What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Peace, love, and Soul

American Soul

Hello and welcome to the latter half of 2020! Tonight we celebrate the soul of the 1970s with BET's American Soul about the life of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius (Sinqua Walls). The first season told of Cornelius' fight to get the show on their air with big enough music names for producers and affiliates, dancers that could set trends, and a staff of Black people. The second season jumps forward a few years as Cornelius' health issues become a major concern and his growing empire with the Soul Train Club. There is also the story of Cornelius' business partner Gerald Aims (Jason Dirden), who has links to some bad people, and the dance coordinator Tessa Lorraine (Iantha Richardson). Plus there's a — hit-and-miss — story about some young people trying to break into the entertainment business. The show also features some notable names to portray some music icons: Kelly Rowland as Gladys Knight, Michelle Williams as Diana Ross, Wayne Brady as Little Richard, Big Boi as George Clinton, and Darius McCrary as James Brown, among others. This isn't a big budget period drama. Some episodes are limited and some war scenes are minimal, but the show does a solid job in its portrayal of the era and Cornelius and his staff's fight to make the show a hit for Black America, even at the cost to family.

Elsewhere, traditional TV program options are starting to dwindle, so I have streaming pick up some of the slack, especially given its the first of the month. There's also a fan-made recreation of The Princess Bride, a revival of Unsolved Mysteries, the return of a Finnish drama, and a racing docuseries. On the traditional television, In the Cut wraps up season six, the Bulletproof team digs deeper into their undercover action, SHIELD team faces many conundrums, and the road trip into prehistory and dinosaurs comes to an end. OH, and there will be some mid-year threads for your picks for the best movies and TV programs of 2020 thus far.

Join me. Perhaps you may be able to help solve a mystery, here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, July 1!

STREAMING & EARLY PRIMETIME

Best movies of 2020, so far (WOT&PC, 6 p.m.): A free space to sound off on what you find to be the best movies you've seen in 2020. If they weren't released in 2020, that's okay, too.

Best TV programs of 2020, so far (WOT&PC, 6 p.m.): A free space to sound off on what you find to be the best TV programs you've seen in 2020. If they weren't released in 2020, that's okay, too.

Annihilation 🎥 (FXX, 7 p.m.): In this psychological horror flick, biologist Natalie Portman signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply. It boasts an impressive cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Benedict Wong, Gina Rodriguez, Oscar Isaac, and Tessa Thompson.

Best in Show 🎥 (Hulu, 3 a.m.): A classic Christopher Guest mockumentary set at a dog show and featuring a hilarious performance from the late Fred Willard. It is also many new titles now available on Hulu in July.

The Bounty 🎥 (Amazon, 3 a.m.): This is pretty average remake of the classic Mutiny on the Bounty story. It is also one of the new titles now available on Amazon in July.

Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SEASON TWO. A monkey that talks?! Alert the little kiddos!

Cloud Atlas 🎥 (Netflix, 3 a.m.): New to Netflix in July is this Wachowski flick, an exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present, and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution. I know some people here love this movie. I think it is a giant pile of crap. I hate this movie. But fret not, there are other new options that are also good, such as Airplane!, Frida, Mean Streets, and Poltergeist.

Deadwind (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SEASON TWO. This Finnish noir detective drama is back for season two. It stars Pihla Viitala, who maybe you remember from... Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters?

Home Movie: The Princess Bride (Quibi, 3 a.m.): This week and next, Quibi releases a fan-made at-home recreation of the classic 1987 movie that stars some high-profile Hollywood names. Why? I don't really know. It is bizarre, seeing a (cheap) movie remake released in segments rather than all at once -- TV episodic form vs singular motion picture form.✔️

Road to Race Day (Crackle, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Crackle is still a thing! This new docuseries gives viewers access to the intense and unique world of Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR's winningest team. Sports!🏎️🏎️🏎️

Say I Do (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. "In this reality show, couples overcome obstacles to celebrate their love in surprise dream weddings designed by three experts in less than a week."

Under the Riccione Sun 🎥 (Netflix, 3 a.m.): In this Italian romantic comedy, on holiday at Riccione beach, a group of teens get to know each other and help each other get through summer loves' heartache.

Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. On a night in July 2020, a classic series with a beautifully haunting theme song returned. Why this show, once a staple of Wednesday and later Friday television, opted to return now is puzzling. Yes, it's back! Because why not! "Immersive, character-driven stories are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable. Families, detectives and journalists hope viewers hold the clues to solving these"... unsolved mysteries.✔️

Watchmen 🎥 (HBO Max, 3 a.m.): While there isn't going to be a second season of the series, you can now revisit the wildly mediocre 2004 movie. It is also one of many new titles now available on HBO Max in July.

