Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, August 17. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
2016 Summer Olympics (NBC, 8 p.m.): Wednesday’s Olympics coverage sees hurdles on Hump Day. We’re serious:
Live track and field women’s finals include Americans Brittney Reese and Tianna Bartoletta in the long jump; the 200m; and the 100m hurdles. Also: men’s 200m semis and decathlon; the live gold-medal match in women’s beach volleyball; and women’s diving (platform qualifying).
Diving, you say?
Also: No jizz to see here, commenters.
Another Period (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.): Another Period’s penultimate second season episode gives us what we all want: “The Duel.” No, Another Period isn’t coming to fix The Challenge, no matter how much we wish it would. (Who needs Are You The One? cast members when you can have characters like Chair or Garfield on The Challenge? Exactly.) But it is coming with a very, very detailed episode synopsis, so you’ve been warned: “Dodo returns to Bellacourt Manor to get her affairs in order after being served with divorce papers, but she also finds time to challenge Chair to a duel. Meanwhile, Lillian mourns her husband’s death by drinking too much, which disappoints the recently baptized Beatrice.” There’s something so beautifully ridiculous about “she also finds time to challenge Chair to a duel.” It’s Another Period in a nutshell, really.
The A Word (SundanceTV, 10 p.m.): Sundance’s “autism drama” ends its first season tonight: “After their fall out over differences of wanting more children, Alison and Paul reconcile in time for the opening of their new restaurant. Maurice leaves Joe with Louise’s son Ralph and Joe goes missing. As a mass search ensues, some uncomfortable truths are revealed.” No jokes, just some good TV (despite the lack of a duel).
Premieres and finales
Naked & Afraid (Discovery Channel, 9 p.m.): “Series highlights.” Summer television isn’t in dire straits right now, no way.
Jep & Jessica: Growing The Dynasty (A&E, 9:30 p.m.): We mean, we’re not going to tell you not to watch this…
Unlocking The Truth (MTV, 11 p.m.): “The premiere of the documentary series, which examines cases of individuals who may have been wrongly convicted.” This actually sounds pretty interesting, though MTV debuting it at 11 p.m. is a bit worrisome. “The series will be told through the unique point of view of Ryan Ferguson, an exoneree who spent 10 years in jail for a murder he didn’t commit and is resolute in his passion to help other innocent people who may have been wrongfully convicted.” Making A Murderer, Unlocking The Truth—if we didn’t know any better, we’d say the criminal justice system in America may be just slightly flawed. Also: It’s amazing to see the impact that the Serial podcast has had on true crime in television, right, Molly Eichel?
Regular coverage
Mr. Robot (USA, 10 p.m.)
Streaming pick
Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel (Amazon Video/DailyMotion): This is the season where Tina punched Beth, CT and Diem fell in love, Johnny Bananas was eliminated in the first episode, and Road Rules was still sort of a thing. You know, the good old days.