Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, July 8. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Finding Carter (MTV, 10 p.m.): ABC Family currently has the market cornered when it comes to the makeshift family/identity crisis genre with The Fosters/Switched At Birth. Now MTV is trying to get a foothold in that melodramatic realm with its brand new series, Finding Carter. Carter is a teenage girl who discovers the woman she thought was her mother is actually her kidnapper. In the two-hour series premiere Carter (Skins star Kathryn Prescott) is reunited with her biological family. Lost’s Cynthia Watros and Angel’s Alexis Denisof play the parents from whom she was stolen. Despite those supernatural pedigrees, this series sticks firmly in the realm of realistic—if slightly contrived—drama. Presumably its saving the vampires, smoke monsters, and teen wolves for season two.
ALSO NOTED
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): While MTV is trying to crib its style, ABC Family is busy celebrating the 100th episode of its breakout program Pretty Little Liars. LaToya Ferguson will file her review as soon as she finishes putting 100 candles on a cake to celebrate.
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix, 10 a.m.): Myles McNutt only has three episodes left before he finally finishes Orange Is The New Black’s second season. This week he gets to the bottom of Big Boo’s “gay agenda.”
REGULAR COVERAGE
Tyrant (FX, 10 p.m.)
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The Shield (Classic): The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! Brandon Nowalk is rushing to find out more about the Russian Mob as The Shield’s fourth season approaches its endpoint.
The Office (Classic): Erik Adams nears the end of his Office TV Club Classic coverage with his penultimate review of the show’s third season. Michael tries to help out the ladies of the office in “Women’s Appreciation Day” while Pam finally (finally!) gets around to expressing herself in “Beach Games.”
ELSEWHERE IN TV CLUB
TV Club is fairly quiet today, but Assistant TV Club Editor Sonia Saraiya ventures into the world of books and film with a For Our Consideration on adapting YA fiction for the screen before the ending has even been written.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
Married At First Sight (FIY, 9 p.m.): This insane new reality show enlists a sexologist, a spiritualist, a psychologist, and a sociologist to create three “perfect couples” and then asks its six participants to get legally married without ever having met before. Based on a Danish format, the series documents the newlywed life of each of the three couples and after several weeks ask if they want to stay together or separate.
Turtleman’s Kentucky (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.): Kentucky woodsman/reality TV personality “Turtleman” (aka Ernie Brown Jr.) shows off Kentucky’s wildness and wildlife with his friend Neal. Turtles not guaranteed.
Inside The Walking Dead: (AMC, 10 p.m.): What’s inside the walking dead? Probably rotting organs and dead flesh. Will we ever stop taking things so literally? Probably not.
Restaurant Startup (CNBC, 10 p.m.): This new reality series challenges teams to create a campaign and business plan for a “specialty food concept.” Foodies with a secret passion for marketing should be sure to tune in.
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (FX, 7:30 p.m.): Prepare for this weekend’s premiere of Dawn Of Planet Of The Apes with this 2011 origin story. James Franco plays a biotech scientist and Andy Serkis plays a CGI chimp.
Dance, Girl, Dance (TCM, 8 p.m.): Maureen O’Hara is an aspiring ballerina and Lucille Ball is a burlesque dancer in this 1940 film. Sounds like Lucy has some ‘splainin’ to do, indeed.
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: Brazil vs. Germany (multiple networks, 3 p.m.): The first of the World Cup semifinal games pits Brazil against Germany. In practical terms, that means a perfectly valid excuse to drink either cachaça or schnaps in the middle of the work day.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Teen Wolf: For those who prefer their MTV dramas with a bit more supernatural flare, LaToya Ferguson would like to remind you that Teen Wolf will always be here for you.