some 50 feet long. At 10 is a look at attacks near posh Red Sea resorts. At 11, an hour looks back at 35 years. Read more…

Week’s top-10 for July 24: deep “Winds,” tough sharks

1) “Dark Winds” season-opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC. Under his stoic exterior, police Lt. Joe Leaphorn (shown here) has deep layers of emotion. A mining explosion killed his son – his only child, because many Navajo women (including his wife, now a nurse) were sterilized after giving birth. Now he has a case that may be linked to the explosion. Like the first season, this is a six-week story, beautifully crafted, with understated perfection from Zahn McClarnon as Joe. Read more…

Best-bets for July 21: a cult, a clone, a classic

1) “Praise Petey” (shown here) debut, 10 and 10:30 p.m., Freeform, rerunning at midnight. In New York, Petey has lots of clothes, lots of therapy and few opinions. Then her world implodes … and a new one appears: She inherits the small-town cult her father created. Freeform’s first animated show stars Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”). Like many cartoons, it sometimes pushes too hard for laughs; still, it’s a fairly clever show about colliding values in a new world. Read more…

A rootless start propelled Root’s career

When Stephen Root (shown here) does a TV role – which is often – a slice of his dad emerges.
“Everything I do probably comes a little bit from him.” Root said.
Well – maybe some things morte than others. Root is both a voice actor – including the intriguing “Praise Petey,” which debuts at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Friday (July 21) on Freeform – and an on-camera guy, including his Emmy-nominated role in the just-ended “Barry.” His roles range afar.
He’s been a vampire, an exterminator, a coach, a mental patient and a royal tart toter. He’s been Superman’s uncle and Batman’s nemesis. He’s been real people (J. Edgar Hoover, NASA leader Chris Craft) and Fred Flintstone, Santa Claus and a Klingon officer. He’s been lots of judges and officials, plus guys called Zeb Zoober, Woozy Winks, Big Ducky and Mr. Big Corporation. Read more…

Best-bets for July 20: “Password,” “Project,” prideful comedy

1) What We Do in the Shadows,” 10 p.m., FX, rerunning at 10:36 and 11:12. This clever show often prefers the dry and droll – understated reactions to bizarre, vampires-in-Staten-Island situations. Not this time; instead, brash sight gags are piled high. There’s a two-faced head … a vampire in the stratosphere … and an LGBQ parade by a candidate (shown here) who isn’t even sure what the letters stand for. It’s not the usual “Shadows,” but it’s quite funny. Read more…

CBS patches fall line-up with “Yellowstone,” more

Battered by two strikes, CBS is turning to its corporate allies.
It will borrow “Yellowstone” (shown here) from the Paramount Network and two shows — “SEALS” and “FBI True” — from Paramount+. And, like other networks, it will load up on reality shows.
Several networks – ABC, Fox and CW – have already announced full schedules designed to circumvent the writers’ and actors strikes. CBS hasn’t finalized one yet, but it announced key pieces: Read more…

As others scramble, PBS plans a busy fall

As the upcoming TV season crumbles, PBS becomes more important.
The network has just released its plans for the fall. It has lots of Sunday dramas, a string of Friday profiles, a speck of music and, as usual, loads of non-fiction.
That includes a strong Latino emphasis, plus subjects ranging from buffalo (shown here) to Elon Musk, from nature to reflections on integration, busing and women’s sports. Read more…