The Olympics open Friday, and as a prelude “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) remembers the games from eight decades ago with “The Boys of ’36” about working class rowers from the University of Washington who first beat teams on elite U.S. schools and then went on to beat Hitler’s German athletes at the Berlin Olympics.
Those games are more fully explored in “The Nazi Games – Berlin 1936” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) and later “T-Rex: Her Fitht for Gold” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) about the woman who won the first Olympic gold medal for women’s boxing when she was 17, in 2012, Claressa Shields.
Less than a day after the latest “Bachelorette” made her choice public, here’s a raunchier variation of “The Bachelor” universe well suited for summer time. “Bachelor in Paradise” (ABC, 8 p.m.) begins its tropical gathering of runners-up for another chance to connect. Such a thing is already happening on “Coupled” (Fox, 8 p.m.) which reaches its first season finale. Each show is two hours long.
“Feed the Beast” (AMC, 10 p.m.) reaches its first season finale with a daring offer to the mobsters.
The Island spoof “Wrecked” (TBS, 10 p.m.) has its own first season finale.
Is Guy Fieri the first export you want to send to Cuba? Nonetheless here’s “Guy’s Cuban Adventure” (Travel, 11 p.m.).
Julianne Hough goes to Africa on “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
“Bert the Conqueror” (Travel, 8 p.m.) visits Seattle’s big Tomato Battle.
The “Pretty Little Liars” (Freeform, 8 p.m.) wonder if Rollins is actually dead.
Misty May-Treanor and Lyndie Greenwood are on a new “Whose Line is It Anyway?” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
Wedding day arrives on “Married at First Sight” (A&E, 8:45 p.m.).
Sean goes to see a Justin Bieber concert on “Born This Way” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
“60 Minutes Sports” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) revisits the home of the original “Friday Night Lights,” Odessa, Texas.
The Codys plan their biggest score on “Animal Kingdom” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
“Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmer” (Travel, 9 p.m.) goes to Stockholm where he tastes grated reindeer testical.
Mama June of “Honey Boo Boo” fame seeks help on the season finale of “Botched” (E!, 9 p.m.).
They have to call in a medevac on “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
The 10th anniversary of “Little People, Big World” (TLC, 9 p.m.) brings a clip show.
“MadTV” (The CW, 9 p.m.) hasn’t been canceled yet.
Time for a reunion for “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
One of the older reality shows comes back for a reconsideration with Lauren Conrad showing highlights from the old series “The Hills” (MTV, 9 p.m.).
“Zoo” (CBS, 9 p.m.) goes to an English town to untangle clues.
Pauly takes Aubrey on their first date on the season finale of “Famously Single” (E!, 10 p.m.).
Margaret Cho and Kurt Braunohler are on “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.).
For those not watching “Stranger Things” (Netflix, streaming), here’s “Goonies” (CMT, 9 p.m.), with many of the same elements.
Lucille Ball is the star of the day on Turner Classic Movies, starting with “Beauty for the Asking” (6 a.m.), “Next Time I Marry” (7:15 a.m.), “The Affairs of Annabel” (8:30 a.m.), “That’s Right – You’re Wrong” (9:45 a.m.), “Five Came Back” (11:30 a.m.), “The Big Street” (1 p.m.), “A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob” (2:30 p.m.), “Forever Darling” (4:15 p.m.), “Critics Choice” (6 p.m.), “The Dark Corner” (8 p.m.), “Yours, Mine and Ours” (10 p.m.), “The Long, Long Trailer” (midnight), “Best Foot Forward” (1:45 a.m.) and “Mame” (3:30 a.m.).
Baseball today includes St. Louis at Cincinnati (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Boston at Seattle (MLB, 10 p.m.). Softball has the Scrap Yard Dawgs at USSA Pride (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Viola Davis, Jojo Fletcher, Anderson Cooper. The View: Eric Bolling. The Talk: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Cameron Mathison, Thomas Lennon. Ellen DeGeneres: Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Rob Thomas (rerun). Wendy Williams: Omari Hardwick, Naturi Naughton, Lela Loren, Joseph Sikora (rerun). The Real: Eve (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Jamie Oliver (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Will Smith, Logan Lerman, Tony Bennett. Jimmy Kimmel: Salma Hayek, Mark Consuelos, Grouplove. Jimmy Fallon: Jonah HIll, Jaden Smith, Dua Lipa. Seth Meyers: Craig Robinson, Baz Luhrmann, Mary Timony. James Corden: Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, Kent Jones. Carson Daly: Chloe Grace Moretz, Murz & 9th Wonder, Piston Shrimps Radio (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Shirley Caesar (rerun). Trevor Noah: Alex Wagner (rerun). Larry Wilmore: DeRay Mckesson (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Nick Kroll, Stephen Ammel, Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Weird Al Yankovic (rerun).