SUNDAY

JULY 13

2014

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

2014 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

ABC, 3:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s championship, the Super Bowl and then some of what we call soccer, features Germany vs. Argentina. Starting with the round of 16, Argentina has scored two goals – one to secure the win against Switzerland, and one more against Belgium. (Argentina advanced to the finals by beating the Netherlands on end-of-play penalty kicks, 4-2). Germany, over the same period, has scored 10 goals: two in its 2-1 victory over Algeria, one in its victory over France, and seven against humiliated host nation Brazil. So picking a favorite isn’t too hard this time, though an early upset goal by a hard-pressing Argentina would make this a really exciting game to watch.

RAY DONOVAN

Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: Only Jon Voight, in his standout role as Ray’s loose-cannon father, got an Emmy nomination nod earlier this week. That’s a shame, because several actors, including series star Liev Schreiber, have turned in really complicated work. But in Voight’s case, it’s hard to complain: He tackled this role from the start like a terrier on a tear. Season 2 begins tonight, and if any of the characters begin the season in a better place, then I’ve missed someone in my misery index evaluation. For a full review, see Eric Gould’s Cold Light Reader.

THE STRAIN

FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: Guillermo del Toro co-wrote, and directs the pilot of, this new FX series, which treats ancient vampirism as a modern plague – and, as this show tells it, with very good reason. Corey Stoll stars. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog, or listen to my NPR review on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. And for an interview with del Toro and series showrunner Carlton Cuse, see Gabriela Tamariz's Streamline.

MASTERS OF SEX

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON PREMIERE: This new season begins with some shuffling of the deck, regarding both the personal and professional situations of the characters we’ve come to know and, if not love, at least love to watch. That goes for Michael Sheen as uptight sex researcher William Masters, and it certainly goes for the only two cast members nominated for Emmys this week, star Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson and recurring guest star Allison Janney as Margaret Scully.

SALEM

WGN America, 10:00 p.m. ET

SEASON FINALE: WGN America’s first original scripted series ends its season tonight, but fairly valiantly. It’s already earned a renewal for Season 2, and it packs tonight’s season finale with enough cliffhangers, revelations and bloody confrontations to make it move briskly from start to teasing finish. Not every character will survive the hour – but those who do are brewing up more trouble than ever. Double, double, toil and trouble… Janet Montgomery, Shane West star.

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David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.

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FX, 10:00 p.m. ET

Showtime, 10:00 p.m. ET

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