NBCSN, 8:00 p.m. ET
I plead guilty to recent charges that I pay fervent attention to televised golf majors, World Cup soccer matches and NBA finals, yet ignore the Tour de France. So today, I correct that oversight, by pointing out that tonight at 8 ET, NBCSN presents a taped replay of today’s Stage 19, the 138km leg of the world-famous bicycle race that winds through the Alps.
PBS, 9:00 p.m. ET
The title of this Great Performances special baffles me. It leaves off the first name, Gustavo, of music director Dudamel, and shortens the Los Angeles Philharmonic to “LA Phil.” (To me, LA Phil was a guy I used to see twice a year on press tour.) And it doesn’t even mention the host, Natalie Portman, or the special musical guest, violinist Itzhtak Perlman. But I guess John Williams, composer of so many scores for Steven Spielberg movies, pretty much sells himself, even in titular shorthand. Check local listings.
Starz!, 8:00 p.m. ET
The inflatable robot Baymax and his faithful companion, young Hiro, become members of an unlikely team of heroes in this 2014 animated film, set in the inventively named city of San Fransokyo.
Showtime, 9:00 p.m. ET
This 2013 sci-fi movie is set in the year 2031, when climate change – of a very man-made variety – has caused the entire world to freeze, except for a single train, the Snowpiercer, that has traversed the globe for 17 years. On a slow night, it may be entertaining enough to pass the time – but I have to confess that, to me, the entire Snowpiercer premise makes Snowsense. Chris Evans stars.
Syfy, 9:00 p.m. ET
This Syfy series hasn’t exactly found its way this season – but tonight, at least it’s found a good actor on which to focus in Lee Tergesen, who plays the scheming Gen. Rahm Tak.