TCM, 6:00 a.m. ET
Today’s “Summer Under the Stars” subject is Warren Beatty, who started as an actor, and expanded in time to become a producer, writer and director as well. His career scored hits in several different decades, as even a sample of four of his movies, shown tonight, demonstrates. Four films, four different decades, all of them worth paying attention to. At 6 p.m. ET, there’s 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, co-starring Faye Dunaway. At 8 p.m. ET, there’s 1981’s Reds, which Beatty directed, co-wrote, and also starred. At 11:30 p.m. ET, there’s 1991’s Bugsy, co-starring Annette Bening. And finally, at 2 a.m. ET, there’s Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller, from 1971, co-starring Julie Christie.
Various Networks, Check local listings
Last night, the Democrats presented America’s first virtual political convention – with a mixture of taped pieces, awkward Zoom meetings, and both pre-recorded and live speeches, punctuated by occasional music videos and performances, and hosted by actress and activist Eva Longoria. Some stuff didn’t work at all. The music, however it was delivered, seemed like filler. And one Zoom-like effect, in which Bernie Sanders’ speech was punctuated, at the end, by the sudden appearance of a dozen or so families watching the telecast from their homes, backfired instantly. The families were supposed to erupt into spontaneous applause on cue as Sanders concluded his speech, and a few did – but the rest just sat there bored and staring straight ahead until given their cue to “react.” But some of the socially distanced speeches worked well, and made an impressive impression. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s had tons of practice addressing the camera during this pandemic, was solid, and both Sen. Bernie Sanders and former First Lady Michelle Obama (whose necklace, I finally noticed, was adorned with the letters V-O-T-E) delivered forceful speeches without any feedback from a live audience. Both of their speeches, however, included punch lines that likely would have killed at a “live” convention. Michelle Obama threw President Trump’s “It is what it is” line right back at him, while Sanders delivered a line likely to draw a standing ovation – had anyone been there to stand. “Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” Sanders said. “Trump golfs.” Tonight, it’s Night 2. Make that Round 2… C-SPAN begins its convention telecast tonight at 8:50 p.m. ET. Cable news stations start setting up the convention a bit earlier, and the major broadcast networks join in at 10 p.m. ET.
