Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, June 22. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
Big Brother (CBS, 8 p.m.): Two hours. 18 seasons. Yep. 18 of them. It might as well be called Dick Wolf Presents Big Brother. Or Chicago Brother? Law & Order: Big Brother is way too simple. “Season 18 begins with the houseguests being introduced and entering the compound.” Whoops, sorry for all the spoilers.
American Gothic (CBS, 10 p.m.): CBS’ new summer programming continues with American Gothic. No, it’s not a reboot of the 1995 CBS supernatural drama with Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, and Nick Searcy. It’s supposedly its own thing, with Juliet Rylance, Antony Starr, Virginia Madsen, and Justin Chatwin. Plus, this one takes place in New England, not South Carolina. Check it out: “A prominent Boston family reels in the wake of the chilling discovery that someone in their midst is linked to an infamous string of murders. After 14 years, the case of ‘The Silver Bells Killer’ is reopened and the Hawthorne family find themselves wondering if one of their own could be behind the grisly killings that rocked the city of Boston. As shocking secrets from the past and present are revealed, their mounting suspicion and paranoia that one of them is a killer threatens to tear the family apart.” Sounds like a hoot and a half, even without Gary Cole.
Any Given Wednesday With Bill Simmons (HBO, 10 p.m.): Bill Simmons’ HBO show premieres tonight, personally attacking The Challenge: Rivals III in terms of scheduling. Good. “Spanning pop culture and touching on everything from sports and entertainment to arts and technology, the show will feature intimate conversations with compelling guests each week, while also including field segments and Simmons’ signature commentary on current events.” So what does the former ESPN personality have on the cable agenda for tonight? Whatever it is, he apparently needs Charles Barkley and Ben Affleck’s help with it. This is just the beginning of a 20-episode first season, so hopefully Simmons hasn’t blown his guest load too soon.
Premieres and finales
Serena (Epix, 8 p.m.): Epix will be airing a Serena Williams documentary tonight, and yes, the press release features the phrase “Epix serves up original documentary Serena.” We get it, Epix—tennis. But beyond that: “Serena Williams narrates this eponymous documentary that takes a closer look at all sides of her life as an athlete-designer-businesswoman, including close-up glimpses into her personal world.”
Car Matchmaker (Esquire Network, 9 p.m.): Well, when two cars love each other very much… Sometimes they have a third season premiere called “Vintage Muscle.” Also car sex.
How To Build… Everything (Science Channel, 10/10:30 p.m.): Here you go, nerds! Science stuff!
Lopez (TV Land, 10 p.m.): The first season of George Lopez’s TV Land series, Lopez, ends with “George Goes All In.” According to the episode synopsis, “George fires everyone and makes a final push for his Vegas residency show, but things soon get out of control.” Things “soon get out of control?” We’d argue that they were already there as soon as George fired everyone. Apparently the episode starts out of control. So good luck with that, George.
The Soul Man (TV Land, 10:30 p.m.): It’s been a good run, The Soul Man. You got Niecy Nash that TV Land money, and for that, we’re all grateful. So while Lopez finds itself at the end of its first season, The Soul Man ends its entire series at season five. In “Boyce Don’t Cry,” “election day reveals the overwhelming effect Boyce’s campaign has had on his family. Barton is still in hospital and Stamps is moving. Boyce seeks the most important vote: Lolli’s.” Well that sounds depressing. Laughs aplenty!
Regular coverage
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)
Kingdom (DirecTV, 9 p.m.)
Wayward Pines (Fox, 9 p.m.)
Another Period (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
Streaming pick
American Gothic, “Pilot” (Hulu/YouTube): As interesting as the new American Gothic sounds, we’ve still kind of got that 1995 version on our minds. Blame it on the Cole of it all.