The anticipation is super-high for the return of “Game of Thrones” (HBO, 9 p.m.) for its seventh season, which can be seen as the first half of its final season. There will be only seven episodes this time around — it will be gone again by Labor Day, leaving just six episodes for next year’s final batch. By now the various threads are focused on the ultimate battle at King’s Landing, and the letting loose of the White Walkers which means there might be more than the usual share of battle scenes.
If that takes away from the series’ real strength — the quieter, often philosophic exchanges — then that will be a disappointment. But nothing will keep us from the set. No episode was made available in advance for review, so we’ll all be watching as one, as Lena Headey’s Cersei Lannister takes a stern rule on the Iron Throne, Kit Harington’s Jon Snow tries to defend the north and Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys returns home. Plus you’ll have to wrack your brain to remember who 20 other characters are.
With less fanfare comes the fourth season premiere of “The Strain” (FX, 10 p.m.), Benito del Toro’s apocalyptic vampire takeover tale that’s been shaken by a nuclear blast.
“Twin Peaks” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) may get closer to its original mystery as its four word description tonight is “Laura is the one.”
Michael Palin stars in the new British mystery series “Remember Me” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) with the former Monty Python cast member playing an elderly man who witnesses the death of a social worker at his assisted living facility.
“My Mother and Other Strangers” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) reaches its first season finale.
Bak brings back Angela to the prosecution team on “Power” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
The women of “Claws” (TNT, 9 p.m.) visit their fancy new salon for the firs time.
“The History of Comedy” (CNN, 10 p.m.) looks at racial humor.
Michael Phelps gets the Legend Award at the fourth Kids Choice Sports Awards 2017 (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.) hosted by Russell Wilson.
It leads into the second season start of “The Dude Perfect Show” (Nickelodeon, 9:30 p.m.) in which guys make the world’s largest basketball shot.
A young woman’s death is covered up on “Grantchester” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Good news for Cassie: the female comedy special seems a go on “I’m Dying Up Here” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
A new episode of “The Nineties” (CNN, 9 p.m.) looks at Bill Clinton’s presidency.
Pearl Harbor and the Manhattan Project are among the milestones from the 1940s on tonight’s “America in Color” (Smithsonian, 8 p.m.).
Laura Bush is considered a wartime first lady alongside Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Todd Lincoln on “First Ladies Revealed” (Smithsonian, 9 p.m.).
Sexual harassment in Silicon Valley is the subject on “Sunday Night with Megan Kelley” (NBC, 7 p.m.), from a host who has been sexually harassed as well.
The new head of households moves into the new digs on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.)?
Not that you asked, but here’s the sixth season premiere of the “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
Shark mythes are featured on a “MythBusters” (Science, 8 p.m.) that is somehow more than three hours long.
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) end their reunion episodes and hence their season.
“Extreme Waterparks” (Travel, 9 p.m.) examines attractions in California, Australia and florida.
Nick Lachey and boy band veterans are up against Carnie Wilson and girl-group members on a “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC, 8 p.m.), where Neil deGrasse Tyson is also up against Rick Fox
On “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC, 10 p.m.), it’s Ken Jeong vs. Dave Foley and Dr. Oz vs. Retta.
Parents team with children on a family edition of “Candy Crush” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
A floating beverage holder doesn’t sound like that great of an innovation on “Steve Harvey’s Funderdome” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Competitors on “American Grit” (Fox, 9 p.m.) have to decide whether to help themselves or others.
The finalists on “Food Network Star” (Food, 9 p.m.) take on Bobby Flay.
A chimpanzee chases a volunteer on “Human Prey” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
Two triangles flourish in “The Spouse House” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
Survivalists on “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) take on Southern swamps.
Connie Britton is “Talking with Chris Hardwick” (AMC, 11 p.m.).
Chad goes on a weird date with Karina on “Famously Single” (E!, 10 p.m.).
A serial killer in Spokane is featured on “American Monster” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
It’s still going on: Christmas movies like “Christmas Under Wraps” (Hallmark, 7 p.m.) and “Christmas List” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.).
On the made for TV “Sleepwalking in Suburbia” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.),Emilie Ullerup stars a somnambulant housewife is in the middle of a sexual and bloody scandal. It also features Lucie Guest and Ryan S. Williams.
“Being Evel” (Reelz, 7 p.m.) is followed by “Chasing Evel” (Reelz, 9 p.m.). Knievel, y’all.
A couple of Westerns made out of stories by Jack Shaefer are on Turner Classic Movies tonight, “Shane” (8 p.m.) and “The Silver Whip” (10:15 p.m.). Later comes a couple of Harold Lloyd silent shorts, starting with “A Sailor-Made Man” (TCM, midnight). Then comes the Hu Chin-chuan film “A Touch of Zen” (TCM, 2:15 a.m.).
It’s Roger Federer vs. Marin Clilc in fie men’s final at Wimbledon (ESPN, 9 a.m.).
Baseball includes two nationally broadcast games of Yankees at Boston (TBS, 1 p.m.; ESPN, 8 p.m.).
In the NBA Summer League Semifinals, it’s Portland vs. Memphis (ESPN2, 6 p.m.) and Dallas vs. Lakers (ESPN2, 8 p.m.). I
In soccer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup it’s Jamaica vs. El Salvador (Fox Sports 2, 6 p.m.) and Curacao vs. Mexico (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in golf’s Scottish Open (Golf, 10 a.m.; NBC, 12:30 p.m.), the U.S. Women’s Open (Fox, 2 p.m.) and the John Deere Classic (CBS, 3:30 p.m.).
The X Games (ABC, 1 p.m.; ESPN, 3 p.m.) continue from Minneapolis.
Auto racing’s British Grand Prix (CNBC, 7:30 a.m.), Overton’s 301 (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.) and Honda Indy Toronto (CNBC, 3 p.m.) are all run.
And the Tour de France (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.) reaches Stage 15 from Laissac-Severac l’Elise to Le Puy-en-Velay.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Jay Sekulow, Rep. Adam Schiff, Sen. Susan Collins, Health and Human Services Sec. Tom Price. CBS: Sens. Mark Warner and Rand Paul, Sekulow. NBC: Sekulow, Sens. Warner and John Cornyn. CNN: Warner, Sekulow, Collins. Fox News: Paul, Sekulow.