We still miss you, Robin Williams.
Tuesday, August 11
Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Houston Texans (10pm, HBO, season premiere)
Come see how football is made before the NFL kicks off this year’s season. It’s BYOEITS though (Bring Your Own Explosions in the Sky).
Startup U (10pm, ABC Family, series premiere)
Along with the tech boom comes the reality shows (er, docu-series) about those in tech. ABC Family’s Startup U is a reality show (er, docu-series) focusing on entrepreneurial millennials (peak eye roll back phrase) attending Draper University (founded by venture capitalist Tim Draper) in San Mateo. They’ll learn such entrepreneurial skills as wilderness survival, Shark Tank-style pitching sessions, and reciting Green Latern-esque oaths about being a hero.
Wednesday, August 12
Kevin From Work (8pm, ABC Family, series premiere)
Remember McG? He’s back in cable sitcom form, directing the pilot to this workplace rom-com with absurd elements. The show is created by Barbie Adler who worked on How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, and My Name Is Earl, so you can see tonally what Kevin From Work is going for. Starring Noah Reid, Paige Spara, and Amy Sedaris.
Thrill Factor (8pm, Travel Channel, series premiere)
Thrill Factor reunites Bay Area locals and former Mythbusters hosts Tory Belleci and Kari Byron in a new show analyzing the science of thrill rides like roller coasters and water slides.
Thursday, August 13
Complications (9pm, USA, season finale)
The freshman drama from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix starring Jason O’Mara as an ER doctor sucked into the crime underworld of Atlanta comes to a close.
Rectify (10pm, Sundance TV, season finale)
Words like contemplative and meditative are used to describe Rectify, about an accused death row inmate who’s released back to his hometown of Paulie, GA. It’s easy to see why Rectify is currently peak “best show you’re not watching.” But seriously, it’s really great, and thank the TV gods it is coming back for a fourth season.
Friday, August 14
Food To Get You Laid (9:30pm, Logo, series premiere)
It’s all well and good to eat well, and know where to eat, but what’s the point if it’s not getting you in the sack with someone you want to get naked with? Food To Get You Laid will fix that. Featuring real people, real relationships, and food you probably have in your kitchen right now, it’s food that will lead to porn (for two), not food porn. Hosted by Ronnie Woo.
Saturday, August 15
Murder Made Me Famous (9pm, Reelz, series premiere)
Reelz combines murder and fame into a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of the lurid and can’t get enough, examining those who penetrated the public consciousness by snuffing out the life of others.
Sunday, August 16
Show Me A Hero (8pm, HBO, miniseries premiere)
David Simon and Paul Haggis collaborate on this HBO six-part miniseries, officially giving white people something to small talk about at parties, ruining TV talk for the next few months. Oscar Issac stars as Yonkers, NY mayor Nick Wasicsko whose federal mandate to build affordable housing in his middle class white area in the 80’s tears everything apart. Based on the book of the same name by Lisa Belkin.
See you next Monday!
