Aaron Sorkin’s ambitious series “The Newsroom” (HBO, 10 p.m.) may be the most maligned show on TV.
I can’t believe the way people pick apart a piece that takes seriously the current political world, the role of the mass media and , to a lesser degree, the minefield of contemporary personal relationships.
Because it isn’t quite “The West Wing,” people seem to find fault in all kinds of things they would never think to unload on, say “The Walking Dead” or “Elementary.” Yes, some of the speechifying is excessive, but that’s how these characters behave. Yes, they all begin to sound like Sorkin in their fast, smart-talking, did-you-know-this? patter.
But the saving grace, in addition to a terrific cast led by Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimor, and smart direction, is its very ambition to talk about politics, and drones and Occupy Wall Street within the framework of TV series. It’s not an infallible team – the central premise this season is a big story they get terribly wrong. But it would be wrong to write off this series just as it would to write off the news team.
Morse is after a serial killer on a new “Endeavor” on “Masterpiece Mystery” (PBS, 9 p.m.).
“Ray Donovan” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) tries to implicate his father for murder.
Seems like Sookie wouldn’t need to resort to a seance to visit her parents on “True Blood” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
Debra is about to spill the beans about her brother on “Dexter” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Last week, Helen was up for eviction on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) last week but got no votes. This week, she’s head of household and nominate her own roster for eviction.
“Celebrity Wife Swap” (ABC 8 p.m.) now involves people who don’t have wives. Tonight: Andy Dick and Lorenzo Lamas.
Summer warning: A brawl breaks out during vacation at Lake George on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
There’s an Adam Sandler double bill too: “Happy Gilmore” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.) and “Billy Madison” (ABC Family 9 p.m.).
It’s tacos vs. empanadas on “Food Court Wars” (Food Network, 8 p.m.).
Public television’s royal fixation continues with “Secrets of Chatsworth” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
Obsessive fans are interviewed in the new series from the “Man vs. Food” guy,
“Adam Richman’s Fandemonium” (Travel, 10 p.m.).
What’s your lucky number? “The Magnificent Seven” (TCM, 8 p.m.) is followed by “Seven Angry Men” (10:15 p.m.), “Seven Years Bad Luck” (midnight), “Seven Chances” (1:15 a.m.) and “Seven Samurai” (2:15 a.m.).
It’s Cardinals at Cubs (ESPN, 8 p.m.) on Sunday Night Football.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Reps. Karen Bass and Tom Cole. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Orrin Hatch, “This Town” author Mark Leibovich, Eliot Spitzer. CBS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Reps. Mike Kelly, Peter King and Mario Diaz-Balart, Sen. Dick Durbin. NBC: Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, Rep. Tom Condon, Bill Richardson, Steve Schmidt. CNN: Govs. Rick Perry and Pat Quinn, Reps. Raul Grijalva and Chaka Fattah.Fox News: Reps. Steve King, Mike McCaul and Steve Israel, Karl Rove, former Rep. Jane Harman.