GUEST DIGEST:
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 📺 (Decades, 7 p.m): Tim Conway, Louis Nye, Fernando Lamas, and Lisa Moore (15 Mar 1971)

FOR THE RECORD: Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix, 3 a.m.)

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

The 100 (The CW, 8 p.m.): "Emori tries to heal Sanctum's old familial wounds, while Echo, Octavia and Diyoza struggle with new ones."

In the Cut (Bounce, 8 p.m.): FINALE. Kenny plans to propose to Angelique, but her recent actions have him second guessing. When Mabel is approached by the local newspaper for a front-page feature, things go awry when they go digging into her past.

Minority Report 🎥 (Showtime, 8 p.m.): In a future where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes, Tom Cruise, a member of that unit, is himself accused of a future murder. A Spielberg masterpiece.

Singin' in the Rain 🎥 (TCM, 8 p.m.): Singing and dancing and an excellent story. One of the shames of AMPAS is its lack of more Oscar nods. "Lina. She can't act, she can't sing, she can't dance. A triple threat."

THE GUEST LIST:
Game On! 💲 (CBS): Becky Lynch and Joel McHale

FOR THE RECORD: AEW: Dynamite (TNT); Cennet (Telemundo); The Challenge (MTV); Hot Mess House (HGTV); Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out (VH1); Te doy la vida (Univision); WWE NXT (USA)

🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL

Bulletproof (The CW, 9 p.m.): Bishop and Pike ramp up their investigation as Mikey tasks them with overseeing the hostile takeover of a gun factory outside of London. Meanwhile, Alex regains control of the family after the fallout from Amsterdam.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army 🎥 (Starz, 9 p.m.): In one of the best comic book sequels, the mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.✔️

The Oval (BET, 9 p.m.): "Kyle orchestrates a high-powered cover up."

THE TOPIC LIST:
Final 24 (AXS TV): Jim Morrison

FOR THE RECORD: 100 días para enamorarnos (Telemundo); Amor eterno (Univision); Building Giants (Science); Expedition Unknown: Josh Gates Tonight (Discovery Channel); Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges (History); Guy's Grocery Games (Food Network); Hot Mess House (HGTV); Married at First Sight: Australia (Lifetime); Property Brothers: Forever Home (HGTV); See No Evil (Investigation Discovery)

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (via Tumblr)

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

Agents of SHIELD (ABC, 10 p.m.): After blowing its cover and damaging the Zephyr in the process, the team scrambles to rescue Mack's parents, save SHIELD from a chronicom infestation and fix the ship. Piece of cake, right?✔️

⭐ American Soul (BET, 10 p.m.): Gerald's reliability is tested after a raid of the casino at the Soul Train Club. Ruby shows she can pull a top act for Soul Train when Gerald comes up short, leaving Don with a decision to make. Ruby has mob ties, but Don is often seeing her in a positive light. She is also a thorn for Gerald, who is trying to become a legitimate businessman. Just when Gerald thinks he can get out, Ruby draws him back in!

Prehistoric Road Trip (PBS, 10 p.m.): FINALE. In the last episode of this three-piece series, Emily Graslie investigates the fossil record, and learns from scientists studying the Earth's past to reveal clues about its future.

THE GUEST LIST:
Jay Leno's Garage (CNBC): Billy Gibbons

FOR THE RECORD: Bigfoot Is Real (Travel Channel); The Case That Haunts Me (Investigation Discovery); Cash Cab 💲 (Bravo); Como tú no hay 2 (Univision); Counting Cars (History); Enemigo íntimo (Telemundo); Food Paradise (Cooking Channel); House Hunters (HGTV); Mega Machines: Sea Giants (Science); Mysteries of the Deep (Discovery Channel)

Agents of SHIELD (via Tumblr)

🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL

THE GUEST LIST:
The Carol Burnett Show 📺 (MeTV): Eileen Farrell, Marilyn Horne, and David Frost (22 Mar 1971)

FOR THE RECORD: Nightly Pop (E!, 11:30 p.m.)

LATE-NIGHT TALK & SATIRE

The Dick Cavett Show 📺 (Decades, 9 p.m.): Denny McLain, Lloyd M. Bucher, and Al Capp (6 Aug 1970)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS, 10:30 p.m.)
Johnny Carson 📺 (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): Dan Aykroyd, Bobby Kelton, and Helen Shaver (25 Jun 1987)

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Note: All times are Eastern.

Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top pick(s)
💲: Game show
📺: Throwback
🎥: Movie
✔️: Video/gif/photo included

Happy watching, everyone!