NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET
Track events will dominate NBC’s prime time coverage in tonight’s taped replay package, led by a big build-up for the men’s 4x400m relays, and the women’s 4x100m. And earlier in the day, at 4 p.m. ET, the USA men’s basketball team plays its semifinal match against Argentina. Watch it live on NBC Sports Network.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
If you like, you could think of this 1938 film comedy as the original Dharma & Greg: beautiful free spirit falls in love with a young man from a very uptight and conservative family. Jean Arthur and James Stewart star, and Lionel Barrymore, this evening’s featured TCM artist, plays Grandpa Martin, the eccentric patriarch of Arthur’s unpredictable family. This very funny film is based on the play by George S. Kaufman, and is directed by Frank Capra, one year before he reteamed with Stewart for the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Showtime, 8:20 p.m. ET
This violent, yet fascinating, 1992 crime drama is the movie with which writer-director Quentin Tarantino earned his bones – while handing some indelible cinematic set pieces to his stars, incuding Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde, a bad guy so violent it’s hard to watch him in action without averting your eyes. Also starring, with their own strong scenes, are Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth and others.
PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET
Tanglewood, the beautiful and pastoral setting for a music festival nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, gets a well-deserved salute tonight, and not only by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which calls Tanglewood its summer home. Also along for this concert are artists who have appeared often, and played some truly beautiful music, at Tanglewood. Among them: Yo-Yo Ma and James Taylor. For more on this program, see
Tom Brinkmoeller's Raised on MTM column.
Check local listings.
IFC, 10:00 p.m. ET
This series hasn’t captured me yet, not even close – but tonight’s episode offers some very enticing bait. That bait is guest star “Weird Al” Yankovic, who shows up – Hawaiian shirt, accordion and all – to make music with Reggie Watts and Jack Black.