It was supposed to start July 26, but the revived “Veronica Mars” (Hulu, streaming) actually dropped its entire fourth season on Friday, in conjunction with some Comic-Con thing. Anyway, good time to get a head start on the detective yarn starring Kristen Bell, which picks up 10 years after the her work as a teenage detective in the series of the same name.
Enrico Colantoni and Jason Dehiring revive their roles as Dad and Logan. And while a dozen characters from the original series returns (including Max Greenfield as Leo and Ken Marino as Vinnie), there are almost as many new characters, played by such well known faces as Patton Oswalt, J.K Simmons and Mary McDonnell. Creator Rob Thomas is back on board for the eight episodes, which mostly cover one serial killer case.
Speaking of Mars, the President has said that the moon is part of the Red Planet. He is wrong. But programming today is all about the landing on the moon 50 years ago today. Back then, families gathered around to watch one transmission. Today there are a handful of ways to re-live the moment.
If there was ever a perfect night for the premium cable premiere of “First Man” (HBO, 8 p.m.) it’s tonight, with Ryan Gosling portraying Neil Armstrong and working with director Damien Chazelle for the first time since “La La Land.” Claire Foy also stars.
Other moon specials? Here’s your giant leap: “Apollo: The Forgotten Films” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) complies period report with footage from the archives. There is also: “8 Days: To the Moon and Back” (PBS, 8 and 9:30 p.m., check local listings), “The Day We Walked on the Moon” (Smithsonian, 9 p.m.), “Moon Landing Live” (BBC America, 9 p.m.), “Confessions from Space: Apollo” (Discovery, 10 p.m.), “Moon Landing: The Lost Tapes” (History, 10 p.m.) and “Apollo’s Moon Snot: Brink of Disaster” (Smithsonian, 10 p.m.)
In the made-for-TV “The Madam of Purity Falls” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) a teenager becomes involved in a nefarious business. Kristanna Loken, Trevor Stines and Olivia d’Abo star.
An 18th season starts for “Say Yes to the Dress” (TLC, 9 p.m.) with two cast members from “Dancing with the Stars” starting their shopping, as well as wrestler Mick Foley, helping a friend.
“Restaurant Impossible” (Food, 9 p.m.) begins its 15th season with Robert Irvine fixing a family restaurant on Chicago’s South Side.
They’re still running “Million Dollar Mile” (CBS, 8 p.m.) and it’s the only new entertainment programming on network TV.
Mario Lopez helps a family finish their pool on “Supersize My Pool” (HGTV, 10:30 p.m.).
“Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.) helps a basset hound who was hit by a car.
A wolf hybrid is treated on “Hanging with the Hendersons” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, 9 p.m.) deals with a problem teen, or maybe a teen with a problem family.
The ugly sweater party just gets uglier on “To Have and to Hold Charlotte” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Tonight you can watch “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Syfy, 6 p.m.) and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies has a double feature about professors on the make with “Losing Ground” (8 p.m.) and “Accident” (9:45 p.m.). It’s followed by the 12 o’clock crime noir, “While the City Sleeps” (midnight). Then comes two from Antonioni: “Zabriskie Point” (2 a.m.) and “Red Desert” (4 a.m.).
Baseball includes Colorado at Yankees (MLB, 1 p.m.), Mets at San Francisco (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.), Washington at Atlanta (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.) and Miami at Dodgers (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Golf has third round play in the British Open (Golf, 5 a.m., NBC, 7 a.m.).
Auto racing has NASCAR’s Roxor 200 (NBC Sports, 4 p.m.), and the Iowa 300 (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.).
WNBA action includes Los Angeles at New York (NBA, 3 p.m.) and Phoenix at Dallas (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Ready to figure out Australian rules football? It’s Geelong at Hawthorn (Fox Sports, 2, 11 p.m.).
Stage 14 of the Tour de France (NBC Sports, ) goes from Tarbes to Col du Tourmalet.
Khalid and Mac DeMarco play an “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings) from last year.
James McAvoy hosts a rerun of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with Meek Mill.