Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, July 14. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
30 For 30 (ESPN, 9 p.m.): Judd Apatow continues to diversify his career by lending his directorial skills to the latest 30 For 30 documentary. He teams up with acclaimed 30 For 30 director Michael Bonfiglio to explore the careers of two 1980s New York Mets stars: Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. After whirlwind starts to their careers, both phenomenally talented athletes wound up battling addiction and serving jail time. The hook of this 30 For 30 is that the two players will reunite at a diner in Queens. In other words, they’re just two more people expected to improv their way through an Apatow film.
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX, 10 p.m.): This episode is called “Cool For The Summer,” which, as far as we can tell, was not a phrase before Demi Lovato used it in a song. Perhaps Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll is just trying to prove that despite centering on an aging rock star, it’s still hip and cool and can reference summer pop songs that came out a year ago. Tonight Ava asks Johnny to step things up in the bedroom, which makes this is the ideal episode for anyone who ever wanted to see Denis Leary make jokes about not understanding vaginas.
Thirteen (BBC America, 10 p.m.): It’s the second to last episode of this BBC survivor drama about a 26-year-old woman who escapes from the cellar prison where she was held for 13 years. As the inconsistencies in Ivy’s story continue to grow, the officers assigned to her case begin to doubt her. Gwen Ihnat wasn’t thrilled with this show in her pre-air review, but she notes that ”the most compelling parts of Thirteen” occur when “everyone in Ivy’s life is pulled away from her,” so perhaps this is the perfect time to turn in.
Premieres and finales
Alone (History Channel, 9 p.m.): It’s a double dose of Alone tonight. First up: “Starvation and isolation become unbearable.” Then in the finale: “One participant faces a deadly situation.” Sounds like a grand ole time for those who can watch from the comfort of their living rooms with plenty of snacks on hand.
Capital (Pivot, 10 p.m.): Pivot wraps up its “four-night series event” with the Capital season finale. Toby Jones stars in this adaptation of the John Lanchester novel in which a group of neighbors on a wealthy street receive mysterious postcards that read, “We want what you have.” Tonight Capital will finally tell us what it wants, what it really, really wants.
Cutting It In The ATL (WE, 10 p.m.): It’s the second season premiere of this WE reality show that follows five black women who own Atlanta hair salons. Revenge plots, natural hairlines, and arguments take center stage, which sounds like a major win for female representation on TV.
Streaming pick
Deep Space Nine, “Take Me Out To The Holosuite” (Netflix): What’s better than baseball? Space baseball! In honor of tonight’s 30 For 30 we’re recommending the best baseball-centric episode Star Trek ever produced. When a dickish Vulcan challenges Captain Benjamin Sisko to a baseball game, Sisko has to scramble to teach the rules of the antiquated sport to his crew. It’s basically The Bad News Bears with more Ferengi. Plus it provides one of the most iconic Worf moments of all time: