TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
James Garner starred in this 1969 film after establishing his peculiar brand of cowardly hero in TV’s Maverick, and before adopting a modern variation of it in another classic TV series, The Rockford Files. This film plays on the same basic vibe, but that shouldn’t take away from just how perfect Garner is at playing this type of character. In Support Your Local Sheriff!, he plays a guy who accepts the job of small-town sheriff only on a whim and for a day, but stays on – and eventually finds himself in the crosshairs of gunslingers, and uses his wits, rather than his firearms, to combat them. Filled with playful supporting work from Harry Morgan, Jack Elam, Joan Blondell, Dub Taylor, and Henry Jones. Oh, and Suzanne Pleshette, one of my all-time favorite actresses, co-stars. Enjoy.
HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET
In last week’s episode, Perry (Matthew Rhys) lost his mentor – but this week, because of that void, he finds his path. And that path leads to him becoming a lawyer, which allows him to consider taking on his very first court case. Which, as we already know by now, is a high-profile, highly complicated murder trial involving, as its victim, a baby.
CNN, 10:00 p.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: Season 5 of W. Kamau Bell’s CNN show continues to take risks as well as stances – and tonight, in an extended season premiere, he takes on the topic of systemic racism in general, and white supremacy in particular.
HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET
At the end of last week’s installment, Patton Oswalt had encouraged his wife, Michelle McNamara, to hunker down, isolate herself over a holiday weekend, and get to the finish line on her manuscript about the still-unsolved rape and murder cases of a serial predator. But a suddenly unearthed treasure trove of new material changes things, including her publisher’s deadline – yet doesn’t make anything any easier for her.
HBO, 11:00 p.m. ET
Is it true? Is John Oliver back with a new show? I never believe anything scheduled on TV, these days, until I see it. And even then, sometimes, if I’m watching a news channel, I’m still in a state of disbelief. But please come back, John. You’re sorely needed. Make me laugh. Make me understand. And do both, as usual, at the same time…