ABC Family is changing its focus again, away from teen girls and now twenty somethings. “What unites them is they are answering one of life’s most eternal questions, namely, who am I becoming?” ABC Family president Tom Ascheim told the TV Critics Association summer press tour last week. Tragically, he’s calling the life stage “becoming” and those going through it “becomers.”
Nonetheless, one of the first examples of the new direction is a fairly fresh feeling new comedy “Kevin From Work” (ABC Family, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) about a young man in an office played by Noah Reid who pines for a co-worker (Paige Spara) and is excessively clumsy about it. It’s not exactly a new situation but they make it seem so, with a fast and light touch that beats the family comedies they once showed.
The first scripted series from the network of uplift and gospel-tinged movies brings us “Ties That Bind” (UP, 9 p.m.), starring Kelli Williams (“The Practice”) as a detective and mother balancing home and work, based on the writing of Sheryl L. Anderson, who says it’s about “real people making real choices and real mistakes and paying real consequences.” Jonathan Scarfe and Dion Johnstone round out the cafe.
The quest for striking it rich continues in the new unscripted “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor” (CNBC, 10 p.m.), in which those whose ideas are bought may qualify for a “Million Dollar Listing San Francisco” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Glad to see seven contestants go on an “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.) results show.
The final group of invited comics perform on “Last Comic Standing” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Two more new episodes come of “Mr. Robinson” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) which I didn’t hate, but the network is burning off at a furious rate.
Executives promised this week that there might someday be some housemates cast for “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) who are over 40.
“Duck Dynasty” (A&E, 9 p.m.) sponsors a NASCAR race and there will probably be Confederate Flags all over the place.
They cook vegetarian on “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The Property Brothers design the house for the contestants of “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 8 p.m.), but there’s not room for everybody.
“Wahlburgers” (A&E, 9″30 p.m.) goes to the premiere of that terrible “Entourage” movie. But on “Lachey’s Bar” (A&E, 10:30 p.m.) the brothers argue.
Summertime is filled with bad food, so let’s have some “Carnival Cravings with Anthony Anderson” (Food Network, 10 p.m.). Or some kind of “Beach Eats U.S.A.” (Food Network, 10:30 p.m.).
We were just trading stories the other day about Robert Mitchum, as a bad boy on press tour. Today, his films are showcased on Turner Classic Movies, with “Till the End of Time” (6 a.m.), “My Forbidden Past” (8 p.m.), “The Sundowners” (9:15 a.m.), “Rachel and the Stranger” (11:45 a.m.), “Blood on the Moon” (1:15 p.m.), “The Lusty Men” (2:45 p.m.), “The Hunters” (4:45 p.m.), “Home from the Hill” (8 p.m.), “Thunder Road” (10:45 p.m.), “The Yakuza” (12:30 a.m.) and “Ryan’s Daughter” (2:30 a.m.). Also there’s a 1971 interview from “The Dick Cavett Show” (TCM, 6:45 p.m.).
Baseball includes Houston at San Francisco (MLB, 3:30 p.m.) and Pittsburgh at St. Louis (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
IN WNBA action, it’s Tulsa at Connecticut (NBA, 7 p.m.).
In the Little League World Series, it’s Florida vs. Virginia (ESPN, 3 p.m.) in the Southeast regional semifinal.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Heidi Klum, Brad Keselowski, Busy Philips. The View: Mike Epps, Tichina Arnold, Jessie Usher, Bobcat Goldthwait. The Talk: Nick & Drew Lachey, Abigail Spencer, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Chris Hemsworth, Randall Park, SketchSHE (rerun). Wendy Williams: Kirstie Alley (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Peter Gallagher (rerun). Queen Latifah: Gladys Knight, Gloria Steinem (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Fallon: Ben Kingsley, Henry Cavill, Reba McEntire. Jimmy Kimmel: Denis Leary, Alex Morgan (rerun). James Corden: Neil Patrick Harris, Craig Robinson. Carson Daly: Kurt Braunohler, the Budos Band, Haaz Sleiman (rerun) Tavis Smiley: Freida Pinto, Marcus Miller (rerun). Jon Stewart: Denis Leary (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Jason Segel, Ruby Rose, Jason Isbell.