The BET Awards (BET, Centric, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike and VH1, 8 p.m.) is usually very good at its tributes to stars who have died. So a tribute to Prince with Stevie Wonder, Sheila E., the Roots and Janell Monae is likely to be the highlight of this year’s event (and explains why its simulcasting across the Viacom cable channels). Otherwise, Samuel L. Jackson gets a lifetime achievement award and Usher, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson are all scheduled to perform. Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, the couple from “Blackish,” host the event from Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. Drake has the most nominations, with nine; Rihanna and Beyonce have five each.
Celebrity-filled game shows as summer filler reaches overkill with a triple play of “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC, 8 p.m.), with Lance Bass, Kellie Pickler, NeNe Leakes and Ernie Hudson; Michael Strahan hosting “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC, 9 p.m.) with Sherri Shepherd, Anthony Anderson, Rosie O’Donnell and Kathy Najimy; and Alec Baldwin, for some reason, going all Gene Rayburn in hosting celebrity “Match Game” (ABC, 10 p.m.) with Debra Messing, J.B. Smoove, Michael Ian Black, Rosie O’Donnell, Sutton Foster and Tituss Burgess.
The biggest game tonight on TV, though, is the season finale of “Game of Thrones” (HBO, 9 p.m.). And while there’s no way it can approach the excess of last week’s carnage, there will likely be something big enough for fans to chew over until next year. (Big enough, at least, for the episode to run 15 minutes over time).
The whole slate of HBO series – arguably it’s strongest shows — all have season finales tonight. “Silicon Valley” (HBO, 10:15 p.m.) ends on dark note, as Richard despairs about the failures of Pied Piper.
And on “Veep” (HBO, 10:46 p.m.) Selena will likely be watching someone else being sworn in on Inauguration Day.
A new season starts for “Ray Donovan” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) with Ray still recovering from his shootout and trying to reconnect with his family.
Shark Week begins today with “Tiger Beach” (Discovery, 8 p.m.), “Return of the Monster Mako” (Discovery, 9 p.m.), “Isle of Jaws” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) and the talk show “Shark After Dark” (Discovery, 11 p.m.), hosted by Eli Roth.
The first Sunday installment of “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) this season includes a new weekly competition. Already the 50 year old guy is history.
A third season of “Murder in the First” (TNT, 10 p.m.) begins with the murder of a star quarterback in a nightclub.
A criminal tries to destroy Angie’s career on “Motive” (USA, 10 p.m.).
A second season starts for “WAGS” (E!, 10 p.m.), the reality show about “wives and girlfriends of sports stars.”
Jesse’s popularity is improving on “Preacher” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
“Ride with Norman Reedus” (AMC, 10 p.m.) travels the Blue Ridge Parkway from Atlanta to Asheville, N.C.
A profile of the Britney Spears sister who got pregnant as teenage star of “Zoey 101” then became a country singer is presented in “Jamie Lynn Spears: When the Lights Go Out” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
Two seemingly unrelated murders are investigated on “Endeavor” on “Masterpiece” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
In the second episode of “The Tunnel” (PBS, 10:30 p.m.), the killer releases a video to explain his actions.
“Top Secret Swimming Holes” (Travel, 10 p.m.) from Texas to Hawaii are secret no more.
“Beat Bobby Flay” (Food, 10 p.m.) jumps the gun in celebrating the Fourth of July.
The Vail vacation comes to an end on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (E!, 9 p.m.).
The “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 8 p.m.) are still traveling in Belize.
On “Sister Wives” (TLC, 8 p.m.) the Browns address questions to them, such as: Why haven’t you all been arrested yet?
When it comes to “Xtreme Waterparks” (Travel, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), the one in Brazil with the piranhas probably takes the cake.
A Martin Balsam double feature on Turner Classic Movies features “A Thousand Clowns” (8 p.m.) and “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams” (10:15 p.m.). Later, Buster Keaton stars in the silent comedy “Go West” (TCM, midnight), followed by a 99 year old Fatty Arbuckle short, “Coney Island” (TCM, 1:15 a.m.). Then there’s Marco Ferreri’s odd “Dillinger is Dead” (TCM, 2 a.m.). And do you remember who was in the 1982 sequel “The Sting II” (TCM, 4 a.m.)? Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis and Terry Garr.
There’s more U.S. Olympic Trials (NBC, 8 p.m.) in prime time in swimming with the men’s 400 meter free final and the men’s and women’s 400-meter IM finals. Qualifying trials (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.) are earlier, on cable.
In women’s gymnastics, it’s the final day of the P&G Championships (NBC, 9 p.m.) from St. Louis.
It’s Argentina vs. Chile (Fox Sports 1, Univision, 8 p.m.) in the Copa American Centenario final.
The UEFA Euro round of 16 continues with France vs. Ireland (ESPN, 9 a.m.), Germany vs. Slovakia (ESPN, noon) and Hungary vs. Belgium (ESPN, 3 p.m.).
Baseball today includes Cubs at Miami (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Dodgers at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
The final round is played in the Quicken Loans National (CBS, 3 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Sen. Mitch McConnell. CBS: Sen. Marco Rubio. NBC: Sen. Tim Kaine, Paul Manafort. CNN: Sens. Bernie Sanders, Bob Corker. Fox News: Robby Mook, Newt Gingrich.