So far, the primetime coverage of the 2012 London Olympics (NBC, 8 p.m.) doesn’t seem to stray far from Americans, swimming or gymnastics. But it is fun to place sure bets on who will win events based on actual results available hours earlier.
Tonight the men’s 200 meter breaststroke final in swimming, diving, beach volleyball and, yes, gymnastics.
In other words: More Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin.
Less celebrated sports can be interesting, though, as earlier in the day in women’s water polo, it’s U.S. vs. Spain (NBC, 1:20 p.m.) and in women’s volley ball it’s U.S. vs. China (NBC, 3 p.m.). Get a look at the women’s basketball team with U.S. vs. Turkey (NBC Sports, 5 p.m.).
It may be jarring, though, to switch channel and see countries that are competing in sport today fighting in “The War” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), the Ken Burns saga rerunning this week.
“So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 9 p.m.) is yet another rerun, but “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) is at least new. Their competitions may look cheesier than normal because of the London games.
There is a new “Final Witness” (ABC, 10 p.m.), where a mother helps solve her son’s murder.
Troubling touchstone for modern drug and gangster films: Brian DePalma’s over the top “Scarface” (AMC, 8 p.m.).
Celebrate the cast going back to work this week with a double play of reruns of “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.).
You would expect the designers, decorators, construction crews and scenic artists will have a better than usual memory about building sets for a film called “Total Recall” in a special tied to the opening Friday, “Hollywood Builders: Total Recall” (DIY, 9 p.m.).
The contestants on “Top Chef Masters” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) have to cater a wedding.
Whither time and space? It’s contemplated “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman” (Science, 10 p.m.).
I’m hoping it was difficult to find subjects for the startlingly titled “My Teen is Pregnant and So Am I” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
John Ross has to make a decision on a new “Dallas” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
Mark Feuerstein, star of “Royal Pains” (USA, 9 p.m.), also directs tonight’s episode. Bender goes hunting for wooly mammoths on “Futurama” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.).
Cindy Margolis finds herself back in reality TV, as an employer on “Beverly Hills Nannies” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.), where nannies are interviewing for new jobs tonight.
Turner Classic Movies inaugurates its month-long Summer Under the Stars event with the films of different stars featured every day. First up is John Wayne, whose films start this morning and wrap up tonight with the John Ford classics “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (8 p.m.), and “They Were Expendable” (10 p.m.), as well as “Operation Pacific” (12:30 a.m.), “Trouble Along the Way” (2:30 a.m.) and “Tall in the Saddle” (4:30 a.m.). Tomorrow: Myrna Loy.
In baseball, Tigers at Red Sox (ESPN, 7 p.m.) gets a national audience.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Carson Kressley, Joss Stone, Dr. Mike Moreno, Nick Lachey. The View: Cybill Shepherd. The Talk: Patrick Duffy, Melissa Peterman, Andrew Zimmern. Ellen DeGeneres: Simon Baker, Kristen Bell, Victoria Azarenka (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Justin Bieber, Michael Ian Black (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Russell Brand, Olivia Munn, Matisyahu (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Selma Blair, Adam Savage. Tavis Smiley: Alan & Marilyn Bergman (rerun). Jon Stewart: Fred Guteri. Stephen Colbert: John Grunsfeld. Conan O’Brien: Jon Cryer, Moon Bloodgood, Jason Mraz. Chelsea Handler: Michael Ealy, Ben Gleib, Arden Myrin, Josh Wolf, Kevin Hart.
“So You Think You Can Dance” is one of the best TV shows that’s still on the air, and I have the Hopper that will always record it for me. My Dish coworker told me that my Hoppers PrimeTime Anytime feature will automatically record all of my prime time shows that come on CBS, NBC, FOX and ABC everyday in HD. The Hopper can also record up to six shows at once, and it holds up to 2,000 TV shows.