Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, July 15. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Matador (El Rey, 9 p.m.): The World Cup may be over, but the real soccer drama is only just beginning. In this brand-new show from the El Rey Network, Secret Agent Tony Bravo (That’s Bravo. Tony Bravo.) goes undercover as a professional soccer player with the L.A. Riot. Bravo both has to spy on the uber-rich team owner (played by Alfred Molina) and manage his increasing fame as a soccer superstar. Matador is one of the first original shows from El Rey—a new English language channel aimed at a Latino audience. The show has already been renewed for a second season and in her pre-air review Molly Eichel argues it has some potential so long as it’s willing to embrace the ridiculousness of its premise.
ALSO NOTED
Orange Is The New Black (Netflix, 10 a.m.): More than a month after Orange Is The New Black’s second season premiered on Netflix, Myles McNutt’s weekly coverage finally comes to an end. Let’s offer a round of applause to a man who voluntarily took the slow path in an age of binge-watching.
Underground BBQ Challenge (Travel, 9 p.m.): This brand new food competition show centers on local BBQ cook-offs set in different cities every week. The first episode pits Williamsburg hipsters against District Attorneys in a battle for Brooklyn bragging rights.
Sorrentinos (TVGN, 10 p.m.): Former Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino premieres a new reality show about his “crazy” family. The fact that it airs on the TV Guide Network somehow feels entirely appropriate.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Tyrant (FX, 10 p.m.)
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.)
TV CLUB CLASSIC
The Shield (Classic): The Shield’s fourth season ends the way all fourth seasons should end: with DEA drama and a packet of heroin. Brandon Nowalk takes a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the season finale.
The Office (Classic): Erik Adams reaches the end of The Office’s third season. Since this finally completes the gap in our Office coverage, it will also be his final weekly review of the show. He’ll be sure to… I’m sorry, what was the question?
ELSEWHERE IN TV CLUB
In addition to Molly Eichel’s pre-air thoughts on Matador, SNL’s Vanessa Bayer shares her distaste for the Silverchair song “Tomorrow” in our new HateSong. Meanwhile, Drunk History’s Derek Waters answers our 11 Questions (while intoxicated).
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
World’s Strangest (Science, 8 p.m.): The season finale of this Science Channel show examines weird sleeping locations like battlefields, treehouses, and underground bunkers.
Counting Cars (History, 9 p.m.): Prepare for more cars and more counting in the fourth season premiere of this History Channel reality show that appears to have nothing to do with history.
B.O.R.N To Style: (FYI, 10 p.m.): The “fierce” lifestyle makeover team from the Harlem-based B.O.R.N. boutique (which stands for borrowed, old, refurbished, new) helps the fashioned-challenged transform their looks. In other words, it combines the sass of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy with the sass of What Not To Wear.
The Night Shift: (NBC, 10 p.m.): NBC’s medical drama—known mostly for its ridiculous promo photos—wraps up its first season. The show has already been renewed for a second season so look forward to more doctors on more motorcycles for many more episodes to come.
E.T. (CMT, 8 p.m.): We’re constantly fascinating by CMT’s programing choices, namely because heartwarming tales of alien/human friendships hardly seem like a natural fit for the Country Music Television channel. Perhaps CMT just can’t resist supporting fellow acronyms.
High Seas Marathon (TCM, 8 p.m.): TCM offers an evening of high-seas swashbuckling classics starting with 1942’s The Black Swan, followed by 1945’s The Spanish Main, and wrapping up with 1947’s Sinbad The Sailor. Get your swords and offensive foreign stereotypes ready!
2014 MLB All-Star Game (Fox, 7:30 p.m.): It’s a rest day for the Tour de France so we guess we’ll have to recommend this MLB All-Star Game, which pits the National League against the American League at Target Field in Minneapolis.
HEY, WHAT’S ON THE INTERNET?
This.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
24: Love Another Day: The return of 24 comes to an end. Zack Handlen is sad to see it go, but loves to watch Jack Bauer walk away (unless Bauer died of course, we’re writing this from the past so we don’t know for sure).